Method of making a fringe

Abstract

 Method of making a fringe, comprising the steps of (a) securing one end of a flexible connector (7) to a support member (4), (b) threading a plurality of beads (8) sequentially onto the flexible connector (7) and (c) repeating the steps (a) and (b) at spaced intervals along the support member (4), using the same flexible connector (7) in step (c) as in steps (a) and (b). The order of threading the beads (8) onto the flexible connector (7) is undertaken in accordance with a pattern guide comprising a coded pattern sheet (2), on which sections (20) represent beads (8). The fringe comprises the length of flexible connector (7) secured at one end and at intervals along it to the support member (4) and depending from the support member (4) in loops (9), each of the loops (9) having threaded onto it a plurality of beads (8) in a mannner whereby the connector (7) passes in a first direction from the support member (4) through the beads (8) and returns in a reverse direction to the support member (4) through the beads (8).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for making a fringe, and the fringe as made by the method.

[0002] The invention has particular application in the making of patterned, beaded fringes for attachment to clothing, household objects, such as lampshades, and numerous other items taking decoration.

[0003] According to the present invention there is provided a method of making a fringe, comprising the steps of (a) securing one end of a flexible connector to a support member, (b) threading a plurality of beads sequentially onto the flexible connector, and (c) repeating the steps (a) and (b) at spaced intervals along the support member.

[0004] Further according to the present invention there is provided a fringe comprising a length of flexible connector secured at one end and at intervals along it to a support member and depending from the support member in loops at spaced intervals along the support member, each of the loops having threaded onto it a plurality of beads in a manner whereby the connector passes in a first direction from the support member through the beads and returns in a reverse direction to the support member through the beads.

[0005] Preferably, the same flexible connector is used in step (c) as in steps (a) and (b).

[0006] Preferably, the flexible connector is secured to the support member by stitching.

[0007] Preferably, the order of threading the beads onto the flexible connector is undertaken in accordance with a pattern guide comprising a coded pattern sheet.

[0008] Preferably, the pattern sheet has coded sections each of which represents a bead.

[0009] Preferably, in the method, the support member is aligned with a datum on the pattern sheet to provide correspondence between the pattern guide and the desired position of the beads.

[0010] Preferably also, there is provided a kit for making fringes in accordance with the abovementioned method, said kit including a set of instructions.

[0011] The beaded threads may be in the form of pendants or the interconnected cell boundaries of a reticulum.

[0012] The beads and thread may be of selected size, shape and colour to provide a wide variety of pattern and uses.

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. l illustrates the method for fringe-making according to the present invention; and,

Figs 2 to 5 are forms of a pattern sheet of apparatus of the invention.

[0014] Referring to Figs l and 2 of the drawings, apparatus for use in a method of making a fringe comprises needles 6, a reel of polyester cotton 7, a support member in the form of a tape 4, instructions with a pattern sheet l, and a plurality of glass beads 8 of different colours, loosely threaded on skeins. The fringe to be produced comprises a series of beaded pendants 9, each pendant 9 of one bead thickness.

[0015] The pattern sheet l includes squares 20 on a paper sheet 2 coded for bead colour and type. Each square 20 corresponds to an individual bead and each vertically aligned series of squares 20 corresponds to one pendant 9 of the fringe. To use, the sheet l is attached by tacks 3 to a backing board (not shown). The tape 4 is placed along line 5 and secured as shown in Fig. lA. The needle 6 with thread 7 is passed through the tape 4 several times to secure and glass beads 8, which have been removed from the skeins, are threaded (Fig. lB) according to the colour scheme and to the length shown by the pattern sheet l to form a pendant 9. To finish each pendant 9, the needle 6 is threaded back through all the glass beads 8 except the last bead l0 and the thread 7 is pulled gently but firmly until all the slack is taken up (Fig. lC) such that the pendant 9 hangs loosely but with no excess thread 7. The thread 7 is passed once more through the tape 4 and secured with two stitches ll (Fig. lD). The process of Fig. l is repeated for each pendant 9.

[0016] To complete, the fringe is washed in warm soapy water, rinsed, stretched whilst wet, and air dried, after which it may be, for example, adhered or sewn to the article to be decorated.

