Hi there !
The tutorial of the day is: how to add a fringe to an already finished piece of embroidery ? Fringes are fun, easy to make, and add a sophisticated touch to an embroidered piece. So I’m sure you’ll love it !
To do that you’ll need to have your bead embroidered piece already equipped with its brick stitch border (you can look the tutorial up here). The principle is to use those border beads as the foundation to attach your fringe (with one string of bead dangling from each of those brick-stitched beads).
You can go pretty crazy on fringes, and use all sorts of beads: seed beads or Delica of course, but also bicones, rondelles, daggers, drops, metal stampings, and pretty much anything you like. Appart from your choice of beads, you’ll also need some good thread (e.g. Nymo), and a needle.
Now, that’s how you do this:
1. Fix the thread (discreetly) into the design, and position your needle in order to start. Start by knotting a knot on the end of a comfortable length of thread. Thread through the ultrasuede on the top of your piece, so as to hide the knot between rows of beads, and in order for the needle to exit approximately above the bead from the border you want to use to attach your first string of beads (see first picture above). Then, push your needle through the top layer of ultrasuede again, at a right angle with the border, in order for your needle to exit the fabric by going right through this bead (picture 2).
There are several ways to start your thread, but here is why I suggest this method: it allows you to have no visible thread nor ugly knot on the back of your piece, plus threading several times through the fabric strengthens the border, and will prevent it to tear off in case you inadvertently pull on the fringe while wearing your jewelry.
2. Get started ! Thread in the beads you have chosen for this first dangling. End with a drop, or a small seed bead (see 1st picture above). Then, thread through all the beads but this last one back the other way (picture 2). Finally, go back through the edge bead, making sure that you push your needle through the fabric on one or 2 millimeters again (picture 3). That way, as mentionned before, the fringe will be solidly attached to the fabric. Watch your tension: it shouldn’t be too loose, or the thread itself will show, but it also shouldn’t be too tense, or the dangling will be stiff, with a risk of having beads position themselves at an angle against each other, instead of falling naturally.
3. Make all the danglings and finish the thread off. For the next danglings, thread through the fabric and exit the following edge bead (picture 1). Then you can realize the step 2 as many times as needed to get to a fringe of the right overall length. When done, end your thread by going a couple of times through the top layer of ultrasuede, and then cutting the rest of the thread (picture 2).
You can, if you want, have different lengths for each dangling, so as to get a graduated fringe (see picture on the left). And that’s it ! You’re finally done ! Now you just have to add a spiral or a ribbon to be able to enjoy wearing your piece at last !