Wednesday 3 September 2014

Calculate Fringe

Thick fringe sewn to the bottom of guest towels.


Most people who enjoy sewing will eventually encounter a situation where they need to calculate trim materials. Some trims are quite expensive, and they are often sold by the inch or foot, so purchasing the correct amount is important. Fringe is a kind of trim that comes in different styles. There are fringe styles designed for clothing and fringe styles designed for interior decorating such as for curtains, upholstery or other interior home applications.


Instructions


Calculate Home Decor Fringe


1. Measure the bottom edge of a chair or sofa where fringe will be attached. Generally you will want the fringe to be continuous if possible. The style of the furniture will determine if you need individually cut pieces.


2. Add 2 to 3 inches of waste for each cut section. Longer or continuous sections will require less waste and be less expensive. Upholstery fringe can range from several dollars a yard to several hundred dollars a yard.


3. Calculate the height and width of the draperies and multiply by two for each set. Add 2 to 3 inches of waste for each cut. Avoid buying trim in sections smaller than the full length you need, as it is often difficult to join trim pieces without a noticeable seam or joint.


Calculate Fringe on a Dress


4. Measure the finished circumference of the dress where fringe is being added in horizontal strips. Keep your dress on the dress form and determine the amount of fringe overlap you will be using for your trim treatment.


5. Measure, mark and draw evenly spaced horizontal lines from the hem of your dress upward using tailor's chalk. The distance between your lines depends on how much of your upper row of fringe will overlap your lower row of fringe. Measure each line all the way around the form and mark down your inches. Each line represents one piece of fringe. Measure all of your lines for finished totals, but do not discard your line measurements since you will need to calculate your waste, and it is likely the fringe bolts may also include cuts.


6. Unroll the fringe in the store before purchasing. Make sure any cuts existing in the fringe will work with your measurements. Allow 1 to 2 inches of waste per each cut you need. A fringe dress of this type will have at least one cut per horizontal line.

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