Tips on How to Prevent Fabric from Fraying

Bea_Wang

Can anyone share tips on how you prevent the edges of your fabric from fraying? Ive used tape but its sticky after you take it off. Do you run it over a sewing machine? Or do you hand stitch it? I dont kknow how to whip stitch also.

DragonWatcher

there are special scissors like on the image I sometimes use

mathurin

I agree with DragonWatcher, pinking shears work for most fabrics or oversewing, but I am sure nowadays there must be new methods, but I stick to the old ways,

Biddy

I always overlock my fabric before I start stitching. A few years ago when you bought a piece of fabric it would be overlocked for you if you wished. Gone are those days unfortunately.

CrisHW

I overlock my fabrics as well. It takes just seconds.

:)

DragonWatcher

Dont you need a special sewing machine for that?
I do have a normal sewing machine but I havent figured out if it can do those overlock stitches on that

Jack

usually I use the tape as well as you do! when I cut the piece of fabric that I need I always cut 2/3 cms. more than I need and put the tape all along the borders, then, when I finish the work I simply cut the tape off and I frame :)

sallyrose

When I started stitching I used masking tape along the edges to stop the fraying.
Later I found out that the residue from the tape can damage the fabric over time.

Now I whip stitch by hand. It only takes a few minutes to do.

I have been reading about the various products available, like FrayBlock and FrayStop.
Its a liquid that comes inside a tiny bottle or tube.
Some stitchers really prefer to use them. They say it works very well and leaves the edges very soft. You can also use it on the ends of thread to keep them intact.

herbert

I use the fraystop, and I like the job it does.

WiseOwl

I usually use the zig zag stitch on my sewing machine to stop my fabric from fraying.. It works well for me...