Fringing a fly plaid

[Barb T]

Here's how to make the kind of fancy 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

[Carolina Kiltman]

I fringed and purled a fly play during the 14 weeks of therapy following cancer surgery. . . kept me from going stark staring bonkers! I used a spring clothes pin to hold the first twisted strand, worked fine, as the pin has enough weight to keep it from untwisting.

Following "Scotty" Thompson's advice in So You Are Going to Wear the Kilt I did not mix more than two colours in any one fringe piece.

Very time consuming, but the end result is most impressive.

[Mael Coluim]

Thanks, Barb. I recentily trimmed down a belted plaid, so now I know how to fringe the cut end.