How I fringe a Trinity Stitch Prayer Shawl

Recently a reader asked if I'd explain how I fringe the Trinity Stitch Prayer Shawl and I thought it was a great opportunity to write a tutorial with lots of photos.  So here it is...

To refresh your memory.... a couple of examples of the simple knit Trinity Stitch Prayer Shawl pattern.  The 38" wide is to the left, the 45" wide is to the right.  Same pattern, just different widths.  I used double-strands of yarn on the fringing of both shawls.  The shawl to the left, I used two different colors and it really made this shawl 'pop'.  Both look luxurious.   Let's take a closer look at the fringe...

You can see a little clearer the two different colored strands of yarn I used here.   I also fringed it 'tight' with the strands of fringe side-by-side and almost on top of each other.  I, personally, like this look.  It uses a lot of yarn.  Let's look at the other shawl's fringe....

Same thing here..... double-stranded and 'tight'.  I experimented with fringing this shawl two different colors too, but it worked better to use the same multi-colored yarn.   Let's see how fringing is done. 

All my completed Prayer Shawls have been given away, so I used the shawl that is currently on my needles using a contrasting yarn for the fringe as an example.  This would not be the color combination I would choose for the final project, but is used only as the example in this tutorial to show the fringing process.

The fringing you've seen in my example photos have all been fringed with @10" length.  That means you cut your strand of fringing yarn 20" long.

Once I get the first strand of yarn cut, I use it as my 'template' to cut a bunch of other strands of yarn.  That way you don't have to take the time to measure each and every strand of yarn.   Saves a lot of time.  Don't worry about being exactly exact.

Below, I've got a little stack of strands ready for fringing.  Usually I cut a BIG stack of strands for fringing once I've determined my color scheme for that particular shawl.  

First I will show a single strand of fringe.  Below, this strand has been cut 20" and curved back 'round to match up the loose ends to find, not only the mid-point, but to ready it for the fringing application.

Hold the mid-point and 'moosh' it together to bring it to a sort of 'point'.   :) 

Open one of the 'holes' at the bottom of your shawl with your finger.  Just kind of 'feel' it open.  Don't worry about stretching anything, it will be okay.  

Take the mid-point that you 'mooshed' together and 'thread' it into the hole you just created at the bottom of the shawl.

Like this.

You can see a little more clearly here what we're doing.  

Take the 'loop' and thread the two loose ends through.

Like this...

See?... Gently pull the loose ends, trying to keep everything as 'even' as possible.  But it's okay if the ends get a little lop-sided, we'll take care of that later.

 As you pull, gently 'shape' the fringe 'knot' with your fingers.

 And you've just fringed your shawl with a single strand of yarn.

**One important thing to remember: if you 'thread' from the bottom, like my example shown here, thread every single one from the bottom.  If you 'thread' from the top, thread all from the top.  This makes sure your fringe knots are even and consistent.

Below, I've got 2 single strands of fringe on the shawl and now want to show you how to use double strands of yarn to fringe.  My personal preference.  Cut your strands 20" and line up 2 strands, matching loose ends....

....'mooshing' and 'threading' the mid-point through a hole at the bottom of your shawl made with your finger between the loops.   Sometimes if I want my fringe knots 'wider', I may 'thread' over 2 knitted rows, instead of just 1 as shown here.  Just experiment around to what you like on your shawl.  That's really what it's all about.

Now we've got 2 loops coming through.

'Thread' the 4 loose ends through the loops.....

.....gently pull, shaping the fringe knot with your fingers.

Below, you can see the difference between the single stranded fringe and the double-stranded fringe.  The double-stranded takes a lot more yarn, but gives the shawl a pretty finish.   Looking at this picture, I'd go back in and fringe in between those 'gaps' until you could not see any burgundy between the lavender.  That's what I mean by fringing 'tight'.

Okay, now we're going to pretend all our fringing is complete on this shawl and it's time to take care of the uneven loose ends.  I don't measure, I just snip to even them out the best I can. 

It's that easy.

I hope this helps answer any questions about how to fringe.  Some folks may want a shorter fringe than the 10" I do..... some may want more strands in their knots...  less strands.... tightly fringed.... or more loose.  Use your creativity to make your prayer shawl special and unique.