A macramé fringe guide using three types of string.
Knowing how to fringe macramé cord depends a lot on what type of cord you are using for your project. Each different type of cord will create a different style of fringe, therefore it is important that you choose the right type of rope to create the best macramé fringe! The three most common cords that are used in macramé are a single strand twisted cord, a three strand twisted cord, and a braided cord. To answer the great debate of which string is best for fringing, I conducted an experiment on each type of cord to determine which cord creates a nice, fluffy fringe. You can watch this experiment and results via the video below.
And the results are in...
1. Single Strand Twisted Cotton Cord
The single strand cord is a super soft cord and quite easy to unravel. To create a fringe with this type of cord, you simply untwist all the single strands and then run a comb through the strands to brush it out, making it fluffy and neat. The fibres of this cord will have a memory that cause it to naturally twist around. To stop this from happening, the best solution is to use a fabric stiffening spray or hair spray to hold the strands in place.
This cord is quick to unravel and has a soft, fluffy finish, making it my top pick for creating a fringe.
2. Three Strand Twisted Cotton Cord
The 3 strand twisted cord has two different stages of unravelling, creating two different styles of fringe. To start creating a fringe with this cord, you will first have to unravel the three strands so you have three individual strands. Once you have done this, you actually have what I like to call a 'Noodle' fringe. The three strand twisted cord is perfect to use to create this noodle fringe effect on your projects. It is super quick to achieve this look.
If you want to create a smooth, fluffy fringe, you will then need to brush out all the individual cords - this is a very time consuming and challenging task! These 3 individual strands are very well bound together, making it difficult to brush them out. Because of this, I would only really recommend using this type of cord to create the noodle fringe.
This cord creates a fun, thicker style 'Noodle' fringe, making it my second choice for creating a fringe.
3. Braided Cotton Cord
If there is one thing I hope you take away from this experiment, it is that braided cord is VERY hard to turn into a fringe. The fibres of the cord are all intricately weaved together, and so it is extremely time consuming to unravel these fibres. It is definitely achievable if you have the time and patience, and once unraveled the cord actually creates a very soft, fluffy fringe that doesn't need any fabric stiffener to hold in place. However, the amount of time it takes to unravel these fibres makes it not worth the final result.
This cord is near impossible to unravel, making it my last choice for creating a fringe (in other words, avoid using braided cord if you want a fringe in your project!)
You can watch my full experiment where I fringe each of the three types of macramé cord, to see the result of each cord as a fringe! Check out the video below for all the info.
Fringing is a time consuming task that requires patience. No matter what type of macramé cord you choose, the process will still take time to complete. Use this opportunity to practice mindfulness - fringing can be a form of meditation where we drop into the present moment. The more time you lovingly spend on your fringe, the better the final result will be!
Here's to finding our peace in creativity,
CC
P.S. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to make a tassel, then check out my tutorial on how to make a basic tassel!