[0017] Referring now to Figs 2 to 5, other embodiments may include different repeat or non-repeat patterns, utilising various colours and shapes of beads and selected lengths of pendant producing, for example, a scalloped or serrated edge (Fig. 3). Larger beads or other baubles may be threaded to the ends of the pendants (Fig. 4) and the fringe worn, for example, as a necklace.

[0018] In addition, larger fringes may be used as window screens or the like, and ones of limited width may be hung as wall or window decoration. In these cases, the support member may comprise the tape and a hollow elongate element (not shown) of resilient material, such as a length of bamboo, which has a biassed closed longitudinal split. To use, the longitudinal split is forced open and the tape inserted such that, on release and subsequent split closure, the tape is retained in the hollow interior and the pendants hang freely.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, the pendants may be interconnected, such that the fringe comprises a reticulum of beaded threads. The size of the cells of the reticulum may be increased, together with the width of the entire fringe, by the increasing in the number of beads to a thread before interconnecting with other threads. This technique is particularly useful for covering objects of non-uniform width, such as domed lampshades, where at the beginning of the operation the tape is formed into a circle such that side pendants are fully incorporated in the reticulum and the fringe continuous.

[0020] The beads 8 of the apparatus described above are of glass; preferably a mixture of beads including plain glass, silver-lined glass and high metallic-content glass beads, all approximately 0.l inch (2.5 mm) wide. Other embodiments may employ beads of wood, plastics, all metal, or other materials and be of any size. The beads may be cubic, spherical, cylindical, or of any form that can be threaded.

[0021] The coding used on the pattern sheet 2 of Fig. 2 has black squares l2 representing orange beads and the lightly shaded l3 and heavily shaded squares l4 representing two shades of blue bead.

[0022] In the coding for the pattern sheet 2 of Fig. 3, black squares l5 represent lilac beads, dotted squares l6 represent blue beads, crossed squares l7 represent gold beads, diagonally lined squares l8 represent orange beads, half-shaded squares l9 represent red beads, and unshaded squares 2l of the fringe-pattern represent green beads.

[0023] In Fig. 4, black squares 22 represent purple beads, heavily shaded squares 23 represent gold beads and unshaded squares 24 of the fringe-pattern represent lilac beads. The baubles are represented by dew-drop shaped areas 80.

[0024] In Fig. 5, black squares 25 represent red beads, diagonally crossed squares 26 represent light green beads, crossed squares 27 represent light gold beads, diagonally lined squares 28 represent gold beads, open circles 29 represent light blue beads, closed circles 30 represent brown beads, dotted squares 33 represent lilac beads and half shaded squares 3l pale red beads, unshaded squares 32 of the fringe-pattern represent white beads.

[0025] Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of making a fringe, comprising the steps of (a) securing one end of a flexible connector to a support member, (b) threading a plurality of beads sequentially onto the flexible connector, and (c) repeating the steps (a) and (b) at spaced interv als along the support member.

2. A method as claimed in Claim l, wherein the flexible connector is passed through the beads in a first direction in order to thread the beads and is then passed again through the beads in reverse direction.

3. A method as claimed in Claim l or 2, wherein the same flexible connector is used in step (c) as in steps (a) and (b).

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the order of threading the beads onto the flexible connector is undertaken in accordance with a pattern guide comprising a coded pattern sheet.

5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the pattern sheet has coded sections each of which represents a bead.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the support member is aligned with a datum on the pattern sheet to provide correspondence between the pattern guide and the desired position of the beads.

7. A fringe whenever made by the method of any one of the preceding Claims.

8. A fringe comprising a length of flexible connector secured at one end and at intervals along it to a support member and depending from the support member in loops at spaced intervals along the support member, each of the loops having threaded onto it a plurality of beads in a manner whereby the connector passes in a first direction from the support member through the beads and returns in a reverse direction to the support member through the beads.

9. A fringe as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the flexible connector is secured to the support member by stitching.

l0. A kit for making the fringes claimed in Claim 8 or 9 in accordance with the method claimed in any one of Claim l to 7, said kit including a set of instructions.

Drawing