Thread: Where to buy metal chain fringe?

If this even exists. Has anyone ever seen premade metal chain fringe? I've seen metal bullion fringe sometimes, but it is very expensive. And Shipwrecked Beads sells metal tassels. If not, has anyone ever made a bunch of metal chain fringe and has some tips? I've only done swags and loops.

Tribal Bazaar has some i think... in any case i guess that's probably your best bet

I've never seen chain fringe already made, but it isn't hard to make if you have jeweler's tools. I'm making a chain fringe bedlah myself.

I'd suggest buying chain by the spool. (Michael's should have a couple of different styles in stock, but if you're extravagant, you can get fancier chain in 48"-60" lengths. Mail-order vendors may have better options, if you're not in a hurry.) Depending on the chain, you may need jump rings, or you may be able to use the links themselves. Jeweler's pliers are better than the regular needle-nosed ones that they sell in the hardware store because they won't leave as many marks on the links.

If you don't already have one, you should buy a jeweler's jump ring tool. This is a metal ring with slots in it that you wear on your non-dominant hand to hold and stabilize a link/jump ring as you're working, so you don't damage the rest of your piece (and your fingernails).

The tribal bazzar stuff isn't quite what I want.
Tourbeau, do you make the fringe on a seperate cord or base first, or just sew it onto the belt/bra base itself? I'd love to see your bedlah!

Here's my inspiration. But a less cheesy version...

I once saw a dancer take a spool of metal ball chain (like the kind you see on key rings sometimes), cut it into pieces of different lengths (she wanted it to be irregular) and sandwich the top ends between two strips of duct tape! Yes, duct tape. It turned out to be a cool little belt.

Originally Posted by dunyah

I once saw a dancer take a spool of metal ball chain (like the kind you see on key rings sometimes), cut it into pieces of different lengths (she wanted it to be irregular) and sandwich the top ends between two strips of duct tape! Yes, duct tape. It turned out to be a cool little belt.

I love ideas like this : )

Originally Posted by jetgirl

The tribal bazzar stuff isn't quite what I want.
Tourbeau, do you make the fringe on a seperate cord or base first, or just sew it onto the belt/bra base itself? I'd love to see your bedlah!

No, I'm making it on the same chain as the fringe, and the fringe segments are attached to the base with small jump rings. As I'm going, I'm checking to make sure I have a really secure connection on each jump ring. If I were using thin coins or paillettes, I would probably use split rings, but the pieces I'm using are wide enough that they shouldn't fall through if the jump-ring ends meet tightly.

I'm actually using two different kinds of chain for the project. Most of it is plain, even-link chain, and then I've taken a large, hammered-link chain apart, and I'm using the hammered links for accents. I have bead segments between the chain ones. Luckily, I've sized the beads so I can get two findings out of a single head pin. This is a segment of the chain for the bra:




After I finish all the metalwork, I'm going to sew the chain onto a bra and belt base. I have a couple of inches of chain left to finish for the bra, and then I'll start working on attaching it. I'm going to use some wide, gold fabric trim accented with extra beads to flesh out the design. It'll be kind of retro with the thick fringe, but at the rate I'm going, tons of fringe will be back in style by the time I get the costume finished!

That's fabulous! Thanks!

That's beautiful, Tourbeau. Great inspiration.

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Originally Posted by Tourbeau

If you don't already have one, you should buy a jeweler's jump ring tool. This is a metal ring with slots in it that you wear on your non-dominant hand to hold and stabilize a link/jump ring as you're working, so you don't damage the rest of your piece (and your fingernails).

This sounds very useful .... my boyfriend and I work with jump rings a lot, and I'm doing just that (ripping up my fingernails). I have all the usual tools (needle-nose pliers, etc.), but never heard of a "jump ring tool". By any chance, do you have a pic? Thanks for the tip!

Ah ... found it! FireMountain Gems has it ... and also has chain by the meter:
Steampunk Style Jewelry-Making Supplies - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads