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Rug fringe repair.

Yes — worn rug fringes can almost always be repaired or replaced: rug fringe repair either locks the unravelling with a discreet stop-stitch or rebuilds the fringe identically on a traditional loom. At Tapis Boeuf, a family atelier founded in 1950, every fringe is restored entirely by hand, backed by over 75 years of expertise.

Free quote in 48 h → +33 (0)6 17 59 32 54

1950

since

€80

per lm, from

48h

quote

4.9/5

148 reviews

Rug fringe repair at the Tapis Boeuf atelier — artisan's hand and scissors preparing the fringe of a silk Hereke rug

— Tapis Boeuf workshop in Sartrouville, 20 minutes from central Paris

— Founded in 1950 Artisan craftsmanship · Museum-grade stop-stitch · Fringes reknotted · replaced · Pickup France · Monaco · Switzerland · 48 h quote

They entrusted us with their rugs

Reviews translated from French.

4.9 / 5 · 148 Google reviews

Michel ZinalVisited March 2026

★★★★★

Very careful work repairing the fringes of my wool-and-silk Persian rug. The result is impeccable, with genuine respect for the materials and the craft. I recommend them without hesitation!

Martine PujolVisited April 2026

★★★★★

Deadline met, magnificent cleaning and restoration of our thick-wool Tunisian rug — colours revived, fringes rebuilt like new, flawless repair. Thank you!

— I · Definition

What is rug fringe repair?

Rug fringe repair stabilises or rebuilds the ends of a hand-knotted rug. Fringes are not decoration: they are the exposed tips of the warp threads (the lengthwise foundation threads that form the rug's skeleton).

At the head of the rug they are locked by the final row of knots or by a stop-stitch (a woven locking thread that seals the structure). While that lock holds, the rug does not move.

When the fringe wears through and that lock gives way, the warp threads slip free one by one. The rug unravels and shrinks — sometimes by several centimetres in a few years, each one eating into the design. Fringe restoration is structural surgery, not cosmetic grooming, which is why it sits at the heart of our complete rug repair workshop.

Depending on the diagnosis, we choose between a new stop-stitch that locks the structure, or full rug fringe replacement on a traditional loom. Acting early keeps the repair on the lighter, less costly side.

The essentials

  • 01 Fringes = the ends of the warp threads
  • 02 Held by a row of knots or a stop-stitch
  • 03 If the lock fails, the rug unravels and shrinks
  • 04 Option 1: stop-stitch — from €80/lm
  • 05 Option 2: replacement on the loom — from €200/lm

— Three stages

From unravelling fringe to a rug made whole.

Unravelling fringe — loose, twisted warp threads before restoration

01 · Before

Unravelling fringe

Restoration in progress — bundles of warp threads rebuilt and secured by needle

02 · During

Rebuilt by needle

Fringe combed flat and aligned — finish after complete restoration

03 · After

Combed flat, aligned

— II · Techniques

Two techniques, one decision.

Every restoration begins with a diagnosis at our workshop in Sartrouville, 20 minutes from central Paris. Then, two paths.

01

from €80/lm

Stop-stitch restoration

The conservative gesture. We shorten the rug by about two centimetres, removing the damaged final rows so sound warp threads emerge as the new fringe, then weave in the stop-stitch that seals the structure for good.

Fast, affordable, preserves most of the rug — at the cost of two centimetres. Right when damage is recent and contained.

Rate: from €80/lm, up to €300 by density and quality.

Artisan setting a stop-stitch — scissors trimming the fringe just below the woven locking thread

— Setting the stop-stitch at the atelier

02

from €200/lm

Fringe replacement on the loom

The complete restoration — and the most durable. Back on a traditional loom, we unpick about one centimetre of the damaged end to reach sound foundation (the warp-and-weft lattice the pile is knotted onto), then reweave it identically: same knot, same density, same direction of pile.

A rug that waited too long has often shrunk. On the loom we reweave further to restore the original length — the same museum-grade skill behind our reweaving of holes and worn areas.

Rate: from €200/lm, up to €500 and beyond by density and material.

Rug mounted on a traditional loom — tensioned warp threads, fringe being rewoven identically

— On the loom · reweaving in progress

Good to know

Rates are quoted per linear metre of fringe and rise with knot density — a coarse 35 Raj weave restores far faster than a 1,000 Raj Qom. The final quote follows a diagnosis with front-and-back photos.

