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The Randomizer Speaks • Fringe Dwelling

First of all, I have reached 35 comments – hurray and thanks to all who have posted comments!  I activated the randomizer and came up with a warp winner.  And . . . the winner is . . . Sandy (luvstosew)!! Congratulations Sandy, I will email you to talk about what fibers/number of shafts, etc. you would like for your warp:)) Please keep the comments coming.  The next winner will get 2 beautiful skeins of hand-dyed yarn from the Kangaroo Dyer.

On to fringe dwelling.  Today I put on a warp for making fringes for the ddw pillows. The idea is to separate the sections of warp to twice the number of inches you want for your fringe length. Typically you would weave the two sections of warp with a single weft – you will have x number of inches of unwoven weft threads in the center – you then cut the unwoven part apart down the center and you have two bands with fringe. I tried three, so I have two bands with selvedges and fringe and the center band with fringe on both edges.  I was a little afraid that the fringe would be skimpy, so I thought the center (double fringe band) could possibly be folded in half lengthwise to get a fuller fringe.  This is illustrated nicely in Suzanne Baizerman’s book, Finishes in the Ethnic Tradition.  It is out-of-print, but if you come across a copy, get it.  It has wonderful drawings of how to twine edges, how to do 3, 4, 5 strand braids, how to make tubular band edging, etc.  Anyway, you can make the fringe band very decorative if it is going to show or very plain if it is going to be tucked into a seam.  I will post the results of my fringe dwelling as soon as I get there.

COMMENTS
  • November 30, 2012
    reply

    Barbara

    Hi, Lisa,
    Loving your blog, as I have always admired your weaving.
    Thanks for re-introducing me to the fringe concept; something that I have always been meaning to try. What a perfect use for the Baby Mac when it’s not preparing or recovering from a workshop outing!

    Barbara

  • December 1, 2012
    reply

    Elisabeth Hill

    Thanks Barbara,
    I would love to see some pics when you weave your fringe. I wonder if you have come across any information on how the final warp thread in the band part is secured. I guess one could do a vertical hem stitch . . . hmmm . . . something to think about.

    • December 3, 2012
      reply

      Barbara

      Hi, Lisa,

      This information is probably too late for this particular go-round for you, but check out Virginia West’s book, Finishing Touches for the Handweaver. In my 1988 revised edition, there is a method illustrated on pages 58 and 59 titled, “Saving time: Two Lengths of Fringe Woven at Once”. Basically, after weaving 4 weft shots (= 2 loops of fringe), you take the weft over and back without making a loop (on each of the fringe headers). It acts as a binder for those selvedge ends. The diagram on page 59 demystifies it much better than my clumsy description! She also details making fringes with patterned headers using overshot…very sweet!

      B.

      • December 4, 2012
        reply

        Elisabeth Hill

        Thanks Barbara! It makes so much sense. I am so grateful to all those great weaving minds that have gone before and to my weaving buds who share the info with me:)) . . . And, luckily (this time) I haven’t woven any further on the fringe – the tip comes at the perfect moment. Thank you!

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