Braided Rugs Glossary

If you are new to the world of braided rugs, you may need to learn some new terms. Here's a glossary of words commonly associated with braided rugs.

Start with the Basics
Before you get too far, you should start with a basic definition of what a braided rug is. Essentially, this is a type of rug made from braided pieces of fabric that are coiled and sewed together to create the final piece.

The Materials
Acrylic: An acrylic fabric is a man-made fabric that is an inexpensive alternative to more luxurious fabrics like wool.

Background Color: This refers to the dominant color of fabric used in the background of the rug. Generally speaking, most braided rugs use multi-colored fabric or rags, which means that the background color may be a multitude of colors.

Border Color: This refers to the dominant color of fabric used in the border. Borders are not used in the construction of all types of braided rugs.

Denier: A term used to refer to the linear density of the fabric or yarn. Fabrics with large fibers have higher denier measurements, whereas thin fabrics have lower ones.

Different Types of Braiding
Banded Braid: Wide pieces of solid or multi-colored pieces are braided together to create a predetermined pattern or design.

Flat Braid Construction: One of the more classic methods used, flat braid construction creates a look that most people tend to think of when they think about braided rugs. It uses three ropes of fabric, which are first intertwined, and then braided into the larger components of the rug.

Tape Braid: This type of braided rug uses 13 two-ply yarns to create a long tape-like piece. Three of these long tapes are then coiled around two parallel pieces of yarn.

Tubular Braid: At the center of this type of braided rug is a variety of fabrics or fibers, which are surrounded by braided strips of fabric.

Yarn Braid: This refers to braided rugs created with several different three-ply yards.

A Few Other Terms
Machine-Made: This term indicates that the braided rug was not made by hand, but with power looms controlled by a computer.

Rug Pad: A rug pad is a piece of fabric placed under any type of rug to provide extra softness, prevent slips, and extend the life of the rug.