Thread: New Costume Goddess video tip

Hi,
I've been getting questions for which I will make answers on video, for my Costume Goddess YouTube Channel. Here's the latest:


I kept it brief; did not get into the more complicated aspects of file piracy. Please comment, or ask me more questions that I can show & tell on video.

Dina Lydia

I have a suggestion for a future video. I don't know how hard this would be for you to put together, but I'd like to see a step-by-step demonstration of the double-in-half technique you described here http://www.shira.net/costuming/cg/beadedfringe.htm for making fringe. I've always been intimidated by the idea of trying to get the tension right on this method, after you factor in the wiggle room needed for the strands themselves, and for attaching the strands to the crochet-line base, and for covering up the crochet-line base with trim once you sewed it on the costume.

Torbeau,
Because beading involves such tiny details, I'm not sure a video, or even a series of photographs, would make those instructions any more clear than the diagram on Shira's page. I had to read that article over myself, because it must've been more than 10 years ago that I wrote how-tos for Shira, before I had costumegoddess.com.

I'll consider showing this on video, however. For people who can't relate to a 2-dimensional diagram, seeing the chain-fringe as it appears in reality might be helpful. I was thinking about the topic "Why fringe?" because I much prefer a costume with moving parts (beaded fringe, coins, chains, etc); some designers have eliminated that.

I wouldn't be intimidated. It's not like cutting into a piece of fabric. You can experiment, then quickly unravel the crochet chain and start over if it's not what you want.

I suggest 1/8 inch, or slightly more, of "play" (uncovered thread) in each single beaded strand to allow for folding in half and "wiggle room". Without that extra length, the strands will end up very stiff. You should be able to see the effect after the first one or two. Any extra thread will be covered by trim at the end.

For the chain, as it says, experiment with a few strands to see if it results in the density of fringe that you want. To approximate the closely spaced, heavy Egyptian fringe, your crochet chain should be tight to keep the strands right next to each other. If you want a slightly lighter (and more economical) fringe, don't pull the loops quite as tight; allow a little space between pairs of strands. Try to keep it consistent, though.

If the fringe is more widely spaced than you intended at the end, and you don't want to start over with a new chain, compress the loops of the chain a little when you sew the fringe to the costume. The trim will cover those stitches. Or, you can layer a second strand on top of the first, or slightly above for a double-story fringe.

I hope that answers your question.

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

I have a suggestion for a future video. I don't know how hard this would be for you to put together, but I'd like to see a step-by-step demonstration of the double-in-half technique you described here http://www.shira.net/costuming/cg/beadedfringe.htm for making fringe. I've always been intimidated by the idea of trying to get the tension right on this method, after you factor in the wiggle room needed for the strands themselves, and for attaching the strands to the crochet-line base, and for covering up the crochet-line base with trim once you sewed it on the costume.