When the fringe on your projects doesn’t hang quite right or it curls up when you don’t want it to, there is a way to keep it nice and straight. Learn the best way to straighten macrame fringe and keep it that way.
Are you new to macrame? Check out 19 Macrame Terms for Beginners You Need to Know and Learn To Macrame With 4 Basic Knots. Get started with my Macrame Plant Hanger For Beginners or this Simple Macrame Wall Hanging with Feathers
The Best Way To Comb out Fringe on Your Macrame Project
I have tried different ways of combing out the fringe on my macrame projects. There is no easy way to do it, you just have to take your time and be thorough with whatever tool you use. Patience is a virtue when it comes to combing out fringe.
My projects don’t usually call for combing fringe completely out. I like to let it naturally fray on the ends when I do wall hangings and the tail of plant hangers. I also don’t normally use single twist cord which makes a beautifully combed out fringe when done right.
I’m definitely on team 3ply twisted because I like the structure it has and it holds together better. It also creates a fun wavy fringe when unraveled instead of combed like this tail on my color blocked plant hanger.
I recently did a feather wall hanging and of course that required combing out the fringe to make the feathers. I did it a couple of different ways.
Using a Comb to Straighten Macrame Fringe
I use a regular plastic comb. It’s one of the ones I have left over from the days when I did hair in a salon. It isn’t the quickest way to straighten macrame fringe, but it works. I have also heard people say they use a metal comb, either one will do the job.
I start at the very bottom and work my way up just like I would if I was combing tangles out of my granddaughter’s hair. Luckily the fringe doesn’t cry or pull away, LOL! I can easily comb two cords at a time with a comb.
Using a Pet Brush to Straighten Macrame Fringe
A pet brush is a quicker way to straighten macrame fringe. You still start at the bottom and work your way up, but you can brush more cords at a time with the pet brush.
Beware though, a pet brush will cause more lint to come off your fringe. I may or may not have been covered in it the first time I tried it…and in black yoga pants. It was as bad as white dog hair.
When choosing a pet brush, make sure the bristles are strong and spaced a decent amount of space apart from each other. I bought one at our local Meijer in the pet department and thought it was sturdy enough, but the bristles were to thin and too close together to do the job.
I went back to the brush we had and it worked great except for the excessive amount of fuzz it created.
How to Keep Macrame Fringe Straight
Once you worked hard to straighten macrame fringe you want it to stay that way. Nothing is more frustrating than to look at a piece a few days later to see the fringe starting to curl and separate.
A normal wall hanging can be finger combed to bring back the look of the fringe, but sometimes your piece may need a little extra help to keep it straight. Macrame feathers are a perfect example of when you will want to add a little extra effort to keep the fringe nice and straight.
Now with feathers, you could add backing. Felt or stiff fabric can be applied to the back with glue to keep them looking perfect. I did try that first and for me it didn’t turn out to my liking and it won’t work with the fringe on a normal wall hanging.
How to Use Spray Starch to Keep Your Fringe in Shape
Starch works on clothing, so why not on macrame fringe? I bought a can of spray starch and used it to on the feathers of my latest wall hanging. Before the starching the feathers were hanging uneven and the fringe was separating. They were just ugly, no doubt about it.
The starch is heavy and it will take awhile for your fringe to dry, but it is totally worth the wait.
Step 1. Comb feathers
You may have already cut them to the shape you want, so go ahead and comb them into the shape you want them to be.
Step 2. Spray on starch
Spray the starch liberally onto the feather. It should be good and wet to the touch
Step 3. Use a comb to shape fringe
The strands will curl and separate when wet so use a comb and comb them back into shape. Allow to dry for about 30 minutes
Step 4. Comb again until smooth.
Yes, comb the strands again. We want them to stay smooth and in shape.
Step 5. Trim any out of place strands
Take the time now to trim any out of place strands. I use a pair of hair cutting shears to do fine trimming. The blades are nice and sharp and the cotton strands don’t dull the shears.
