Questions to makers that use fringe on a sheath

[C Craft]

I see some sheath makers that use fringe on a sheath and I wonder how they are doing it? Do you sew the fringe into the sheath as you braid the edge or do you glue it or is it part of welt for the sheath?

For example this neck sheath I made for this friction folder was made from a leather sheath covered with rawhide.

I never throw away the scraps of leather that are left from trimming up for other projects. I put them in a bag and when I do a sheath that requires fringe if they are not small enough I just cut them down for fringe. I figure that the different lengths looks OK but I do try to keep them somewhat close on width.
However I have always been worried about them pulling out of the sheath. When I am doing an braided edge I usually will throw a loop around each and every piece of leather that I am using as a fringe. This loop is in between the layers of the sheath and you cannot tell it has been done when the edge braid is completed! I have went so far as to throw a drop of barge cement in their as well so when all done, each braid is individually locked into the sheath.

Recently I have been planning for an upcoming sheath for I knife that I have yet to complete. I have been thinking of doing a fringe on it as a welt in the sheath. In other words the welt and the fringe will be cut from one piece of leather and sewn into the sheath! This way would take more leather but I would not have to worry about locking each fringe that way.

Would anyone like to share how they do fringe on sheath? Maybe there are some ideas out there that I am missing!

 

[backtines]

Hey C Craft

I kinda do the same thing that your doing . I purchase a big peice of leather and actually cut all my strips individually . I dont really try to cut them the same size and width ( I like the variation in widths ) I sew each one in place like you , and when Im done I hold the sheath horizontally and let all the frindges hang vertical . I then take a big sizzor and cut the tips to even them off. When Im done Ill take a bit of crazy glue and touch each stich just to secure it good. When the sheath sits vertical , the flow of frindge looks kinda nice . Heres a few pics of a few I did.. Some with shorty frindge and some with longer ones.

Shorty frindge


Long Frindge

 

[LRB]

Hi Cliff. When I do a RH sheath like that, I use a X stitch and let it tie down any fringe as I go along, on the underside of rolled edge. I cut my fringe from garment suede cow, deer, or use braintan in sections of 2/3 inches at a time, leaving a border of maybe 1/8" for the tie down under the edge roll of the RH. Here's a photo, but it does not show the detail you might want

 

[kidterico]

First one was sewed on after as was the second. The third was sewen and glued in with the welt as you can see the difference. KT

 

[C Craft]

Thanks for the info guys. Well from what I am gathering it can be done both ways. Tying each one as you go or can be installed as a welt! Neither one is really easy!

I would imagine it is time consuming cutting each and everyone of the fringe strips when done as a welt as you did in that third pic there Kid. Don't get me wrong because I love looking at your work Kid but, I think I like the way they hang better when individually tied in! They seem to hang more naturally down ward. Like in the first two pics!

Wick thanks for the tip on the suede or braintain as that looks more like the look I was wanting to accomplish! I will have to try your tip next time "garment suede cow, deer, or use braintan in sections of 2/3 inches at a time, leaving a border of maybe 1/8" for the tie down under the edge roll of the RH" That kind of sounds like the best of both worlds.

I guess in short there is no easy way to do this!:les:OH well you never learn if you don't ask!:biggrin:

Kid I just went back and reread your post and it say in the first two pics the fringe, "was sewed on after" ! Can you enlighten me a little as too what you mean by sewn on after. If I am understanding correctly you braided up the edge of the sheath then you sewed in the fringe! Is that right? Any further info on this process? I like the hang of the fringe better in the first two pics you posted>

 

[kidterico]

They are sewed on after. One at a time. Just like you said. After braiding .KT

 

[C Craft]

Thanks Kid.

When I did the one in the picture I basically sewed each fringe in as I was doing the edge weave, not after!

I am not sure anymore exactly how I did that. But as I can remember I went thru the top layer and then I did a double knot, (can't remember but it may have been a double half hitch around the fringe) and then went out the bottom layer and continued on with the edge weave.

I learned that if I wet each fringe string so the knots all pulled down each piece tight. After I started doing them that way (wetting the fringe)I could not pull out the fringe, because it allowed for the knots to pull down on each piece so tightly it held well! All I remember for sure is I had to do some experimenting to figure out how it would work and not show. The only other thing I remember is was slow and a PITA. Even when I did the other one with the dab of glue it was slow and I am not sure that they held as well as the knotted ones!

Guess that is why I was looking for a better way to do it! I get the feeling that this may be one of those things no matter how you approach it there isn't and easy way!!!!!!!!!

 

[kidterico]

CCraft I have done lots of them the way you said you did yours. KT