Techniques for Binding a Rug

Binding Machine

• Carpet binding machines make binding a rug, especially a thick one, fast and easy. The machines are heavy-duty, souped-up sewing machines that allow for very wide discs of binding tape to be attached. Some machines have feed roller systems that push the carpet through the stitching process, and others are designed for use as a regular foot-controlled sewing machine. Using the binding machine technique requires binding tape and heavy-duty thread. The tape is folded over the edge of the rug and stitched into place. Folder attachments located on the binding machine help fold the tape over the edge of the rug before the rug passes through the needle and thread. Binding machines must be kept oiled and maintained for best results.

Hand Sewing

• Rugs made of softer materials such as fabric or yarn will need a gentler approach to binding. With simple sewing skills, hand-sewing the binding tape to these types of rugs is an easy but time-consuming task. The binding tape used in this type of technique can be different from the large rolls of tape used with a binding machine. Sewing and fabric stores will have a selection of softer tapes that can be adapted to fabric and yarn rugs. Creating a contrasting or matching tape is possible by using fabric remnants cut in strips with a 2-inch width. Use the hand-sewing technique by wrapping the edges of the rug with the tape, pinning it into place and hand-stitching it to the rug with a sewing needle and matching thread. Prevent fraying of fabric strips by folding the strip edges over before stitching them to the rug.

  Hand-sewing a rug binding can be time-consuming. Some lightweight rugs may hold up well to binding with a regular sewing machine. Fold the binding over the rug edges and pin into place before stitching.

Instant Binding Tape

• Instant binding tape is a combination of sticky tape and piping that attaches around the edge of a rug with no sewing. The sticky tape and piping are one unit. The piping is pushed against the clean edge of the rug, while the tape is slipped under the rug and attached to the rug's backing—the tape holds the piping in place. After the piping is wrapped around all the edges of the rug and secured with the sticky tape, the permanent attachment takes place. By using a glue gun, a thin stream of glue is placed between the piping and the edge of the rug. By holding the piping and rug together for a few moments, the glue binds the two together. Instant binding works well on rugs made from carpet remnants.