Layered Edging

Edging has so many options. Not only bead size and type make a difference, from one edging to another, but also 'color'. I like to pick out the 'least' color used in my weaving to begin using it as the 'predominant' color of my edging.

Lately I have been intrigued by 'layering' my edging. It doesn't have to be a fringe type of edge, but it can also be a short run of edges coming together, in color and style, along the outside edge of your weaving. If you look done two posts, you will see an example of what I mean by this 'short run of multiple edges' as I detailed this very idea in my 'cube looming'.

Here, I am getting a bit more adventurous and created a 'fringe' type of edging. I don't have a picture of it on my wrist, because I will be completing the clasp today, but the cuff portion is fit around my wrist, hanging just above my hand. The fringe drapes over the back of my hand. It gives the piece movement yet because I hooked each fringe layer to the next, they are not 'wildly' flopping around.

The first layer I added was brick stitching 6mm Permanent Finish Metallic Silver Beads. I realize they are large and the thread will show if left alone like this, but this is going to be my 'base' for what is to follow. Again, I double my outside warps for this very reason.


My next layer became the drop fringe. You can see the two threads on the left. I ran a thread in-out of two beads to begin. I also start in the center of my weaving so I'll end up with the same number of fringes. Or, if an odd bead counts out, each side will be finished the same. There are many ways to complete a 'netting', so use your favorite method, even if it is using one thread.

As each fringe was added, I included what I call a 'spotlight' bead. The silver bead five beads down from the top. Best seen on the furthest right strung beads in the photo below. This is the bead I use to 'connect' the fringes together. I didn't want the fringe to flop freely around my wrist.

When making my way up or down the netting steps, I pick up this 'highlight' bead reminding me to connect the layers.



During my next layer, I incorporated two, upper and lower bleed. Because my direction was up one bead down one bead, I added beads for each pass. Here I added three 'matte' blue 11/0 beads and one 4mm glass cut metallic bronze. Doing this helped in two ways. I was showing less thread and it double the strength of the beads I was adding. Every pass back around where beads were already added, I ran my thread inside of the same beads again.


Below is a picture of the back of my completed fringe edge.


This is how my edging looks when complete. It feels very stable and not so floppy. It would be a great edge to add on any type of simple graphed pattern or even the fringe end of a woven amulet.