Vernet 1814: Trimmings

With school starting back up, I've barely had time to breath.  So, one way I've tried to keep on top of this Vernet project is to squeeze in the little things during lunch break, or while winding down and watching a show before bed.  I'm calling this the "hum-drums" of this sewing project.  With repetitive motion and mind numbing sameness, I'm trying not to fall asleep before it's all over, and I'll attempt to not put you to sleep with this post.

Hum-drum #1...roll hemming 1,040 inches (approximately 87 feet) of cotton for the gown trimmings.

Hum-drum #2...weaving 90 yards of Au Ver A Soie Co. silk chenille thread (from Hedgehog Handworks - Joady is a saint to work with, by the way.) *Chenille means caterpillar in French! Isn't that cute!*  

Why weaving, you say?  Well, instead of buying ready made fringe like any sane person would, I'm following in the footsteps of the French Frangiers, or "fringe makers," and making my own. 

 I actually love weaving, so it's not really too bad...not as bad as the roll hemming at least...there's just a lot of it to do.  

Create a narrow warp, and weave the weft to your desired length.  Then, back stitch up one vertical side between the outer two warp threads just to hold the chenille in place.

Cut lose the outer two (or three is what I did) warp threads on the side that you back stitched, and knot them tightly and close to each end of the weft threads.

Then release the remaining warp threads on both ends of the loom.

Set it down with the back stitched edge to the top (this picture is upside down unfortunately), and dab fray-check along the bottom edge of the chenille thread.  Let the fray-check dry.

Once dry, remove the untied warp threads (the ones you knotted at the top are still there.)

Then carefully cut open each loop of thread along the bottom where the fray-check is.

Straighten your fringe, and it's ready to be attached where ever you need it.