How do I get my finished designs to look like the ones in the magazines? How do I make a fringe? How do I get those nice edges on the sides?

This may be one of those cases where age has its advantages! When I was in elementary school all the girls were required to take home economics, including sewing.

To get nice smooth sides on a small hanging or bellpull, count out from the design the same number of blocks or threads on each side and put a straight pin in the fabric to mark these points. Next, fold the fabric along the row of threads marked by the pins, and press with a warm iron to create a smooth crease, removing the pins as you iron. If you are using a plainweave fabric other than Aida, you may even choose to remove a thread the length of the hanging and fold on the “gully” thus created. Be careful – be very accurate in measuring and counting if you are going to use this method! Once the sides are ironed into position, you may wish to blind-stitch them in place and add a lining.

To get a nice even fringe on Aida, sew a tight machine stitch along the line of the fabric that will be the top of the fringe – it might be a good idea to sew this line twice if the finished piece will receive a lot of handling. Measure down to the length you want your fringe to be and cut along this line of the fabric to create an even edge. To create an equally even fringe on a plainweave fabric, after sewing the upper edge of the fringe on the machine, or hemstitching by hand, withdraw a horizontal thread where you want the fringe to end and cut in the gully thus created. Now remove all the horizontal threads above the edge up to the sewn line. If the edge is thus trimmed before the fringe is created, it will be much cleaner than an edge trimmed after fringing.

Information from Cross Country Stitching Magazine columns "Ask Judie" - Judie Solomon, Thistle Needleworks & "Carol’s Crafty Corner" - Carol Rice, The Craft Menagerie

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