How to Patch a Cowhide Rug

Most cowhide rugs have irregular patterns and shapes because they follow the natural shape of the animal. If your cowhide rug has a worn spot, stain, hole or burn, it can be repaired. Cut a small piece of hide from an edge that closely matches the area you want to replace. Use a utility knife on a hard surface and cut all the way through the backing. If you can't spare a piece from the edge, buy a new piece of cowhide from the manufacturer of the rug that's the same type and color hide of the rug you have.

Board
Utility knife
Piece of matching hide
Fabric carpet backing
Fabric adhesive
Heavy-gauge darning needle
Thimble
Matching, coarse thread

Instructions

- 1
  Place a board underneath the damaged area of the rug. Cut out the damaged spot in a square, being careful to cut through the backing attached to the hide.
- 2
  Set the square you've cut on top of a matching piece of cowhide. Hides have a grain, or direction that the hairs run in. Check to be sure the hairs on the patch piece of hide are running the same direction as the damaged piece. This will help your patch last and render it almost invisible.
- 3
  Lay the new piece on a length of carpet backing. Cut the backing around the square, leaving a 1-inch border of backing along each edge of the square.
- 4
  Apply fabric adhesive to the back of the patch. Press it firmly onto the backing, and allow it an hour or two to dry completely.
- 5
  Apply fabric adhesive to the top side of the backing fabric border. Place the patch underneath the cut-out area and adjust it to fit. Weight the top of the carpet over the patch until it's dry.
- 6
  Turn the cowhide rug over and stitch the edges of the backing to the carpet with a curved darning needle and thread. Be sure to use a thimble on the finger you use to push the needle through the tough fabric.

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