What's the secret to making fringe

[Sgt. Eli]

I just got a new pair of shotgun chaps, my old pair has fringe and the edge on these new ones need fringe awful bad. What's the best way to accomplish this.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Fringe is usually made by leaving extra leather beyond the seam and cutting it into strips. You would probably have to make a strip and sew it into the seam to add it now.

[Sgt. Eli]

Marshal, the way these chaps are made I have a 3" flap to make the fringe out of. I didn't know if there was a tool I could buy, or just get out the razor utility knife and a metal straight edge.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've never cut fringe myself but I knew a lady who made leather jackets and she cut it with a heavy-duty pair of scissors. It looked good. If you were careful to make the cuts all parralel and evenly spaced, it should look fine. Maybe mark the spacing at the endge first with a taylor's pencil that would wipe off.

[Judge Lead]

Have a look at the item called a Leather Stripper. It may do the job for you.

http://www.tandyleather.com/products.asp?DEPT=205&Page=2

Regards

[Bitterwheat]

I use a good pair of leather sissors. and cut them by hand. Just be careful and be sure you cut straight

[Brazos Jack]

Fellers, as a Buckskinner I have cut miles of fringe and the best all-around way to get it done is with a Rotary Cutter. Lay the future fringe on a cutting board and use a metal or heavy plastic straight edge as a guide to cut the individual strips while leaving the 3/8" to 1/2" edge for sewing. It's fast and makes life easy.

Have fun.

[Silver_Rings]

I made my fringe same as Brazos Jack, rotary cutter and metal ruler.  Worked fine for me.

SR

[Doc Neeley]

After cutting, wet the fringe and you can stretch it and twist it. It looks great and the fringe will be about 40% longer.

[GunClick Rick]

Use a shredder ya can only go so wide though and at least you get a strieght pattern..Worked on mine.

[Rap Scallion]

   Brazos Jack does it the way I do...........  Usually easier if you just leave an extra amount of leather and use a clear plastic strai8ght edge and a good sharp blade......Xacto or snap off type!  The accuracy isn't like a swiss watch as then they are cut and hanging small differences in width or paralell cuts won't be noticed. 

It is time consuming,    rest when you get bored and or tired.  It may take a while!   But it sure isn't hard.  Tandy/LF has commercially cut and packaged fringe in their stores and catalogs too!