How to use all your tail-ends to create striped, variegated and colorful tassels and fringe.
We've all been there... You've spent days, weeks, (and even more!) working on a mosaic crochet design and finally have to ask the inevitable question: HOW DO I DEAL WITH ALL THESE ENDS?! I've managed to avoid this question for months by creating mostly pillows where all the ends are hidden inside! LOL!
But, seriously, while making any mosaic crochet design, those tails may become a little daunting. Adding a border around your piece to hide or cover all of the ends can sometimes be frustrating and very time consuming, and I'm here to say it's OK to embrace the fringe! Some designs can even benefit from a little extra frill, or another pop of color!
This tutorial will show you how to add easy variegated, striped and solid color fringe to your mosaic crochet projects.
THE BASICS
Cut pieces of yarn that measure a little more than double the length of your shortest tail end. Cut one piece to the desired length, and use it as a guide to cut all your pieces the same length. They don't have to be perfect because you'll be trimming them all later once they're attached.
Make sure your border stitches are locked in, either using a secure border stitch, or by tying your tail ends together before you start.
In order for the fringe to be even on both sides, you’ll want to add 2 more “tails” to the end of your very first single crochet row. Insert your hook into the base of the very first border stitch.
Pull your yarn through half way to create a loop. Hook the tails and pull them through the loop. Tighten the tassel by pulling the tails. Keep in mind you'll want to keep the tails as even as possible.
Now you're ready to get started!
Each tassel is made the same way: Insert your hook between the border stitches from underneath, make a loop half way with the yarn, pull the tails through the loop and tighten by pulling the tails.
Here are some fun options for easily transforming your tail ends into beautiful fringe:
VARIEGATED FRINGE
To create variegated fringe, you’ll be adding tassels between every other border stitch (color A on the left and color B on the right), using both colors for the tassels.
Start by inserting your hook between the first and second border stitches. Make sure one color is on the right and the other on the left of your hook:
Add strips of both color A and B, and pull through half way to make a loop:
Now take the tails from the right and left, add them to the ends. These will be added to this tassel.
Complete the tassel by pulling all the tails including the ones from the sides through the loop:
Pull the short tails evenly to tighten. On this tassel you will have 4 color A and 3 color B ends in the tassel. The rest of the row will have 3 and 3.
Your next tassel will be between color A and color B tails in the border stitch. Include both of those tails into the tassel. Continue across the rest of the row.
Once you're finished, trim your tassels with a sharp scissor to the same length.
STRIPED FRINGE
To create striped fringe, you’ll be adding tassels between every border stitch. Each tail that you add in will be the same color. You can either add 1 strip for each border stitch (as seen above), or 2 strips of the same color in each border stitch for a fuller fringe.
Start by inserting your hook between the first and second border stitches. Make sure one color is on the right and the other on the left of your hook.
For striped fringe you will only be working with one color at a time, one in each border stitch.
As with the variegated fringe, you'll be adding in a tail end. This time, only add the same color as the tassel.
For the next tassel, insert your hook into the very next border stitch and add the same color. As with the first tassel, include the tail of the same color into the tassel. Pull the short ends to tighten.
Once you're finished, trim your tassels with a sharp scissor to the same length.
SOLID COLOR FRINGE
This is my personal favorite, because it gives me the opportunity to add a whole new color!
You can still see the tails from the mosaic rows, but most of the color is camouflaged by a solid fringe of another color. Adding a slip stitch row on top of the border stitches using the same color as the fringe also helps incorporate the new color with a nice detailed edge.
To create a solid color fringe, you’ll be adding tassels between every other border stitch (color A on the left and color B on the right), just like in the variegated fringe above.
Insert your hook between the two colors of the border stitches. Using 2 or more strips of the new color, hook and pull through half way to make a loop.
And now add color A and color B of the mosaic into the group of tails and pull through the loop.
Pull the shorter ends to tighten. The mosaic tails should be behind the new tassel and less visible. If they're not you can loosen the tassel and arrange the tails to be in the back.
Continue to add tassels to the rest of the row. Trim your fringe with a sharp scissor to the same length.
You can now add a slip stitch row on top of the border stitches using the color of the tassels. Weave the ends of the slip stitch into the tassels on both ends to hide them.
Be sure to check out my other free tutorials and my mosaic crochet patterns available in my shop and etsy store.
Thanks for reading my fringe tutorial! Happy crocheting!
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