Fringe Benefits

Fringe  Benefits

The day Corina posted her excellent idea/tut on adding a Fringe to tatting here, I was reworking my wreath ornament pattern (to be shared soon). Yes, you guessed it, I just Had to use that technique ! But my tatting path is always strewn with thorns & broken twigs :-(

Previously, on the vine I had tatted long picots that were cut to resemble thorns/twig ends (in adjoining pic). This time I loaded beads on to the shuttle to act as berries. Being freeform, I had no idea where & when I would want to add a fringe thorn & where the bead(s). So I could not preload the fringe on the shuttle thread like Corina had done. Here’s how I adapted Corina’s Fringe for spot addition.

It is a simple 2-step technique. However, I wanted to see the effects of slight tweaks, hence there are more pics than strictly required for the adaptation. You know me ;-P

This adaptation can come in handy if one runs short of fringes or if one decides to add a fringe, a whisker, antennae, etc. midways - anywhere, anytime - into the tatting process.
This method (whether preloading or spot addition) can be used for Frayed picots too !

Abbreviations & Threads Used :
DS – double stitch

fhs – 1^st half stitch

shs – 2^nd half stitch

SH - shuttle

RODS – reverse order ds

FS/BS – frontside/backside tatting

I used normal Anchor 6-ply crochet cotton thread in size 20 for the tutorial & different colours for easy identification & comparison.

Yellow is SH1 or core thread ; Turquoise is SH2 or ball or chain thread ;

Mustard, Red & Blue scraps are used for fringe.

Corina's Fringe 

(a spot adaptation)

1. Cut a length of thread to use for fringe (longer than intended; trim later)

2. Bring ends through loop, ensuring that the core thread (yellow) is encapsulated.

3. The macramé knot (larks head knot) which resembles a double stitch if formed, tensioned & snugged.

 4. NOTE : Position ball/SH2 thread BETWEEN the fringe threads (like in a 'V') ...

5.  ... and then make the 1st half stitch.

This step (#4) ensures that the fringe stays secure & stable, even if it is trimmed short.

 6. Complete the 2nd half stitch (shs) & continue.

 7. The Same fringe can be made by laying the thread loop in above manner. 

Compare with pic #1

8. Fringe as seen from the back. 

Notice how it is placed between 2 half stitches, when viewed from back.

So, when working RODS (FS/BS tatting), all one needs to do is reverse the initial placement ...

9. In RODS, a stitch starts with the shs (2nd hs), hence 'reverse order'. 

BEFORE starting it, place the fringe thread in above position & continue.

10. Make knot, tension & snug.

 11. Again, position ball/SH2 thread in the 'V' of the fringe & make RODS.

12. Here, same as above, But notice placement of fringe loop. 

AND this time I positioned the loop after 1 complete DS (instead of after fhs as in pic #9). 

The knot, however, comes out the same. Continue tatting.

13. Complete tatting the stitch. 

4 fringe elements made - 2 on DS segment & 2 on RODS segment. Compare the 2 sets. 

Closely study the chain stitches (turquoise) in comparison with the fringe insertion : 

the 1st 2 mustard & the last blue one are flanked on either side by complete ds ; 

red fringe is flanked by half stitches on either side. 

14. Viewing the same from the back, again notice the chain stitches that flank the fringe.

Pics #13 &14 help us decide which arrangement & effect is preferable for the project on hand.

15. The fringe threads have been trimmed short. But they won't slip off ;-)

Many thanks to Corina for her generous sharing of the Fringe technique

& graciously permitting me to share this adaptation.

 Here's hoping this technique will not remain on the fringes of tatting !

happy tatting :-)

Related Posts - 

Adaptations and Tatted Fringe Picot -- https://tipsaroundthehome.blogspot.com/2024/08/on-fringes.html