Textures and Loops:

  For some reason, people are always asking about Berbers. I often wondered if it's because they know the name of the style. Berbers can go a long way in some cases, in other cases they would be a bad choice of carpeting. I do not care for them personally, for a multitude of reasons. One of the main reasons is they don't bind very well; especially not thick ones. What happens with Berber carpet is that the binding tends to form to the shape of the carpet loop. This makes for an illusion that the binding is not sewn straight. Today, we worked on a thick Berber carpet. The binding looked very erratic to me. It didn't seem as if the machine stitched a straight line, even though it did. I don't like when our binding doesn't look good, it gives a bad impression on the consumer. Alas, I will write about it in attempt to dissuade people from thinking it's the binding versus the real culprit- the texture of the carpet.
  Below are a few pictures of a Berber carpet without any binding:

Image 1: Berber  carpet without binding.

Image 2: Berber carpet without binding.

Image 3: Berber carpet without binding.

   In the first image, you can clearly see the variances of carpet loop. The edge has a tiny/discrete loop that turns into a very bulbous prominent loop and so on and so forth. When you bind an edge like that, the binding forms to the carpet (as previously stated) creating an unsightly visual.

   In the second image, you may have noticed all the loose fibers protruding out (no, it isn't a bad hair day). This is what happens when you cut Berber carpet to width. They rarely, if ever, cut well to width. When they are manufactured, Berbers are looped in rows, to the length of the carpet. You can pull just one little loop out and continue pulling that same strand until the whole length of the roll is reached. At which point, you will see the carpet backing.  This is how many people ruin their Berber carpets; a small snag turns into a big loop that's no longer fastened to the back, so they keep pulling at the yarn until there is nothing left to pull (nor any carpet loops left). Which would look like this:

Berber carpet not bound; carpet back shows when loops are pulled completely to length.

    The third image is merely a different angle of the same carpet, again the loops cut to width just fray out. Which is where binding is necessary! When binding these Berber carpets, we use a pair of 12 inch scissor-shears and trim all of those fiber prior to running any binding machines. When the edge is cleaned up from all the snaggly yarns, we can then bind them. However, just as it is to length, the binding will form to the shape of the carpet. 

   So, what am I getting at here?

When purchasing a carpet, it is important to be aware of the texture and what it may or may not do when it is bound. Really thick Berber carpets that are bound rarely have the same crisp look that a cut-pile carpet will have. This only matters if you're a picky consumer. Texture, loop size, pile-height and thickness are all factors that make or break a binding job. That's why you can use the same binding on two different types of carpet and end with two very different outcomes aesthetically. 

  I won't end this with so much negative connotations against Berber carpet. There is some benefit to them. Multi-colored Berbers hide stains well; they are frequently used in apartment complexes for that reason. If they are cared for properly, they can last a long time (don't even think about wearing stiletto spikes and walking on it though). Lastly, they are cost effective, depending on the quality. If you're looking for a quick replacement on a low budget, one of the super stores (Lowe's, Wal-Mart, etc.) will most likely have Berber carpet in stock, already bound and ready to go home with you. Just remember, the texture of the carpet will impact the final aesthetics of the binding! 

DWP Carpet Binding would like to say 

"Thank You" to all of our customers!