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Default instructions Fringed designs

Fringed Embroidery Designs Tutorial

A close-up of a fringed embroidery design showcasing fluffy, textured threads.An embroidered fringed flower design with vibrant colors.

A collection of colorful fringed embroidery designs on display.A detailed view of a fringed embroidery animal design.

Another example of a completed fringed embroidery project.A side-by-side comparison of looped and open-ended fringe.

In Short:

Creating fringe is a straightforward process. Begin by embroidering the design as you normally would; the larger satin stitches will appear loose.

Once you've finished stitching the design, turn your hoop over to view the reverse side and cut the bobbin thread along the long satin stitches.

Now, flip the hoop back over and fluff up the "fringe" around the design.

Recommended Scissors

I use scissors from Fiskars and Kai, which I truly adore. You can find them on Amazon at the following links:

Kai 4-inch Curved Needlecraft Scissors: https://www.amazon.com/Kai-4-inch-Curved-Needlecraft-Scissors/dp/B008AY90PY

A pair of Kai 4-inch Curved Needlecraft Scissors.

Fiskars Curved Craft Scissors, Orange: https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-98087097J-Curved-Scissors-Orange/dp/B000B7OSS2

A pair of orange-handled Fiskars Curved Craft Scissors.

While I find Kai scissors to be superior, they pose a higher risk of cutting through the base fabric. Fiskars scissors, on the other hand, may require sharpening after some use. For that, the Fiskars Clip-Sharp Scissors Sharpener is an excellent choice, available here: https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-6411501960078-Clip-Sharp-Total-Length/dp/B001GHV3AM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

The Fiskars Clip-Sharp Scissors Sharpener.

Overall, my preference leans towards Kai for their quality.

Video Tutorials

You can also find video tutorials for similar fringed projects on my YouTube channel, as the technique remains the same:

A banner for the Artapli YouTube channel.

Looped vs. Open-Ended Fringe

On the back of the project, you will need to cut the bobbin thread that runs along the long satin stitches. This will create a looped fringe on the right side.

Sometimes, the bobbin thread might not be visible. It's quite simple to adjust the tension of your bobbin thread to make it looser, allowing you to see it more clearly. Then, you can trim only the excess bobbin thread, resulting in a looped fringe. If you don't want to make any adjustments to your embroidery machine, you can still trim by estimating where the bobbin thread might be. Start by trimming small amounts at a time. This might result in the fringe having open-ended threads instead of loops, which is also perfectly fine.

For the best results, I recommend using polyester embroidery threads instead of rayon or silk. When cutting the fringe, it's best to use small, sharp embroidery scissors rather than thread nippers or other thread removers.

I hope this information was helpful.

The Process

A completed fringed embroidery project in the hoop, ready for finishing.

Fringe designs have rows of satin columns—those are the stitches you will work with to make the fringe. When the embroidery is complete, you can unhoop the project. Turn it over to see the back.

The back of the embroidery hoop, showing the bobbin threads of the satin stitches that need to be cut.

Cut the bobbin stitches of the first thread color that is on top. Continue step-by-step, cutting the bobbin stitches for all colors.

Turn the embroidery back to the front side and gently fluff the fringe with the point of small scissors.

Fluffing the fringe on the front of the project with the tip of small scissors to create a textured look.

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