Shawl: Fringe or No Fringe?

Ket

I have finished my red blanket shawl! It's heavily cabled and knit in a beautiful sour cherry red (see photo for color).

Anyway... I have finished the shawl body and I am to the point of adding fringe.

Yay Fringe?

Nay Fringe?

I'm torn. The fringe to me really makes the shawl! So 1970s meets Outlander.

And yet... will fringe stylistically age well or feel meh in a few years?

Here are photos of the shawl, both with and without fringe, to help visualize it.

Thank you for holding my hand :]

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4 hours ago

Dressing

10 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

judy

Veteran

Wow, that's a lovely red, Ket. For me, it would be on the no fringe side, though having said that, the fringe is so fun and playful! It sounds like you love the fringe so I say trust yourself and go for it.

3 hours ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yay to fringe. Looks prettier to my eye. Happy Christmas Ket!

3 hours ago

JAileen

Veteran

Fringe! If it feels dated later, couldn’t it be removed? Another thought: what about a few tassels?

3 hours ago

Irina

Veteran

Love it with fringe! Beautiful color.

3 hours ago

Star (Lise)

Veteran

Love the colour. I would go with no fringe, too 70s and can become a bit costume-y for my liking. Like Jaileen I was wondering if you can remove them later if you want to. Plus how well do tassles launder?

3 hours ago

Ket

Veteran

Judy, thank you for the reminder to trust myself

Jenni, oh thank you! Merry Christmas to you, dear lady! And yes... I do love the fringe

JAileen, the fringe could be removed. The yarn would kind of be wasted because it wouldn't be long enough to use for anything else, but the ring isn't permanent. I have considered tassels too. A happy compromise

Irina, thank you so much I will post photos when it's all finished.

Lise, I do worry about the costume aspect of the fringe, though I absolutely love the idea of fringe regardless. Tassels (and fringe) would launder fine. I handwashing my hand knits, so things wear so much nicer. I am intrigued by tassels...

3 hours ago

LJP

Veteran

Gorgeous colour ! I’d leave it fringe-less . Fringe can look a little ratty after awhile if not combed and trimmed etc . I think without the fringe the eye goes to the intricate pattern and fabulous colour .

2 hours ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I am a nay. I much prefer the clean and uncluttered look without the fringe, but I am not a very boho person. I think it depends a lot on your personal style. You seem to like it, so go for it!

2 hours ago

Veteran

You can’t lose, really. It’s lovely! I think it looks a little more like a blanket without and a garment with, but it is awesome either way. I lean toward the fringe myself though. If you’re going for a 70s vibe, the whole concept of whether it is dated seems irrelevant.

32 minutes ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, that’s a pretty color and pattern. My preference is for no fringe. Somehow it feels more versatile to me that way, and all the attention is on the lovely pattern — I find the fringe a little distracting.

4 minutes ago

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