How to Add Beaded Fringe to a Garment
Adding beaded fringe is an easy way to spice up your wardrobe and create a custom look. When choosing the beads, keep in mind the nature of the garment. Match delicate seed beads with thinner fabrics like silk, and bulkier wooden or plastic beads for heavier fabrics like denim. Plan out the beading pattern before you begin, and make sure you have enough of each color and type of bead. The longer and closer together the finished fringe will be, the more beads you will need.
Things You'll Need
- Garment
- Scissors
- Tailors' chalk
- Beads
- Needle
- Strong thread or fishing line
Instructions
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Hippy Fringe
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1
Cut off the hem of the garment at the height you'd like the bottom of the fringe to reach. It is helpful to mark a line with tailors' chalk while wearing the garment for a more accurate cut.
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2
Lay the garment on a flat surface, and smooth out to lay perfectly flat. Mark a horizontal line across the garment where you would like the top of the fringe to start.
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3
Mark vertical lines from the bottom of the garment to the horizontal line. These will be your cutting lines, so make them as wide as you want your fringe to be. Make sure that your beads will fit securely on the fringe, without any gaps. Generally, if you cut the fringe as wide as twice the diameter of the bead, the fit should be secure. Cut along the vertical lines, stopping at the horizontal line.
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4
String your beads in the desired pattern on each strand of fringe. Do not string beads all the way to the top of the strand, or the fringe will be stiff and lack movement.
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5
Tie a double knot in the end of each strand. Pull each knot as tight as possible, and test by attempting to pull a bead over it. If the bead comes off, make the knot a triple knot.
Gypsy Fringe
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6
Double-thread your needle, and insert it into the back of the garment at the hem. Pull through.
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7
String your beads in the desired pattern onto the thread, then loop the thread back around and run up through the center of all the beads except the last one strung.
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8
Insert the needle into the hem of the garment from the front, and pull through to the back. Inserting the needle back into the original hole results in a long, skinny fringe. Spacing the beginning and end holes produces a scalloped fringe.
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9
Repeat the process at desired intervals until the entire hem has been fringed. Double-knot the thread in the back of the garment, and gently tug to test. If the knot pulls through the fabric, try looping it back to the last stitch and tying a knot around the post of that stitch.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure your beads are safe for the washing machine. Glass beads will break over time, and unfinished wooden beads will age quickly when washed.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bead curtain image by Bruce Hewitson from Fotolia.com
