Thread: I need a tutorial on looped fringe

I tried to do a little search on how to make looped fringe, aka swag but I didn't find anything. This is for my pearl costume. I can figure out how to make it, but my biggest questions have to do with spacing it and attaching it.

Keep in mind this swag is going to be made out of pearls. I want to have 3 groups of swag on the bra, and 3 groups of swag on each side of the belt. Each group will have at least 4 separate fringe pieces.

So how is it done? Do I make each individual swag and sew them directly on the bra/belt? Should I make a group of swag and then sew it on the group? How do a find a good distance to place them apart?

Here are my inspirations (we're just looking at fringe here):

(Sarah's belt especially)

I can't help... but I wanted to say WOW! those are lofty inspirations...and you are doing an AMAZING job at recreating them

Should I make a group of swag and then sew it on the group? How do a find a good distance to place them apart?

I use a cotton cord to sew on and not the belt itself. Plan how you want it to look. I like one big swag over the butt for a cupped butt effect. Mark the 2 outer most limits of the swag with a pen, and then fill it in - beginning with the smallest swag ( in dead center of that big swag) first. Then decide what you want the crotch swag to look like and mark that(or those) and then fill in in a symetric fashion around those major land marks. Then sew the chord to the belt under the lining. I also like an overlapping effect as well...same process.

I like anala's advice, but anyone else care to chime in? Bumpers!

Hey Gang..

Swagged fringe goes a heck-of-a-lot faster than the single strand variety, and it looks good during spins and when still.. This is my approach:

First - I make the bra and belt - get them all done. Don't put your linings in until you're all done - but get the cover on.

Next - I use a heavy cotton string and pin into place on the bra and belt roughly where I think I want them to go...

Try it on and test - So.. hit the mirror. look at the drape. Remember, the beads will be heavier and create rounder curve, but the goal here is to look at spacings. Make any adjustments you need to. Mark the ends of the strings and label. (I take a digital photo of everything in place first - Remove the strings and label with magic tape and sharpie - My labels are like Bra 1, Bra 2, Left belt 1.. etc.. etc..) I use a pin with a colorful glass head to mark the spot that the thread should go in and be knotted. If I am unsure of exact position, I use the center front of my bra to measure out with a tape in both directions to be sure that the positions are as perfect as they can be. When working on the belt, use the sides and the center front/back as places from which to check your positions with a tape measure.

I knot from inside the bra/belt with a heavy knot and multiple thin threads (I'm old-school - for pearls I still like dental floss - not mint - though a good nylon upholstery thread is good) --- I use my "pattern string" to make the pearls the correct length, and then go through the opposite side and knot.

After you have finished a section of layered swags, be sure to try it on and make sure your spacing is as good as it gets - now is the time to make any alterations to the pattern or plan.

When you are finished with the pearl swag application - and you are through making changes - go back through the inside of the costume and hit your knots with a dab of fabric or craft glue for extra support. And be sure to put in a lining because this technique tends to require big knots - which are ugly and rub - so why not hide them?

Anyways - those are my tips - hope they help!

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Author - Costumer - Dancer - Davina aka Dawn Devine Brown - Author - Costumer - Dancer - Historian

Originally Posted by davina

Hey Gang..

Swagged fringe goes a heck-of-a-lot faster than the single strand variety, and it looks good during spins and when still.. This is my approach:

First - I make the bra and belt - get them all done. Don't put your linings in until you're all done - but get the cover on.

Next - I use a heavy cotton string and pin into place on the bra and belt roughly where I think I want them to go...

Try it on and test - So.. hit the mirror. look at the drape. Remember, the beads will be heavier and create rounder curve, but the goal here is to look at spacings. Make any adjustments you need to. Mark the ends of the strings and label. (I take a digital photo of everything in place first - Remove the strings and label with magic tape and sharpie - My labels are like Bra 1, Bra 2, Left belt 1.. etc.. etc..) I use a pin with a colorful glass head to mark the spot that the thread should go in and be knotted. If I am unsure of exact position, I use the center front of my bra to measure out with a tape in both directions to be sure that the positions are as perfect as they can be. When working on the belt, use the sides and the center front/back as places from which to check your positions with a tape measure.

I knot from inside the bra/belt with a heavy knot and multiple thin threads (I'm old-school - for pearls I still like dental floss - not mint - though a good nylon upholstery thread is good) --- I use my "pattern string" to make the pearls the correct length, and then go through the opposite side and knot.

After you have finished a section of layered swags, be sure to try it on and make sure your spacing is as good as it gets - now is the time to make any alterations to the pattern or plan.

When you are finished with the pearl swag application - and you are through making changes - go back through the inside of the costume and hit your knots with a dab of fabric or craft glue for extra support. And be sure to put in a lining because this technique tends to require big knots - which are ugly and rub - so why not hide them?

Anyways - those are my tips - hope they help!

Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Author - Costumer - Dancer - Davina aka Dawn Devine Brown - Author - Costumer - Dancer - Historian

Thank you! That is helpful. I love your book, Embellished Bras, BTW. Huge Fan! ..g.:

I use woven tape to attach the fringe to- I think it is easier to sew in than chord, but that's just me!
If I am doing fringe hanging from fringe (like in the top photo) I do the strand that I need to be extra sturdy with crochet- there are tutorials all over the place for this right now. If you use a thin enough strand, it just looks like a regular strand of beads, but MUCH stronger. For the rest, I use a bead spinner, but I don't think that would work with pearls. Real time (and eye) saver if you are doing glass seed beads anywhere, tho.
good luck!

I mount them on thin 4-holes buttons. I attach the threads to one button, pin on a cork board. Then I eyeball the distance I want between the buttons and the drop of the swag and bead away, securing into the second button. The neat thing about this method is that it is easy to adjust and I can play with the width of the swag somewhat, even after it's done. I can also leave it on the cork board to use as pattern for other swags (if making more than one of that type). And it's easy to transfer: just sew the buttons inside the garment and cover the button with felt (nice and solid, no button imprint on the skin). Or, sometimes, I knot the swag in place and then cut it off the button to sew on the garment, depends what I'm making.

HTHS,

Kem

I never heard of the button approach but I think it's genious!!!

Thanks Marianna! (Although this was spawned more out of laziness than genius: I wanted to be able to migrate my swags from one piece to another without re-doing them all over again. *g*)