backing 26 onto which the carpet fibers 28 are secured by either gluing or weaving each longitudinal edge 30 a 30 b fig1 of the carpet runner 18 is prefinished during the manufacture of the roll 12 most preferably the edges 30 a 30 b are finished by stitching with a wool nylon or other synthetic thread or fiber although not essential as shown best in fig4 and 5 typically the stitching of the prefinished edges 30 a 30 b is done with the majority and preferably at least about 80 of the individual edging fibers 32 arranged in an orientation of between about u00b1 60 to 90 degrees from the longitudinal extent of the edges 30 a 30 b most preferably the fibers 32 are oriented approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective edges 30 a 30 b as shown best in fig2 to provide the dispensed length of carpet runner 18 with a factory finished or customized look and eliminate the exposure of aesthetically unpleasing cut carpet ends the present invention further provides for an edge finishing kit 36 to be used in conjunction with the dispensed length of carpet runner 18 as will be described the kit 36 is used to provide a factory finished or customized appearance to the carpet ends 20 22 which mimics the appearance of the factory prefinished edges 30 a 30 b the kit 36 most preferably consists of an elongated edging strip 38 for concealing the carpet ends 20 22 and instructions not shown used to guide the consumer in the application of the edging strip 38 to the carpet runner 18 although not essential edging strip 38 preferably has a longitudinal length greater than one and preferably both of the carpet.