How to Make Fringe & Tassels for a Crocheted Item
It is often the finishing touches that can add glamour or character to a crocheted item. Whether you are making a scarf, a purse, a hat or shawl, the addition of fringe or tassel personalizes your creation. Tassels add a bit of whimsy, especially to a purse and fringe creates a finished look to your creation. The way you use tassels and fringe can also change the style of a piece and appeal to people of different tastes.
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Instructions
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Simple Fringe
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1
Measure how long you want your fringe to be. The longer the fringe, the more likely it draws the eye. If you have crocheted an intricately designed piece, it is better to highlight your design work instead of the fringe. If, on the other hand, you have used a simple design with furry thread, the fringe can reinforce the flow of the piece.
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2
Cut the yarn. If your fringe should be two inches long, for example, cut pieces of yarn five inches long. This allows you to fold the piece of yarn over and gives you length to make the knot connecting fringe to the item.
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3
Fold the yarn in half and wrap the folded end around your crochet hook. Start at one end where you want the fringe to go. Attach the piece of yarn using a slip stitch, followed by a single crochet stitch. Repeat evenly across the end.
Beaded Fringe
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4
Repeat Steps 1 through 3 in Section 1.
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5
Thread a bead onto each piece of yarn and slide it to the center of the yarn.
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6
Fold the yarn at the bead. Pull the two loose ends of the fold through your finished item. Knot them together and then weave the knot back into the crocheted piece so the knot is not visible. Repeat this for the length of the fringe.
Tassels
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7
Cut a piece of cardboard to the length you want your tassel.
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8
Wrap the yarn or thread around the piece of cardboard multiple times. If you want a thin tassel, wrap the yarn or thread five to 10 times. If you want a thicker tassel, wrap it 20 to 30 times.
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9
Snip the end of your yarn. Cut along the fold of the yarn where the yarn ending hangs. You may have to slide it off the cardboard if you've wrapped it too tightly.
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10
Weave a piece of yarn through the folded part of the wrapped yarn. Tie a knot to secure the top. Tightly wrap another piece of yarn several times around the bunch of yarn. This should be done one-fourth of the way down from the tied fold. Tie your yarn together and tuck the knot into the tassel's head. Use the top string to tie it to your finished piece.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on the type of yarn you use, you may need to knot the ends of each piece of fringe or tassel so it doesn't unravel. Chenille yarns are especially prone to this and should always be knotted at the end as should yarns with multiple plies.
Most crocheters will add fringe using the same yarn they used in the item. You can also use a complementary color or yarn that changes the texture of the piece. For tassels, decide between yarn or embroidery thread. Yarn tassels work well for winter scarves, large purses, hats and afghans. Delicate thread work, smaller purses and intricate shawls might call for tassels made with embroidery thread.
References
- Photo Credit Drops of water on a fringe of a umbrella image by Rey Kamensky from Fotolia.com
