After many years of weaving rayon chenille scarves, I still struggle with the fringe. I hemstitch on the loom and then twist the fringe once it comes off the loom. It is still so fragile that I have to be extrememly careful when I full it. Any suggestions for other finishes for this fiber? I would love to find one that holds up to wear. Thanks. Lisa
HI Lisa....twisting chenille fringe is an art in itself. It must be twisted quite tightly and VERY evenly to maintain integrity during and after wet finishing. Strive to get 8-10 twists per inch of fringe, and do everything possible to make sure the tension on each bout is even. Hemstitching on the loom is really not effective with rayon chenille unless it is done extremely tightly, as the core yarn of the chenille is what must be restrained. Braiding is a good way to deal with rayon chenille fringes to keep them tamed, but again, tension on the bouts being braided must be even and tight. In my book, UNDERSTANDING RAYON CHENILLE, I also offer a third way of dealing with fringes that pretty foolproof when done properly. Since that information is copyright protected and I do not wish to violate my own copyright, you'll have to find a copy of the book to learn that technique. Perhaps a friend has a copy, or you can purchase a copy on CD from me.
Su :-)
Thanks Su, I appreciate all your tips about the fringe...guess I will try braiding it tightly the next time. I would be interested in your cd since I use chenille alot in my weaving and always have trouble with the finishing. Let me know how I go about getting a cd. Does it discuss finishing in detail? Thanks. Lisa
HI Lisa......Chapter 5 in my book is entitled, "Finishing Chenille Fabrics". The entire chapter is about different finishing methods and fringing methods and why they work....or not. You can go to my website at www.subudesigns.com and click on the Full Story at the lower right of the URC IS Back!! article to find details for purchasing the CD version of Understanding Rayon Chenille. You might also want to join the Rayon Chenille forum on Weaveolution to catch up on the ongoing discussion regarding weaving with rayon chenille.
Su :-)
I bought Su's book on chenille (in book format). It is a wonderful book with lots of good information. It made me feel a lot more comfortable about weaving successfully with it. I think it's worth the investment for anyone who plans to weave frequently with chenille.
thanks Sue for the info....also if anyone sees a conversation in a group please ask permission to post a link to the node in our forum with the appropriate subject. I am sure that other groups are talking about fringe within their boundaries...
That will allow us to share data AND learn about other groups. I am traveling this month but my plan when I get home is to post my photo on my 3 pair leno finished piece and post another fringe technique I found. Cheers! Deb
