Beading and Fringe

	1. Thread & Anchoring Thread a beading needle (available at craft stores) with either beading thread or upholstery thread (just as tough and cheaper, available in many colours). I usually double thread for the extra security, but if you are using light-weight beads, beads that don't have sharp edges, or not ending the fringe with coins (they cut through thread eventually), you can singly thread the needle. Knot the thread and do a few anchoring stitches on the "wrong" side of what you are beading (i.e. the inside of a bra cup) and do a few anchoring stitches and knots before pushing the needle through to the good side.
	2. Beads & Patterns On Individual Strands Remember that you want the fringe to swing freely, so you might want to start it with a few small beads before beginning your pattern and the strands shouldn't be too short. End each strand with either a small bead, a loop or a larger bead by going through the end bead once, then pushing the needle back through the rest of the beads in the strand, so everything but the end bead gets the thread passed through it twice. Important: After finishing a strand, do a few knots on the back before going on to the next one so that they are all individually secured. This way, if a strand breaks, you only lose that one instead of having all the strands next to it unravel and fall off as you are dancing. Trust me, it's worth the extra work. The image to the left shows fringe of gold seed beads and plastic blue faceted beads ending in plastic imitation crystals being added to a bra.
	3. Rows Of Fringe When making fringe for hip belts, I prefer to put all the strands on a ribbon, then attach the ribbon to the belt. That way, if anything happens to the belt all that work won't be lost! (Not to mention that it gets heavy, so it's easier to make it on sections of ribbon.) I loosely stitch a guide line with bright thread along the exact curve I want the fringe to follow, to make it easier to sew the fringe evenly in a nice curve. (First picture left.) The second picture to the left shows a belt with two rows of fringe. I hid the ribbon of the top row of fringe with a string of sequins. Note: It really is easier to buy Egyptian fringe (teal fringe on white string, shown left), unless you have a special design in mind or your budget does not allow it. 4. Embellishing With Beads The first belt (with the thread line) had a design of large stitch-on glass jewels, stitch-on clusters of crytals on a diamond-shape base, and sequins. I decorated the second belt by making a flower motif out of acrylic jewels and seed beads. You can purchase sew-on glass or acrylic jewels (glass is more sparkly and more expensive) and stitch beads and/or sequins around them to make patterns. Faceted sequins are very sparkly and a few can really add punch to a costume (better than flat sequins). Sew everything on. No matter what people tell you, glued things fall off. Always.