Fringe is a decorative trim edging made of packed yarns that hang from a band (imagine the 1920’s flapper dresses)
Cord is a round, twisted strand of roped fibers with unique textures. It comes lipped and non-lipped.
Braid is a flat home decor trim with two finished edges and a braided design throughout.
Each offers its own special touch to not only windows and home furnishings, but to just about anything it touches!
Dear Netfah,
I am an artist and do-it-your-selfer from the millenial generation who inherited bags of assorted trim and cording from my grandmother who was a seamstress for what seems like FOREVER! One of my past time hobbies is refurbishing and reupholstering antique furnishings into funky works of art. There is a big project I agreed to do for a client of mine that requires corded scarlet trim around the perimeters of her dining room chairs but I am short yardage of the particular color she wants. I do however, have the same exact color in a lipped version.
Before the Industrial Revolution (18th Century), trim was called passementerie. It was made and applied by hand, thus making heavily trimmed furnishings and garments expensive and high status. Eventually machine-woven trims and sewing machines put these specialized trimmings within reach of modest dressmakers and home seamstresses. The result, by the 1930’s, applied trim lost its value and became a signifier of mass-produced clothing. Today, though most trimmings are commercially manufactured, the creative appeal that they offer have made trims, tassels and cording highly sought after for unique one-of-a-kind creations. A compliment to any fabric project where that ‘something extra’ makes all the difference, modern day passementeries offer the perfect touch.
One of the complains that we often hear about sheer decorative fabric is that does not have that many applications. As a group of people who pride ourselves in knowing all about fabric and its applications we wholeheartedly disagree! In order to help dispel this thought and give our customers a few helpful tips, we compiled the top applications for these beautiful threads. Enjoy!
Curtains
The great thing about shopping J&O Fabric online is all of the options. To give you even even more buying power, from now until Sunday December 11th, you can get 50% off any order of trims, tassels, and cording or you can choose to get 10% off any order of novelty fabric using the code NETFAH50. Both the fabulous accessories and the fabric are perfect for gift giving or decorating your house during this holiday season!
Discount Trims, Tassels, and Cording
Unfortunately, we can’t all be Princess Kate Middleton. However, I still know many women who think that they are royalty and should be treated as such. Heck, who are we to argue with hardworking females?! So treat yourself like a princess and sleep like one. These romantic canopy’s are sure to win the favor of any royal feminine eye. Oh, and by the way, how fabulous was her dress?
The Ultimate
Every once and awhile we come across a blog other than our own that speaks to the ideas and topics we as seamstresses and craftsmen(women) have interest in. Whether it’s a new technique, sewing gadget or application, or the latest trend in fabrics and textile goods, if it has to do with our livlihood, we want to know!
It would be just the other day that I would stumble across this blog as I was searching for ideas to expound on for our own Facebook sewing tip of the day. For both novices and experts alike, this simple breakdown of four basic stitches has its way of coming in handy long after our first needle has been thread many years ago.
Dear Netfah,
I have a rather plain olive colored Euro sham and comforter that I want to revitalize and use in our guest room. I saw some really pretty cording trims and wanted to know if the ones with the lip are more appropriate for application around the seams on the bedding or the cording withOUT the lip?
– To Lip or Not To Lip Sante Fe, NM
Dear To Lip or Not To Lip,
The great thing about trims is that with a little creativity and ingenuity, they can turn outdated and out of fashion furnishing, garments and accessories into modern works of art.
Have some FUN with Trims!
Here at J&O; we carry a huge amount of trims. Most of our trim customers are professional Interior Designers, Set Designers or upholsterers. They use the trims for elaborate draperies and high end furniture.
Personally, I love embellishments, and I love a challenge. When I started working here and feasted my eyes on these trims naturally I did not think much beyond the normal use. Now that I see them everyday my mind has started to work overtime on what I could do with these cools finds. Here are a few ideas I’ve come up with:
Dear Netfah,
My grandmother passed away last year and left a wealth of fabrics and materials from her life as an interior designer and upholsterer for some of Hollywoods A-list celebs. My daughter is interested in following in her footsteps and is slowly but surely nurturing her design skills and upholstering hand. I found what I beleive to be vinyl welting among her containers of goods and wondered what it was used for. Any insight?
signed,
Grandmother’s Welting
Dear Grandmother’s Welting,
