Using Tulle as Fringe

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Using tulle at the neckline can create a dramatic difference in a top. If you want a fringe look or you want a wedding vibe, this is the perfect look.

Supplies:

Dance skirt, dance shorts or dance brief
Tulle
Thread to match tulle
Safety pins
Straight pins
Broach and rhinestones optional
Directions:

1. Choosing the Material

The first step is to choose the dance top you want to use. As with the other methods of using tulle, you can choose whatever color you wish for the tulle.

2. Cutting the material.

Using the width of the tulle as the length of the strips, cut the tulle so the strips are about three inches wide. You can always trim the strips up later.

3. Gathering Tulle Strip

Smooth the strip out and tuck it into the neckline to see you want it. Double the tulle strips horizontally along the length of the strips to give it a little thickness. Put the folded edge inside the neckline to give it a clean look and so it doesn’t itch. Insert your needle with thread that matches the tulle into the strips and tie the thread around the edge of the tulle. This will keep the thread from pulling through the tulle. Feed the needle in and out of the length of the strips and gather the strip as you go. Keeping the tulle folded in half along the length of the strip, feed the thread and needle in and out along the raw edge of the folded strip. You want to take your time because it slides around a little. Keep sewing in and out to gather the strip as you go. Once you are done make sure you tie the thread off and fasten the knot to the fabric so the thread cannot pull out. Then gather the tulle around the neckline. Remember the tulle does not stretch.

4. Pinning the Tulle Strips to the Top

You may want to have the dancer put the top on before you pin the tulle to the top so that the top is stretched to its proper place and you will not have problems slipping the top over the dancer’s head. If that is not possible, stretch the top over a pillow. If the dancer is wearing the top when you pin the tulle to it, use safety pins. It is not necessary to use one long strip. You can use several smaller strips which may make it easier for you to work with. Once you have the tulle tucked in place where you want it, the strips into place. But if the strips are all sewn first, then it is easy to keep the strips where they need to be.

5. Sewing the Tulle Strips to the Top

At this point, you want to change the thread to one that matches the top so that if the stitches come through to the front, they will not be easy to see. You want to make small stitches sewing almost into the same hole, keeping the stitches even and consistent all the way around. Again, you want to tie the thread to the tulle so it doesn’t slip through.

6. Trimming the Tulle Strips

When you are all done sewing the tulle all the way around the neckline, then you can trim the tulle fringe to the width that you want. A good way to keep the width consistent is to create a guide. Using a piece of paper or cardstock, cut a strip that is the width that you want for the tulle. Then you just slip that paper or cardstock along the neckline cutting the tulle the same width as your “guide.” If there happens to be way too much tulle, you could trim it down and then go back and clean it up with the guide.

7. Finishing Touches

Additionally, you could cut another strip of material and then gather it up in a circular fashion or asymmetrical fashion, tack it together a little bit. Using a broach, you can pin it on the shoulder or at the center of the front neckline. Once you have done that, you can also trim it up a little if you wish. Play with it a little to decide what you want to do. Without the broach, you could place rhinestones around the neck. Or. you could use the broach, with or without any additional netting, and then rhinestone it out from the broach. However, you end up doing it, it will be unique and only yours.

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