Fringing a plaid: to perl or plait?

**figheadair** · 27th November 20, 07:04 AM

I've just finished making a plaid with some of the Old Stewart I recently had woven matched to Wilsons of Bannockburn’s 1819 setting, including a broad selvedge mark. Traditionally, a Day/Laird's plaid is fringed. The most usual method of making the fringe is the perl (twist together) two small bunches of threads which are usualy secured with an overhand know. But, in some early 19th century examples the individual tassels are plaited.

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In this example of double-width cloth there are 96 plaits each end. Allowing for striping out 7 inches of weft threads each end, separating the threads into groups of 8 and then plaiting groups of 3, the the whole process took about 12 hours. I really like the effect.

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**Shinenotburn** · 27th November 20, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

I've just finished making a plaid with some of the Old Stewart I recently had woven matched to Wilsons of Bannockburn’s 1819 setting, including a broad selvedge mark. Traditionally, a Day/Laird's plaid is fringed. The most usual method of making the fringe is the perl (twist together) two small bunches of threads which are usualy secured with an overhand know. But, in some early 19th century examples the individual tassels are plaited.

In this example of double-width cloth there are 96 plaits each end. Allowing for striping out 7 inches of weft threads each end, separating the threads into groups of 8 and then plaiting groups of 3, the the whole process took about 12 hours. I really like the effect.

Beautifully done. Quite handsome !