Braided Rugs

Capel has been making Braided rugs since 1917 and—after more than 100 years—we’re really good at it!

Reversible, durable, and full of soft premium yarns, our braided rugs are familiar in all the best ways. Our original designs are braided from custom-blended yarn for extra durability and texture. We may be new to you, but we've been making impeccably stylish, beautifully designed braids for over a hundred years. Discover chenille, wool, and even outdoor options, all made in our North Carolina factory since 1917.

History

Life on the American frontier was difficult. Cabins were roughly built, and floors had many cracks. To stay warm on cold winter nights, early settlers found it a matter of necessity to cover the drafty floors with large animal skins.

In time a new floor covering product appeared among the settlers and became very popular - the braided rug! Early settlers made braided rugs by taking strips of cloth torn from old blankets, coats, pieces of canvas, and whatever scrap materials happened to be available at the time. These scraps were then fashioned into a braid the same way one would braid hair. The braids were then sewn together into ever widening circles to make a rug. Since the cloth strips came from many different sources the first braided rugs were vibrant and multi-colored.

Braided rugs could be created on the frontier without the need for complicated machinery. Braided rugs were not only warm and useful, they symbolized frontier living where nothing was discarded and one found a way to use what was at hand. Uniquely American, braided rugs were born on the American frontier.

The Capel Story: The First Continuous Yarn Braided Rug

In March 1915, when, our grandfather, A. Leon Capel, Sr. was 15 years old, he started a new business manufacturing plowlines, which he named Gee-Haw Plowlines. The mules and horses of the day recognized a four-word vocabulary. “Whoa” meant ‘stop’; “Git up” meant ‘go’; “Gee” meant ‘turn right’; and “Haw” meant ‘turn left’. Leon used half of their vocabulary when he named his company the Gee-Haw Plowlines.

Two years later in 1917, while in Atlanta selling his plowlines to major distributors, he noticed in the paper that Henry Ford had developed a mechanical mule – the tractor. Mr. Capel foresaw the tractor replacing the mule as the end of his plowline business.

Not wanting to be at the end of his rope, Mr. Capel thought of another way to use his rope materials in a different product. He braided his materials (rather than twisting them into rope), dyeing them many colors, and then stitching the braids with a sewing machine in ever widening ovals or circles to make the world’s first continuous yarn braided rug. This was the first time anyone had manufactured braided yarn rugs, and Leon appropriately named these rugs New Departure. They were an immediate hit and he could barely keep up with demand.

In 1924, Leon purchased some looms and began manufacturing a chenille yarn braided rug. The rugs he created were multicolor and vibrant harkening back to frontier days which he named “Old Homestead”. In January 1978 more than 50 years after its conception the Old Homestead was the first braided rug selected for the floor covering hall of fame in Chicago.

In 1936, Leon bought a spinning mill and begin working on special yarn blends for braided rugs. Through the years he figured out the right blends to create the subtle variations of colors, beautiful palettes, and incredible quality which make Capel braided rugs so uniquely beautiful and sought after.

After more than 100 years of making braided rugs we have gotten really good at it! Today Capel has over 5,000 braided rug style, color, size combinations! We are the largest braided rug manufacturer in the US and the trusted supplier to many leading retailers.


It is both a pleasure and honor to continue our grandfather’s incredible legacy of making the best braided rugs!

Richard, Cameron, and Ron

Define Your Design

Our design team’s passion is creating new yarns, textures, and color combinations that continually redefine how braided rugs are used in decorating. You’ll be amazed by the vast and varied choices. In fact, Capel manufactures more than 5,000 different styles, colors, shapes, and sizes—not to mention custom!—so it’s easy to find the right rug. From new classics to Americana, Farmhouse to Cabin, Lake or Coastal, we have the perfect braided rug for your home. With our broad range of shapes and sizes, any braid can be made-to-order in the eight shapes we offer. Capel manufactures braided rugs in custom sizes from as small as a chair seat to as large as 24’ x 24’! We can even make rectangle runners up to 60’ long!
We know that's a lot to take in, so let us break it down into easy steps:

Choose Your Style

Not sure what you're looking for? Follow these links to see some of our designer’s favorite styles and colors:

Choose Your Shape

Braided Rug Shapes

Concentric: Our concentric braids feature unique yarn patterns for a shadow-box effect.

Round: Our round-shaped braids have an authentic hand-crafted appeal. Round is a smart choice for dining rooms and kitchens.

Cross-Sewn: Cross-sewn braids are sewn horizontally rather than top to bottom, mimicking the look of hand-loomed rugs.

Oval: Oval is the traditional shape of the Capel braid and still remains the most popular today.

Basket: Braided baskets are perfect to organize, store, and carry all sorts of things.

Square: Practical, versatile, and hard-to-find in area rug shapes, our square braids create a stirring look.

Runner: Braided runners add warmth and softness to hallways and stairs.

Vertical Stripe: A contemporary braided look with the braid running top to bottom. A narrow border of braid is sewn around the outside edge of each rug for a finished edge.

Choose Your Size

Now that you've chosen your style and shape, choose the right size for your room using the sizing guide below. (This guide is also available on each product page for your convenience.)

4x6 Oval Size Guide5x8 Oval Size Gide8x11 Oval Size Guide

4x6 Size Guide 5x8 Size Guide8x10 Size Guide

4x6 Oval Size Guide5x8 Oval Size Gide8x11 Oval Size Guide

4x6 Size Guide 5x8 Size Guide8x10 Size Guide

4x6 Oval Size Guide5x8 Oval Size Gide8x11 Oval Size Guide

Explore More

Still not sure about the style you are looking for, but know it when you see it? Then get started with one of these more general searches: