Have you ever seen a jacket with a fun, swishy fringe and thought, “I wish I could do that”? Adding fringe is one of the best ways to give new life to an old skirt, jacket, or handbag. It adds movement, personality, and a touch of professional style to any piece.
But if you’ve never tried it, figuring out how to sew fringe on clothes can seem a little tricky. Where do you start? How do you get it to hang perfectly straight?
Don’t worry! I’m here to walk you through it with a simple, step-by-step fringe sewing tutorial. We’ll cover two popular methods: adding a clean fringe to a hemline and creating that amazing layered look you see on flapper dresses. Let’s get started and turn your plain clothes into something special!
Before You Start: Gathering Your Supplies
Getting your tools ready first makes the whole process smooth and fun. You don’t need anything too fancy, just the basics. Having everything in one place means you can focus on the creative part.
| Supply | What It’s For |
|---|---|
| Fringe Trim | The star of the show! It comes in many colors and lengths. |
| Your Garment | A skirt, a t-shirt hem, a jacket—whatever you want to decorate. |
| Sewing Machine | A standard machine is perfect for this job. |
| Matching Thread | Choose a thread that matches the braided top of your fringe. |
| Pins | To hold your fringe securely in place before you sew. |
| Fabric Marker or Chalk | Helps you draw straight guidelines on your fabric. |
| Scissors | For cutting your fringe trim neatly. |
A quick note about your fringe trim: you’ll notice it has a braided or woven band at the top. This is the part we will be sewing onto the fabric. The loose strands hang free from this band.
Method 1: Adding Fringe to a Hem for a Clean Finish
This first method is perfect for adding fringe to a hem on a skirt, a dress, or the bottom of a shirt. The trick is to hide the braided top of the fringe inside the hem. This gives you a beautiful, professional finish where the fringe looks like it’s growing right out of the fabric.
Step 1: Prepare Your Hemline
First, decide how deep you want your hem to be. A one-inch hem is very common.
Turn on your sewing machine and set it to a basting stitch, which is just the longest straight stitch your machine can do. Sew a straight line one inch away from the raw edge of your fabric, all the way around. This temporary stitch will be your guide, making everything much easier.
Step 2: Pin the Fringe (The “Upside Down” Trick)
Now, lay your garment out with the right side facing up. This is the most important step. Take your fringe trim and place it on your fabric so the loose strands are pointing up, away from the hem, toward the main part of the garment.
Line up the top edge of the fringe’s braided band right on top of the basting stitch you just made. Start at a side seam or a center back seam. Carefully pin the fringe in place all the way around the hem.
When you get back to where you started, you can finish the ends neatly. Just fold the last half-inch of each raw end of the fringe up and over, and pin them so they sit next to each other.
Step 3: Fold, Press, and Sew
With the fringe pinned, it’s time to create the hem. Flip your garment over so the wrong side is facing up.
Fold the fabric up along your basting stitch line. The fringe will now be sandwiched inside the fold, pointing down correctly. Press this fold with an iron to create a crisp edge. To hide the raw edge of your fabric, you can fold it down again toward the inside of the garment and press it one more time.
Now, take it to your sewing machine. With the right side facing out, stitch your hem in place. Sew about a quarter-inch from the bottom edge of the garment. This will catch the folded hem on the inside and secure everything perfectly.
Once you’re done, you can use a seam ripper to remove any of the visible basting stitches. And just like that, you have a beautifully fringed hem!
Method 2: How to Create a Fun Layered Fringe Look
Want to make something with a bit more flair, like a layered fringe dress or a western-style jacket? This method is for you. Here, we’ll be sewing the fringe directly onto the right side of the fabric in rows.
Step 1: Plan and Mark Your Layers
First, decide how far apart you want your layers of fringe to be. An inch of spacing is a good place to start, but you can do more or less.
Using your fabric marker, draw your first guideline on the right side of your garment where you want the first row of fringe to go. This line is where you will place the bottom edge of the fringe’s braided band.
Step 2: Pin and Sew Your First Row
Start at a side seam or near a zipper (but never over it!). Take your fringe trim and pin it along the guideline you drew. Make sure the loose strands are hanging down.
When you pin the start of the fringe, fold the raw edge under by about a quarter-inch for a clean start. Go all the way around, pinning the bottom of the braid to your guideline. When you get back to the beginning, fold the end under again and butt the two ends up against each other.
Now, sew it in place. You can do a basting stitch first to hold it, then follow up with a regular stitch right down the middle of the braided band.
Step 3: Repeat for More Layers
Ready for the next layer? Just measure up from the top of the braid you just sewed, mark your next guideline, and repeat the process.
It’s much easier to sew one layer at a time instead of pinning all your layers at once. This keeps the loose fringe from getting tangled and caught in your stitches. You can add as many layers as you want to achieve your desired look!
Expert Tips for Sewing Fringe Like a Pro
Learning how to attach fringe gets easier with a few simple tricks. Keep these in mind for the best results.
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Start and Stop at a Seam | Hiding the start and end points of your fringe at a side seam makes your work look neater. |
| Never Sew Over a Zipper | Always stop your fringe at the edge of a zipper so it can still open and close properly. |
| Use a Walking Foot | If you have one, a walking foot helps feed the thick fringe and fabric layers evenly. |
| Remove Temporary Threads | Some fringe comes with a thread holding the strands together at the bottom. Sew first, then snip it off. |
| Go Slowly | There’s no rush! Sewing slowly gives you more control and helps you keep your lines straight. |
FAQs
How to put fringes on clothes?
You can sew fringe onto clothes easily. One way is to sew it into the hem. This gives a clean, hidden finish. Another way is to sew it on top of the fabric. This is great for creating layers.
How to create fringe on fabric?
You can make fringe from the fabric itself. First, sew a straight line near the edge. This line stops the fraying. Then, pull the threads from the fabric’s edge. Stop when you reach the stitch line.
How to attach fringe to clothes without sewing?
You can use fabric glue. Put a thin line of glue on the fringe band. Press it onto your garment. Let it dry completely. You can also use fusible hem tape with an iron.
What is fringing in sewing?
Fringing is a type of trim. It is a decorative border. It has a woven band at the top. Loose threads or cords hang down from the band. You sew the band onto your project.
Is fringe on clothing in style?
Yes, fringe is always in style. It is a classic look that adds movement. It is popular in boho and Western fashion. It makes clothes fun to wear.
Transform Your Wardrobe with Fringe!
See? Sewing with fringe isn’t scary at all. Whether you choose the hidden hem method for a sleek look or the layered method for a bold statement, you now have the skills to add this amazing detail to your projects. It’s a simple way to express your style and make your clothes truly one-of-a-kind.
Now that you know the secrets, what will you add fringe to first? A skirt, a t-shirt, or maybe a denim jacket? Let me know your creative ideas in the comments below