Step 6. Allow to dry completely
I let mine dry over night to be sure it was good and dry before hanging.
Using Hairspray to Keep Macrame Fringe Straight
I didn’t buy any special hairspray to use, I used the Kenra hairspray that I had in my cabinet. A bit expensive to use on a macrame feather, but hey, you use what you have right?
The hairspray is a lot lighter than the starch and smells a lot better too. I sprayed the feather completely and combed it same way I did with the starch.
It didn’t get as wet, but still had the same effect as the starch. It also dried faster. Just to be sure I sprayed the feathers I used it on twice.
Step 1. Comb the feather
Comb out the fringe of the feather.
Step 2. Spray with hairspray
Spray liberally with hairspray. It won’t feel as wet as it does if you use starch.
Step 3. Comb fringe
It shouldn’t curl because the hairspray isn’t as wet as the starch, but comb it out if it does.
Step 4. Allow to dry
Allow to sit for 30 minutes to be sure it is dry.
Step 5. Trim
Trim any out of place strands and comb into final shape.
Should you apply heat?
You should definitely apply heat if you use starch. The feather that I allowed to dry over night was not as smooth as I wanted it to be. It held it’s shape, but didn’t have a very finished look to it.
The feather that I used heat on after applying starch and combing became a little flatter and smoother. It was also easier to trim.
I also used heat on the ones with hairspray with the same effect and as you can see it isn’t as wavy as it was prior to applying heat.
I used my clothes iron. You might be tempted to use it on the cotton setting. After all, the macrame cord is cotton. DO NOT use the cotton setting, it will be way too hot and the strings will melt to the iron. Ask me now I know this?
Set your iron on the lowest setting and if it isn’t hot enough increase it little by little until it gives the cord a smooth appearance. You can do this when it is wet or when it’s dry. I did it both ways with the same result.
The feather wall hanging looks so much better now and the feathers are keeping their shape. It is definitely worth the extra effort to straighten macrame fringe.
Pin how to straighten macrame fringe to Pinterest!
FAQs
Can you straighten macrame? ›
For longer macrame fringe, a handheld steamer will help straighten it out even more. You can even use a hair straighter in a pinch! Or mist your fringe with water, brush it out, and put a heavy book or some other flat heavy object and let it dry overnight.
Can you use hairspray to stiffen macrame? ›For Stiff Feathers:
Spray with hairspray or stiffener and place in book for a few hours. Attach jump ring and attach to desired item.
One of the simplest ways to stiffen craft material is to use corn starch. Mixing water and corn starch creates a thick mixture that soaks into cloth and other materials such as rope. Once the starch dries, it makes the material stiff.
What is the best macrame cord for fringe? ›The most common rope for macrame is twisted three-ply cotton, which is both strong and fringes into a lovely wavy pattern. Some braided six-ply rope is also available, but I'd recommend sticking to three-ply options unless you need a lot of strength.
How do I keep macrame in place? ›T-Pins. Use these with your macrame board to hold your work in place. They work best if you put them in at an angle so you don't accidently pull them out while you're working.
What does hairspray do to straighten? ›Spraying a little hairspray on dry hair before you start to straighten keeps it straight for longer, but professionals suggest to keep it light. Rea says, “I like to use a light-hold hairspray before I straighten each section of hair—it keeps frizz away and helps keep the hair straight for longer.
What can I use instead of fabric stiffener? ›...
There are three methods/recipes people use that I'm aware of:
- Mod Podge or Elmer's Glue.
- Cornstarch Mixture – 1 T cornstarch, 1/4 cup cold water, and 1/4 cup boiling water.
- Flour Mixture – 1 T flour, 1/2 cup cold water, and 1/2 cup boiling water.
Mix 1 tablespoon of starch or corn flour and 2 cups of water. Mix well and remove all lumps so it is a smooth consistency. This solution can be put in a spray bottle and sprayed over your fabric. Alternatively, you can soak the fabric in this solution.