— III · Workshop

The craft in six steps.

The fringe restoration protocol our family atelier, founded in 1950, has refined — checks at every stage.

01

Diagnosis

We assess the fringe, the warp and the length lost, then choose between stop-stitch and loom.

02

Dusting

Low-power HEPA vacuuming, then hand brushing. We never work on a soiled structure.

03

Reduction

For technique 01, the rug is shortened by 2 cm to expose sound warp threads.

04

Loom mounting

For technique 02, the rug goes onto the loom and 1 cm is unpicked back to healthy foundation.

05

Rebuilding

We weave the new stop-stitch, or reweave and reknot the missing centimetres identically.

06

Finishing

The new fringe is cut to length, combed, and checked for alignment and flatness before delivery.

Request a diagnosis →

— IV · Before / After

Before · After.

An antique wool Kerman, restored in a few days with a stop-stitch and a rebuilt fringe. Drag to compare.

Antique Kerman rug — disordered fringe, loose twisted threads, original condition
The same Kerman after fringe restoration — combed flat, aligned, invisible stop-stitch
Before After

Most pieces are washed before we touch the structure — a gentle, hand-finished rug cleaning that reveals the true colours.

— V · Mistakes

Four habits that destroy fringes.

Almost every curative job we see began with a well-meaning gesture.

01 · Rotating vacuum brush

The beater bar rips out knots and tears warp threads. Vacuum without it, or lift the fringe clear.

02 · Trimming with scissors

Cutting frayed fringe without a stop-stitch accelerates the unravelling — the knots lose their anchor and follow.

03 · Fabric glue

Glue hardens, yellows and stiffens the fringe for good — later restoration becomes impossible.

04 · Machine washing

Mechanical washing felts the wool and twists the warp threads. Fringes come out broken and grey.

— VI · Pricing

Rates & lead times.

Rates per linear metre of fringe, excluding VAT. A personal quote follows your photos and our diagnosis.

Option 1

Stop-stitch restoration

from €80

per linear metre

up to €300 on average

  • — Rug shortened by 2 cm
  • — Sound warp threads exposed
  • — Woven stop-stitch
  • — Conservative, fast

Option 2

Fringe replacement on the loom

from €200

per linear metre

up to €680 on average

  • — Mounted on a traditional loom
  • — 1 cm unpicked to sound foundation
  • — Identical reweaving, knot by knot
  • — Original length restored

Exceptional pieces — an antique silk Qom, a gold-thread Hereke — can reach €500/lm for a stop-stitch and exceed €1,000/lm on the loom. Lead time: days to two weeks for a stop-stitch, three to six weeks on the loom. Free pickup and delivery across France, Monaco, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

— Free quote, no obligation

Entrust us with your rug. Estimate within 48 h.

Free pickup and delivery across France, Monaco, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Request my free quote

— VII · FAQ

Your fringe questions.

Fringe repair halts the unravelling with a stop-stitch, while fringe replacement reweaves the fringe identically on a traditional loom. For repair, the rug is shortened by about two centimetres and a new locking thread seals the structure. Replacement goes further: the piece returns to the loom, knot by knot. Our family atelier, founded in 1950, practises both techniques.

Rug fringe repair costs from €80 per linear metre for a stop-stitch and from €200 per linear metre for full replacement on the loom. Stop-stitch work averages up to €300 and can reach €500 for antique or fragile silk; loom replacement averages up to €680 and can exceed €1,000 for museum-grade fine silk. Rates depend on knot density and material.

A stop-stitch is a woven locking thread that seals a rug's end and keeps the warp threads from slipping free. When the original fails, the rug unravels and shrinks. A new stop-stitch, set on sound warp threads, locks the structure for good.

Yes — we collect rugs across France, Monaco, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg, with free pickup and delivery. From our workshop in Sartrouville, 20 minutes from central Paris, our driver handles every collection and precious pieces travel insured. A free quote follows within 48 hours after your photos.

— Contact the atelier

Your free diagnosis,
with no obligation.

A simple stop-stitch or complete rug fringe repair on the loom — it starts with a few photos. Detailed quote within 48 h.

01 · Workshop

+33 (0)9 50 91 88 85

Mon — Sat · 9 am to 8 pm · Sun 9 am to 6 pm

02 · Mobile

+33 (0)6 17 59 32 54

7 days a week

03 · Form

Quote in 48 h

Photos · description

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