Fringing a fly plaid

[Barb T.]

Hi folks!
A couple people have asked how to make the kind of purled fringe on the edge of a fly plaid like the one shown on the following site:

http://www.lindaclifford.com/FlyPlaid.html

I asked my mom, who knows everything, and here's what she said. Thought I'd share it with you folks in case you wanted to make your own:

Start by pulling threads out of the edge of the tartan until you have maybe 3-4" of fringe all the way around. You can experiment with the length you want - the twisted and tied fringe will be shorter than it is when it's not yet tied. Just remember that you can't put the threads back, but you _can_ take more out!!.

Select 4-8 warp ends (depending on the weight of the yarn) For the kilt fabric, I think that 6 would be about right. Anyway try 6 and see how it works. Divide the six into 2 equal groups. Twist one group of 3 to the right until it kinks. Holding on to the end of that, twist the other three to the right until it kinks. Hold both together at the tip and twist them to the left until the whole group of 6 kinks. Tie a tight overhand knot in the end. It is easiest if you use some kind of "board" that you can stick pins into. Stick the pin into the fabric and into the board at the point where the fabric ends and where the fringe begins. That gives you something to brace the fringe against while you are doing the twisting.

Cheers,

Barb

[RockyR]

Kelly's been SEARCHING AND SEARCHING for an instruction on that. Thanks Barb!

[Barb T.]

No prob - my mom hand weaves early American coverlets and has used various knotted fringes for the edges. I figured she'd know!

Barb

[Southern Breeze]

Great article, I'll try this when I find time. THANKS.

[way2fractious]

[Happy face] At first I thought casual and traditional kiltmaking was arduous and time consuming.

[Cool with that] Then sporran making was added.

[Smiles] Kilt pins had to be searched out.

[Fun] Dying leather belts black and brown followed.

[Confused] The right shoes, the right socks and hose.

[Look sharp] Swords and dirks and knives...

[Penny-pinching] Re-tailoring tweed jackets kept me busy for a while.

[New ideas] Throw in tartan scarves with tied fringes, tartan santa hats with rabbit fur accents, tartan diaper bags for new grandchildren arriving.

Now purled fringes! Will the accessorizing never end!?

[Barb T.]

It is a sore trial, isn't it?

Barb

[Peter C.]

Thanks Barb, I`ve got to try this!

I have one question Barb, which will probably sound stupid to you. Just bear in mind that I am a simple Englishman

By an overhand knot, do you mean make a loop and push the threads through so that the knot ends up against the fabric?

Peter

[bunchdescendant]

Barb-

That was so stupidly simple that it's incredible!

I had tried to do this for some time but just couldn't figure it out. The piece that I had to work from I could't do some 'de-construction' to for information. My mother would have known how to do this but she passed away some time ago. Mothers always know these things.

Thanks for enlightening us. Pardon me while I go feel stupid for a while.

Ray

[gilmore]

Hi folks!
A couple people have asked how to make the kind of purled fringe on the edge of a fly plaid like the one shown on the following site:

http://www.lindaclifford.com/FlyPlaid.html


Select 4-8 warp ends (depending on the weight of the yarn) For the kilt fabric, I think that 6 would be about right. Anyway try 6 and see how it works. Divide the six into 2 equal groups. Twist one group of 3 to the right until it kinks. Holding on to the end of that, twist the other three to the right until it kinks. Hold both together at the tip and twist them to the left until the whole group of 6 kinks. Tie a tight overhand knot in the end...

Do you mean an overhand knot or a square knot?

[Peter C.]

Thanks for that link Gilmore, seeing the finished article answers my questions.