My son is serving in Afghanistan and sent us a rug. I don't want to use it on the floor but would like to hang it on the wall. Not with a curtain rod - sticks out too much. The rug is about 5x6 feet and not too heavy. I know what I don't want to do. I don't want to use staples or nails to attach it to a wooden bar. Anyone have any ideas how to do this?
Thanks in advance for your help.
MKS

I found a truely cool website that has hanging rods with the same sort of holding attachments you see in clothing store hangers for trousers.

Look here.

As an alternative idea, they have huge brass safety pins for using as decorative closures on skirts and such.

You COULD use several of these sort of safety pins over the rod you say you have (drape the edge of the rug over and secure the back piece of the rug to the larger draping front piece).

Brass Safety Pins

You can also use velcro fastening. This is commonly used to hang good rugs in Europe. A velcro strip is stitched lightly along the back of the rug on the edging and and the counterpart strip is fixed to a wooden batten on the wall. This method has the advantage that you can hang the rug flat or gathered up somewhat, as you prefer.

The rug and carpet departments of, certainly, two of the best shops in London hang valuable rugs for display like this every day. Their alternative method involves clips like the ones in Sherasi's post above.

The problem with individual fasteners along the length of a cloth, is that ultimately it will lead to sags. Clips and Pins will damage the pile.

Lets start with the simplest method:

What you need is a clamping rug/quilt hanger. http://www.thehangerstore.com/ I believe you can find these just about anywhere. If you are handy you could make it yourself.

Another thing you could do if you are good with a needle and know how to surface stitch (Go through one layer of material and/or snag the surface of a material), or if the rug has a thick pile; you could use a strip of denim material (jean material) and stitch it along the back along the side you will hang it from, then use a rod threaded through that. This will provide even hanging along the top length of the rug. If the rug is very heavy and or large, you could use flat iron/angle iron (Flat bar and other names: http://www.intermet.com.tr/15-flat-bars.htm ) which comes in a wide variety of lengths and widths. Some come with holes drilled or stamped along their length. The only thing with Iron is that you need to paint it with a good metal paint to seal it and prevent rusting.

I doubt you could use a sewing machine since they tend to go through the material. The idea is to have the stitching hidden on the pile side.

The first method is good if you wish to maintain the original design of the rug However where it claps down would lead to compression on the pile which over time would leave a permanent imprint. The latter could have an affect on the value, some antique dealers are pretty picky about the condition/modification of a textile.

Another method (one used by curators) is to stretch canvas over a frame; the canvass frame would be larger, having about 2-4 inches more around the perimeter of the rug, then the rug is stretched – not to hard, and whip stitched along its perimeter into place – Most likely using a heavy gauge clear “invisible” thread.

This option provides you with the ability to use a contrasting canvass like what professional picture framers do, framing inside the frame with a matt. This works very well for say a light colored lace on a dark back ground where you desire to have the stitch work of the lace stand out. You could kick it up a notch and add a frame or even further and make a “shadow box” by having a deeper frame with a sheet of glass or Lexan or plexiglass – you do no put the glass/lexan/plexi against the cloth, it is 1-3 inches off of the cloth itself.

PS: Instead of streching canvass over a wood frame, you could use a foam panel instead, makes it a tad bit lighter.

Thank you all for your help. I have learned a lot. I like the idea of the clips. The rod pocket on the back of the rug makes sense - no sag. But how to attach that pocket? Handstitching through a rug? Ouch my fingers from pushing the needle through or even using a thimble or pliers - I've had experience with similar stuff. I don't think a regular sewing machine will work; would have to take it to a shoemaker. Do they still exist? Velcro - do I trust it? I bought the real heavy duty type to attach a copy holder to the PC - keeps getting loose just sitting there - I don't use it much.
My son's comment: " It's $30 rug, put it on the floor already." I think clamping a woodstrip and the rug together might work - but those rods are expensive. Oops, thinking out loud and long here. Thank you all for your help. I do appreciate it.
MKS

I don't know if this will work in your case but I had to hang something like that for the Mrs.

I attached a carpet tack strip to the wall and hung the item from it. Tacks are so close together that the item can not sag.

Carpet tack strips are a wood strip with sharp tacks sticking up through it. They are used around a room to hold carpet down. Just be sure to have the tacks point up.

Thanks Walks on Water - that might work. I'll have free strips available since my next project is taking up the wall to wall. Like I said - I'm not dealing with anything antique or precious - So that should work. Key - it's cheap. Thanks! MKS