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Twisting Fringe Step by Step

6/14/2023

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Most of my scarves and shawls have twisted fringe because I love twisted fringe.  I like the way it looks.  I like the way it feels when I run my fingers through it.  But making good twisted fringe takes practice and a plan.

​I have just posted a video on YouTube showing my process.
By all means watch the video, but I will describe the basics here.
(Click on any photo to zoom in)


Planning for making twisted fringe
  • Weave a weft protector (also called a header) at the beginning and end of each piece.   Use a yarn that is approximately the same size as the weft because it will keep the header area from spreading out or drawing in differently from the scarf itself.  Use a contrasting color because you want to be able to see it when you  remove it during the fringing process.​
  • When planning your warp, allow  enough warp for fringe on both ends of each piece.   Allow 2-3" more than you want your finished fringe.
  • BEFORE your start twisting, trim the fringe at both ends of the scarf to the same length, 
  • NOTE:  How many ends you use in each fringe bout depends on the size of the yarns and your personal preference - how thick do you want your fringe?  I like my fringe fairly fine, so, for example, when using 8/2 Tencel I usually twist 2 groups of 4 ends together for a total of 8 per bout. ​
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​Great tools to have on hand for fringing:
  • Gridded mat
  • Masking tape and/or blue painter's tape
  • Paperweights, heavy books or  book ends
  • Small scissors
  • Double pointed needle
  • Comb
  • Fringe twister - battery powered or manual
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Making the Fringe
  • Carefully remove the weft protector as you work.  I like to remove a 2-3" section of weft protector at a time.   
  • Count out the ends you will need for a bout of fringe and divide into 2 groups.
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  • Clip the two groups into the fringe twister and twist clockwise until you have the desired amount of twist.  This is a bit of trial and error, but you can get a good idea of what the final fringe will look like by releasing tension on the bouts and letting them twist back on themselves.
  • Remove the ends from the fringe twister and  twist them back on each other in the counterclockwise direction
  • Knot at the desired length by loosely tying an overhand knot in the ends and maneuvering the knot to the appropriate length.  Then tighten the knot.  ​
Tip:
​Use the gridded mat to help tie the knots at the same length all the way across.
  • ​I continue twisting fringe from right to left until I am about 3-4" from the left hand edge.  At that point, I remove the remainder of the weft protector and begin fringing from the left edge towards the right.  I twist the first 2 or 3 bouts on the left and then COUNT the remaining groups of threads out into bouts, fudging as needed if there is not an even multiple of ends that I need to finish.​
​
​Protecting the Fringe 
  • To protect the fringe in the wash (whether machine washing or washing by hand),  cut a strip of iron-on interfacing that is 3" high and the width of the scarf. 
  • Fold this over the ends of the fringe, being sure to leave about 1/2-1" between the knots and the edge of the interfacing, and press in place (follow manufacturer's recommendations for time to press).
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​Trimming the Fringe
  • Wet finish and dry your work of art as desired.
  • After washing and drying your scarf, trim the fringe to about 1/4" from the knots.

Enjoy your finished piece!
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Videos, videos, videos!

6/11/2022

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I am back to work on my blog after a long hiatus.  The first thing I want to do is share some videos with you that I have created.  Jane Stafford I am not, and I can promise you these videos are not professional, but I think that they do a pretty good job of showing my process for warping back to front.  I also think that even more experienced weavers might benefit from a host of tips that I share in the videos.

Over the past two years of the pandemic, I taught a "next step" Weave a Scarf class on Zoom.  The class was intended to be for students who had taken a beginning weaving class and warped a loom before but who might not be super comfortable yet going through the steps for getting their warp on the loom.  To prep for the class, I created 5 "refresher" videos to help my students get through the process of setting up their looms at home.

I hope you enjoy the videos.  Send me feedback!

To view the videos, click on the hyperlink (the blue title) or on the photo next to the video description.



Video 1: Preparing the warp  ​19:41
  • Reading your draft
  • Measuring & positioning your guide thread
  • Measuring the warp
  • Counting threads at the cross
  • Tying of the warp
  • Chaining off the warp
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Video 2: Moving to the loom  ​17:21
  • Moving the warp chains to the loom
  • Setting up the loom for back to front warping
  • Spreading the warp in the raddle
  • Winding on to the back beam
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Video 3: Threading the heddles  ​6:24
  • Getting the loom ready
  • Threading the heddles
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Video 4: Threading the reed  ​5:52
This is a brief video showing the most comfortable way of threading the reed that I have found.
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Video 5: Tying on to the apron rod 8:24
I have tried many methods of tying on to the apron rod over the years.  This is the best method I have found.
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Bonus video: Knots, knots, knots! 5:00
A review of some of the knots I use when warping the loom as shown in the videos above.
  • Overhand loop for the guide thread
  • Slipknot at the start of the warp
  • Slipknot for joining 2 threads
  • Overhand knot for joining 2 threads
  • Twining the counting thread
  • Tying off the warp chain
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Bonus video: Threading a loom/ Threading Tips   7:00
This is a short video that shows how I thread a loom and check my work. This method has been a life saver for me. I count out heddles and threads for a small section of my draft. This allows me to thread, check, and catch my mistakes before proceeding to the next group.
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    Pattie Lamb

    I have been happily weaving since my son was born in 1988.

    All pictures on my blog are "zoomable" - just click on them to enlarge.

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