Learning just a few tips on how to stop fabric from fraying will help keep your nerves intact and stop you from unraveling. Keep that special piece of fabric from disappearing before your very eyes!
Some fabrics tend to fray more than others. Sheer fabrics, beautiful and exotic as they are, can give you the worst uphill battle before you even start to sew. Then there are the stronger but loose weave fabrics that also have a tendency to fray due to the texture of the fabric. Burlap, canvas and some linens fall into this category. The following tips will help keep your focus on the fabric and not the fraying. They can apply to all fabrics but the first few are more suited to sheers and the last tips for burlaps and canvas.
Cut sheer fabrics with a wider seam allowance. Create a French seam with a wider seam allowance. A French seam is a method of enclosing the seam allowance on the inside of the garment. This will stop the fabric from fraying.
Pinking shears are a type of scissors with a zig-zag serrated cutting edge. Because it cuts the fabric on the bias, it stops some fraying. Pinking shears to stop fraying is best suited to cotton and crisp fabrics with a tight weave.
Loosely woven fabrics may still fray so you may want to try another method. A simple machine zig-zag on the edge also works well on cotton fabrics. Try a zig-zag of width 3 and length 3 and see how that looks and whether the fraying is stopped.
If you are fraying denim edges and want them to stop at a certain point, a zig-zag stitch around the leg a few inches from the raw edge will stop it fraying all the way up your leg.
That way you can control the amount of fraying. Place your needle again on the back of the fabric, next to the spot where you inserted it for your first stitch. Move on, repeating this same stitch across the length of your edge, always inserting the needle from the back to the front.
Tie off the thread after the last stitch. Turn to the back of the fabric. Thread your needle under the last stitch and pull the thread under it until a small loop forms. Pull the needled through the loop and pull to create a knot. For more security, repeat this to make a second knot. Method 3. Use a serger to secure the edge. The most professional way to finish an edge is with a specialized sewing machine called a serger.
Thread your serger and feed your seam under the foot, moving it through your machine needles, as you would with any sewing machine. A serger sews, cuts, and finishes a seam all at the same time. For this reason, it can save you time. A serger is a specialized machine that cannot replace all the more basic functions of a regular sewing machine. They cost a couple hundred dollars, but if you do a lot of finishing work this might be a good choice for you.
Try a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine. Set your sewing machine to the zigzag setting by using the dial or digital display on its side. Add a few reverse stitches at the beginning and end to knot the thread. Use an overlock foot and your sewing machine to mimic a serger stitch. Remove the regular foot of your machine and attach the overlock foot in its place. Line your fabric up with the inner edge of the foot. Feed the fabric through the machine as usual.
By attaching an overlock foot to your sewing machine you can create a stitch that looks similar to what a serger creates. It is usually a matter of popping it off and on, no tools required. Kamel Almani. Put them in a mesh bag before you wash them. Then, use a gentle cycle wash with a low spin, and hang them to dry—don't use a dryer. Yes No. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. Cut off the frayed edge, then paint some clear nail polish along the edge.
Let the polish dry completely before you handle the edge of the fabric. Be careful not to make it too thick, since this will stiffen the edge of the cloth. You might need to touch up the polish after a while as it begins to flake off. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 0. You can use a liquid fabric stabilizer, or stabilize it with a zigzag stitch.
You can do the zigzag stitch either by hand or with a sewing machine. Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1. Wash the fabric on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Login Register. We are adding the pattern to your Sewing Patterns.
Click here to view your Sewing Patterns. You must be logged in to save a pattern. Few things can be as frustrating to sewists than an unruly frayed edge.
However, sometimes frayed edges are inescapable. The key to understanding how to stop fraying on fabric comes with a few simple steps, but there is more than one way to prevent those strings from forming or pulling out more. Whether you want to stop frayed edges in their tracks with fabric sealant or sew it into submission with a clever French seam, these solutions are something every sewist should know.
This collection of solutions will make your sewing unstoppable. With this article, you will learn even more tips and suggestions for exactly what to look for and do before washing in order to prevent any issues with fabric coming apart. Fraying occurs when a fabric is cut and the threads that make up the fabric begin to unravel.
Fraying is often worse on sheer or lightweight fabrics for this reason. Though fraying may be desirable, as with many pairs of denim jeans, it may also be considered a nuisance to sewists trying to get a clean edge on their fabric. To many, a frayed edge may seem like the end of the world. However, there are numerous ways to keep pesky frayed edges from ruining your sewing projects!
With solutions specifically designed for various skill levels and fabric types, this ingenious list will transform the way you sew forever. What stitch can you use to stop fraying? There are actually quite a few! Take a look below to see which you might want to use for your next project.
Use an overcast stitch , either by hand or by sewing machine, which loops the thread over the edge of the fabric to prevent unraveling. This technique works best on thicker fabrics. Create a French seam with your fabrics by sewing the edges together, wrong sides facing one another, and then pressing the seam. Then flip the fabric so that the right sides face together, and sew just outside of the original seam.
For a more detailed French seam tutorial, click here. Sew a zig-zag stitch along the edge of your fabrics. This technique works best on cotton fabrics. For more information about the zig-zag stitch, click here and scroll down to the appropriate stitch.
Use a serger while sewing. A serger is a specialized sewing machine that encases a seam with thread and cuts off excess fabric at the same time. To learn more about what a serger is and how to operate one, check out our easy guide, What is a Serger?
Don't want to sew? There are several solutions to how to finish off a fabric edge without sewing. Take a look below and see your options. It can work well for hems and other tricky edges and is commonly used in jacket construction.
Learn more about what fusible interfacing is used for , different types of fusible interfacing , and how to apply fusible interfacing by following these handy links. Paint fabric glue or fabric sealants on the edge of the cut fabric. Use pinking shears scissors with a serrated, zig-zag edge to cut along the edges of your fabrics. Let us know in the comments! Be the first to upload your own image for this pattern! I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it.
Click the button above or drag and drop images onto the button. You can upload two images. We are adding your Comments. Very informative and helpful. Fraying edges will ruin any item. Not only does it look ugly but often it means the piece is coming apart and, once fabric is frayed you can't just sew it back together again. These handy tips are a great help in preventing fraying from happening and prolonging and life of whatever it is you make. Are you sure you would like to report this comment?
It will be flagged for our moderators to take action. Join Us Today Forgot Password. All rights reserved. Register Now! Forgot Password? Log In Forgot Password?
0コメント