How do I make my fringe less stiff? ›"For a softer-looking bang, instead of having the hair fall forward when cutting, pull them forward so they are parallel to the floor," Marjan advises. "This will create a slight taper that will soften the ends." That, of course, will also require you to cut off more length.
How do I keep my fringe fluffy? ›"Straighter/heavier fringes will always benefit from something like a blow-dry spray with a light mousse. This will help give the fringe substance and be less flimsy, whilst keeping it in place and well behaved all day. Something that helps block moisture would be handy also for that super-preened look.
Why is my macrame twisting? ›
When you tie a regular Square Knot, you alternate the direction the cords move for each half, which keeps it flat. For this design, the cords are moved in the same direction each time, which causes the twisting.
Can Mod Podge stiffen fabric? ›This unique fabric glue stiffener is perfect for stiffening a variety of fabric arts and crafts. Mod Podge Stiffy makes fabric less flexible and can be applied directly onto all types of fabric surfaces such as cotton, cheesecloth, burlap, gauze, laces, ribbons, needlework, and felt.
Does Spray starch make things stiff? ›When starch is sprayed on a shirt or other items, it makes the fabric stiffer and helps the fabric to hold its shape. This makes the shirt look nicer and more polished. #3. Starch can also be used to help with ironing.
How do you make fabric stiff permanently? ›For clothes that will be washed remember the stiffener, unless it is a particular glue type stiffener will wash out, and you will need to treat the fabric again once washed. For clothing that is repeatedly washed the best solution is to use an iron-on or sew-in interfacing as a permanent solution.
How do you keep macrame feathers stiff? ›Place heavy paper underneath your macramé leaf, then spray the entire leaf with Stiffen Quik until it's damp. Note: Cotton rope will twist when damp; this is normal. Use your hair comb to brush out the strands of rope and reshape the leaf. Flip the leaf over and reapply Stiffen-Quik generously onto the other side.
How do you care for a macrame fringe? ›Occasional gentle brushing of fringed areas with with a detangling comb or pet brush will keep any fringe areas looking tidy. To remove dust and accumulated particles just give your macrame a gentle shake or use a lint roller, not a hoover.
Can I use Elmer's glue to stiffen fabric? ›How to Stiffen Fabric with Glue Recipe. Make your own solution by mixing 1 tablespoon of wood glue (PVA glue) to 1 cup of water and brush on where necessary. Other clear glues such as Elmer's glue can also be used. Mold your fabric to shape and dry.
How do you make macrame feathers lay flat? ›Spray your feather with stiffening spray to stiffen up the feather so it lays flat when it's hanging. Follow this same process to make the smaller feathers or any size you want!
How do I keep my fringe flat? ›"You have to start with the hair damp and put a small amount of mousse on the bangs before blow-drying it with a brush," she says. This helps to control and train the hair to lay across the forehead before it sets when it's dry.
How do I make my fringe not flat? ›Use a small round brush for volume
While blow-drying your bangs, use a small round brush to add extra volume. This keeps them from laying flat on your forehead and gives them a livelier look. Hold the hairdryer facing down over your head and brush your bangs to your desired direction.
Does Mod Podge stiffen fabric? ›
This unique fabric glue stiffener is perfect for stiffening a variety of fabric arts and crafts. Mod Podge Stiffy makes fabric less flexible and can be applied directly onto all types of fabric surfaces such as cotton, cheesecloth, burlap, gauze, laces, ribbons, needlework, and felt.
Can cornstarch stiffen fabric? ›This heavy starch uses just a two household ingredients: water and corn starch. It sounds so easy doesn't it? That's because it is. Tip: The more starch you use in relation to the water, the stiffer your finished product will be.
What is an alternative to fabric stiffener? ›Hairspray is an inexpensive and effective substitution for fabric stiffener. You can use any kind of hairspray on fabric but an aerosol rather than a spray pump will more evenly distribute the hairspray across the fabric. Use an alcohol-free hairspray because alcohol can cause discoloration or bleeding dyes in fabric.