Rugs: thrums

The present-day definition of thrums, according to the dictionary, is "the end of a weaver's thread or any loose thread or fringe" but for rug-making purposes it means the "left-overs" from the carpet factories.

As might be expected, therefore, thrums provides excellent material for rugs as regards both colours and wearing qualities and, being waste material (from the point of view of the carpet factories), it is comparatively inexpensive.

Axminster thrums is typical of carpet wool of medium thickness and is, perhaps, the most commonly used wool for needle-made rugs. It is normally 2-ply.

In the following pages when the word thrums is used (e.g. two lengths of thrums) it will refer to this particular form of carpet wool.