Plain Jane

[ballin_n_shawlin]

maybe i should make a busy busy shawl n skirt to hide the fact that i don't run 5 miles everyday! ha ha ha... just kidding... but seriously... i think the most i have on my shawls... is a little bit of ribbon work (and thats on 2 of them) not the applique kind.. just simple geometric (or str8 lines) with the ribbon ... and the rest of my shawls are plain! whether or not it really gets me noticed i have no clue.. i just know it's what I LIKE!! :D:D

[Kaina1128]

i love the plainer shawls because the gals tend to do more footwork. its like they are not hiding behind their outfits.

haha, until i improve my footwork, that's exactly why i make "busier" fancy shawl outfits

[ndngirl722]

1/4 inch for me. ribbonfactory.com is where i got mine...it's beautiful.

[~~Cheyenne~~]

what size ribbon is the right size everyone uses??

[nativedancer5]

try the ribbonfactory.com they will even cut it and bond the ends for you ...........for a few cents a piece and they have alot of colors. I'm getting my daughters ribbon for her fancy there and having them cut it for me 500 pieces and it will only cost me 2 cents a piece for cutting I figure about 60 bucks total for ribbon and cutting .........saves me the headache of trying to cut all of it and make sure it's all the right size.

[ndngirl722]

I really like the ribbon, but it is sooo expensive. Anybody know where you can buy in bulk? I always end up wasting a little on each spool and going back to the store 3 or 4 times just to get all the spools I need.

Satin

it's where I got my ribbon. they can heat treat it so you don't have to use fray check. my shawl has taken a beating for the past two years and the ribbons are still good as new!

[butterflypulse]

I have been working on new stuff for my son, husband and myself. I am incorporating tribal colors and have established family colors I want to use throughout. I don't want everyone to be matchy-matchy, but I love when I see families that coodinate. Even though fancy shawl tends to be very flashy, I want to still incoporate family and tribal designs...kind of old school. I think bold color choices and beautiful, meaningful designs can make just as much of a statement as using all of the neon colors you can fit into your design. I was going to use colors that I really like, but when I talked with my husband, he like the idea of family colors and I'm using them in different ways. For example, gold can be yellow for his traditional shirt, but flashy for my new fancy shawl outfit. I'm not sure about chainnette. I really like the ribbon, but it is sooo expensive. Anybody know where you can buy in bulk? I always end up wasting a little on each spool and going back to the store 3 or 4 times just to get all the spools I need.

[Dat1NdnGuy]

its just another TREND...pretty soon EVERYONE'LL have outfits like that and then one person'll bring out her old flashy stuff and stick out amongst a big crowd of plain janes...

[chazziff]

i too am lovn the "plainer"/old style look of all the categories actually ... i prefer it. minimal colors ... i think jus they jus pop more than beadwork with like twenty colors (yes ... i've seen it ... i've done some too LOL ... more opportunity for mistakes i think LOL).

but ya ... you're eye is more apt to wonder over to the dancer with the big bright one color shawl ... with no designs on it.

[bahnisiain]

i love the plainer shawls because the gals tend to do more footwork. its like they are not hiding behind their outfits.

at last year's Mohegan Wigwam, there was a gal who had plain applice and the bottom of the shawl was curved.

[Ahinawake]

I do use ribbon rather than chainette fringe, but I keep my regalia pretty plain n simple. It's just my personal preferance, not to have all those sequins and shiny fabrics. :D

[nessadawn25]

I love the Old style look! It's keen, especially with round beaded stuff. It seems to bring out more foot work. Thanks to women who brought this look back....Tawny H., Gracie....ect.

[~~Cheyenne~~]

soo cool, so chainette fringe would probaly be the best to use then, do you think? I am making my daughters outfit, well haven't started yet but mabey i should use the chainette fringe then.

[luvstraightdancrs]

Have noticed it too and am loving it................BRINGING BACK OLD SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


To me is it better to look at a plain outfit rather than the flash -- it allows you to focus on the dancer and footwork (which is what you are supposed to be looking at anyway), rather than having to look through all the color and design.......LOVE IT< LOVE IT< LOVE IT!!

[Brown wlf]

I have been a fan of fancy shawl dancers and like to watch the competition. In large groups the busyness of the shawl, dress and beadwork patterns seemed to blend.

I have noticed that some dancers are shifting back to plainer outfits. In a group of busyness, they stick out and are more noticeable.

Have you noticed this too?

Yes, I have noticed! to me, it seems like the plain shawls done with chainette fringe have a lot more snap and make the arm movements look crisp.