Sewing Fringe Tips and Tricks

We are often asked how to sew ribbon, flat fringe, or yarn into dance outfits or shawls for Grass Dancing, Fancy Shawl and other dance styles. The trend is to use these materials in very colorful designs. There are probably a number of ways to do this depending on your sewing experience, but Tracia Walksnice Nelson of our staff has had great success developing the method we describe here.

This method uses an iron-on adhesive called HeatnBond Lite, manufactured by Therm O Web. This demonstration uses the 5/8″ wide roll. We will show you how to prepare the fringe for sewing into seams for shawl edges or aprons and along trim lines for capes, yokes, shirts, or dresses. For your project, you need to plan ahead to conceal the taped fringe inside the seam or cover with ribbon on a trim line.

Based on the length of the fringe desired, select a flat piece of sturdy cardboard. Our example is for two sections of fringe, 8 inches long by 12 inches wide. For these dimensions, make the width of the cardboard 14 inches and the height 8 inches. This 14 inch width will allow you to make two 12 inch wide fringe sections as shown in Photo A.

Using a ruler, mark a horizontal line in the center of the cardboard on both sides, as shown in Photo B. Draw vertical lines one inch in from the edges, giving you the 12 inch width to follow as you wrap the fringe around the cardboard. Now tape the top edge of the 14 inch width of the cardboard, and also along the bottom of the cardboard, with wide scotch tape. This will allow you to slide the fringe together easier as you wrap it on the cardboard.

Photo B

If you are doing color patterns, you can mark where the colors change along the center line on both sides of the form. Cut a starting slit on the top right edge of the cardboard and again on the bottom left edge for the ending of the fringe wrapping.

Cut two 13 inch lengths of iron-on adhesive tape. Tack into position along each side of your center line with the peel off paper backing facing the cardboard form. Tack them down with a piece of Scotch tape at each end . Do this on only one side of the form as shown in Photo C.

Photo C

To begin wrapping, tuck one end of the fringe into the top right slit and wrap the fringe around the cardboard. (If you have color changes in the pattern, make more starting slits for each color along one edge.) When you have finished wrapping the 12 inch width, cut off the strand and tuck the end into the left slit. See Photo D. As needed, slide the wrapped fringe strands so they are neatly together along the form.

Photo D

Cut two more 13 inch lengths of iron-on adhesive tape and using scotch tape on the ends, tack in place over the other two but on top of the fringe, this time with the paper backing facing you. See Photo E. Then use the instructions on the HeatnBond package for ironing until the adhesive turns milky in color. Photo F.

Photo E

Photo F

Turn the form over and cut the fringe along the marked center line. Photo G. Remove the paper tape covering from both sides of the adhesive covered block of fringe. Cut the two pieces apart between the tape lines as shown in Photo H.

Photo G

Photo H

You are now ready to insert these two fringe sections into a planned seam or along a trim line. If you can’t sandwich the fringe into a seam, plan to cover it with a ribbon as shown in Photo I.

Photo I

Copyright 2005 by Loren Woerpel, Noc Bay Publishing, Inc.

TOPICS: Craft Tutorials, Featured, Pow Wow

9 Responses to “Sewing Fringe Tips and Tricks”

1. mcalkins4052 says:

   January 23, 2012 at 12:28 pm

   great idea

   Reply
2. Jan says:

   February 18, 2012 at 6:03 pm

   This is an awesome idea for fringe. I will have to try it on my next outfit. It certainly gets a very even and regular look to it. However, because grass does not have a regular pattern to it, I chose to do it with a looping process. I laid down one color of ribbon around the apron, then the next color ribbon and when I laid my third color, I laid yarn down while looping it while sewing on the basting and sewing the front to the back.

   Reply
3. Annette says:

   September 22, 2012 at 11:04 pm

   This worked great for me. Even when I was so tired I still was able to get it right. That is a plus in my book!

   Reply
4. veronica pauo says:

   March 19, 2013 at 7:10 pm

   thanks! I am going to use this tip

   Reply
5. cj flores says:

   March 19, 2013 at 7:14 pm

   awesome idea ,thank you a’ho a’ho !!

   Reply
   • Misty says:

     March 22, 2013 at 10:55 pm

     Hello,
     I am trying to get my fringe the right length. Soaring Eagles directions say 28 inches then looped will hang 14. Crazy Cow sell pre cut but it is only 18″. My Hoopa sister says it should be 32″ before the loop help someone please. I need to get to cutting. a’ho Misty

     Reply
6. kristalee says:

   March 21, 2013 at 1:11 am

   love it. great idea!

   Reply

Pow Wow Calendar Search

Quick Links

• Contest Results
• News
• Native American Jobs
• Native American Colleges and Universities
• Native American Tribes
• Resources for Scouts
• Resources for Students and Teachers
• Resources for 1st Pow Wow Visitors
• Drum Groups
• Mcs
• Arena Directors

Videos

Native American Beadwork Earrings -Brandy

Black Bear Crossing @ Red Lake 4th of July Powwow 2009

Native American – Earth Drum

Featured Articles

2013 Manito Ahbee Pow Wow

Native American Buckskin Beaded Boots – eBay Find of the Week

Beadwork by Dominique