When I first tried cutting a wool rug for my brother’s bedroom, I was really worried about making mistakes and ruining the posh material.
However, after researching and practicing “How to Cut a Woven Rug?” I managed to achieve a perfect cut.
Here I suggest you follow these steps while cutting a woven rug. Doing so you’ll done in a flash, no sweat!!
- Measure the room space
- Mark the cutting line using fabric chalk
- Align the edges and prepare the surface
- Cut down the rug using the appropriate tool
- Finish the edges off
In this guide, I’ll be sharing an in-depth explanation of these steps I followed. Whether you’re working with natural fibers like wool or synthetic materials, I bet these tips will help you avoid expensive mistakes🤐 and keep your rug looking great.
Let’s catch up on what’s gonna cover the topic
Table of Contents
Can You Cut A Woven?
Yes, l can pretty easily do so by following my instructions correctly.
Did you know that a typical handwoven rug of 8×10 standard sizes can have anywhere between 1 to 6 million knots? That’s about 100 to 800 knots per square inch and can take around 3,000 hours for a person to weave.
Believe me, I know how frustrating it sounds now. Obviously, you wouldn’t wanna let all these efforts of the weaver go to waste, would you?
Worry not😌I have your back on it. Check these out. Here are some key considerations you should think of.
Material Matters
The type of material affects how easily you can cut your rug. Natural fibers like wool and cotton are more forgiving than manmade synthetic materials. You need to always check the rug’s composition before you can proceed.
If you are worried about how long your woven plush carpet is gonna last, don’t worry. The DesigningIdea also agrees with me when I say woven plush is more durable.
Why? Because they are made by knotting yarns of course making them less prone to shading.
Weave Structure
Understanding the weave helps you plan your cuts as different weaving techniques result in varying rug structures.
For my brother’s bedroom area, I used an individual shag rug of 2.5-inch pile height. Believe me, it was quite the task of cutting it down. But I don’t regret using it, because-
“Shat rugs offer plenty of comfort underfoot as they are made with a comparably high pile height. Their pile fiber rugs can range from 1 to 2.5 inches.”
The HOMESTRATOSPHERE gave me an idea of how the flare woven rugs are constructed. I think those of you who have flat weaves need to read this. It will help you avoid fray and other damage you know. They say –
How To Cut A Woven Rug?
To cut a woven rug you need to make sure that you are cutting the exact size required not random wrong rug sizes. And, not wasting by mistakenly cutting on an angle that you don’t want. That’s the plan, right?🧐
In my case, I made sure that I used certain tools that were really helpful. And the results were astonishingly very precise as a result too!
What Tools Do I Need To Cut A Woven Rug?
I knew you would ask that. And so, I’ve already kept the list ready for you. Take a look and arrange these tools before you get started with the cutting process.
- 1 big carpet (That you are about to chop)
- 1 utility knife.
- 1 cutting mat/plywood.
- 1 T-spuare or yardstick.
- 1 fabric chalk or marker.
- 1 binding tape/sewing machine.
- 1 step-by-step guide. (For which, you need to read my guide till the end or ask your manufacturer/seller for a guide)
When you have all these items at hand ready to do the magic go through the process I mentioned below.
Cutting Woven Rug (Step-By-Step)
Before you start just so you know I used up my rug in 3 portions. The first was for the living room floor area as there would be most people visiting.
For the bedroom, I used a shag rug. For the kitchen floor and office space, I used the bigger carpet of 1 1-inch pile.
Based on your need you’ll have to measure by yourself. The measurements I’m about to talk about may not result in being the same which you need.
If it seems too much trouble you can always count on a professional to do so for you. But I’m here to tell you how you can do it by yourself. So, here I go!😎
“Please note that the ratio value is exemplary only thus, doesn’t refer to any research document.”
Step 1: Measure the room space
Based on which specific area you want to work on first you’ll have to measure the space. Such as taking a tour of your house and confirming while taking note of which sizes of carpet you need in which space.
My brother’s home was 600 sq ft. And after taking the tour what my measurement note says is I need a rug size of –
Living room: 9′ x 12′
Bedroom: 6′ x 9′
Office space: 5′ x 8′
Kitchen: 2.5′ x 7′ (Runner)
Step 2: Mark the cutting line using fabric chalk
When you have all the sizes noted down, now it’s time to mark your slate, I mean your carpet. Spread the rug flat on a clean, open surface, preferably on a hardwood floor.
Then take up the fabric chalk or a fabric marker you have. Mark the dimensions directly on the rug based on the measurements that you’ve previously noted down.
For example, if like me you are going for the living room first, mark a rectangle of 9′ x 12′(change with your living room carpet’s required size) on the rug.
This rectangle is what you’ll follow while cutting.
Step 3: Align the edges and prepare the surface
If the marking is done for the next task you need to secure the surface underneath your rug.
Is it really necessary though? I’m cutting the carpet, not the surface!
Use a cutting mat or plywood underneath the carpet. While using plywood make sure it stays steady while cutting.
Take a straight entire edge such as a T-square or yardstick and align it precisely with the marked line. If possible, a T-square would be better for more precision.
Step 4: Cut down the rug using the appropriate tool
If your carpet is flat weave woven then a new very sharp regular scissor might do the trick. But…
If your is a wool carpet like mine or a thicker carpet simply put, then you need to choose a utility knife or rotary cutter. I used a utility knife which had a blade of 6 inches. It was great. And so, if you ask me which tool to use? I’ll suggest the same😏
Press the straight edge firmly against the rug to keep it in place. Using the knife cut along the marked line. Apply even pressure and make sure to cut away from your body for safety.
It also makes sure that you don’t temper its best quality of being a long-time companion.
Don’t get exhausted already… You are almost about to finish with the last step. I know it’s lonnggg, isn’t it!! I tots agree with HANDWOVWN magazine when they say weaving takes longer. And that’s why… just put up a little more effort and be with me alright.
Step 5: Finish the edges off
First up, congratulations🥂you’ve successfully cut your rug. But you are not done yet.
To prevent the raw edges of your carpet from fraying, use binding/masking tape or a sewing machine to finish the raw edges.
If you choose to use binding painters tape, apply it along the cut edges of the rug. Here you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure it adheres properly.
If you have a sewing machine, sew a zigzag stitch along the cut edges to secure the fibers and prevent fraying. This will provide a clean and durable finish. I used sewing by the way.
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What are you searching for? It’s done! You’ve cut the carpet and secured it from fraying too. Just install it and enjoy the rest of the day.
I was able to do it quickly and easily cause I already had everything explained on my notes. I hope I have done a good job explaining you as well. What do you think? Please let me know
I tried my best to explain as much as I could. But sometimes we may just need to see it for ourselves. Just so, you can do it confidently, right? I have a solution for that too. Considering watching this video –
How To Cut A Rug Without It Fraying
To cut a rug without it fraying you need to be careful while finishing it off after cutting. Here are a few tricks you can use to prevent the carpet from fraying.
Here… You can take a look at the image below if you don’t trust me. In case you are using the glue gun that is. Dave Burroughs also agrees with me when I say,
“After cutting down your rug 10 minutes of iron steaming is really important to seal it off.”
Is It Possible To Cut A Woven Rug Without Damaging It?
Yes, it is possible to cut a woven rug without damaging it. It’s widely accepted for any task and I also believe that –
“Precision is the key. If you prepare well you’ll do well and so it’ll end well.”
How To Cut A Woven Rug Without Damage?
To cut a woven rug without damage you need to use proper tools. If you are not confident of the process consider practicing scrap first. If you still find it difficult you can always ask a professional to do so for you.
Precautions will also add up to the assurance and safety. Such as making sure the knife or carpet scissor is sharp enough.
And the blade of your knife won’t bend or break, For the sake of getting comfortable with the process, you should try practicing on the scrape enough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Cut A Woven Rug With Regular Scissors?
Yes, you can cut a woven rug with regular scissors if your scissors are sharp enough and the carpet is thinner such as a flat weave carpet. But for thicker carpets, you need a utility knife such as a carpet knife.
Should I Use A Ruler Or A Straight Edge When Cutting A Woven Rug?
It’s recommended to use a straight edge when cutting a woven rug rather than a ruler. Straight edges such as a T-square or a yardstick allow more precision and stability so that you get a clean cut. Also minimizes the risk of cutting at an angle.
Can I Cut A Woven Rug To Fit A Specific Space?
Yes, you can cut a woven rug to fit a specific space. For doing so you’ll need to measure the area first. Then use a fabric chalk or marker to mark the dimensions on your rug. After that using a utility knife you can cut it down.
Can I Cut A Woven Rug With A Utility Knife?
Yes, you can cut a woven rug with a sharp utility knife as they are quite sharp. These knives are best to cut your carpet cleanly without fraying the edges. Use a straight edge for custom-size precision and plywood underneath for surface protection while cutting the carpet.
How Do I Ensure A Straight Cut On A Woven Rug?
To ensure a straight cut on a woven rug first you need to measure and mark the rug. Then use a T-square or yardstick, along the marked line. Following that line cut the rug down using a utility knife or rotary cutter, and you are done!
Wrapping Up!
It isn’t really hard cutting a woven rug if you have a proper idea of the weaving. And if you have gone through the guide and safety precautions there’s no need to worry.
However, do consider talking about the materials and binding tape adherence with the seller before you start.
Happy decorating!🥳
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