Fraying...any solution?
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 86
Fraying...any solution?
I am new to quilt piecing, and am in the middle of making a queen size quilt. This quilt has 9 squares and fence rail blocks. I am finding that there is ALOT of fraying going on!! I am loving the look of what I have so far, but I am getting concerned about the fraying of all the seams in my blocks. Is there anything that can be done? I actually thought about maybe spraying the back of the quilt with hair spray....but I decided more research is needed instead. Google has been no help, so I am hoping to get some advice from more experienced quilters. Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Tn
Posts: 9,011
You can starch the blocks from the back. This will help some. Try to handle the blocks as little as possible. You will find some fabrics fray more than others. Batik ravels least because of the density of it. A loose woven fabric will fray most. You will be able to tell by feel as you get more experience. Some starch fabrics before cutting.
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
I've gotten to where I lightly starch before cutting. What you might try is; depending on what kind of starch you use, Iprefer the StaFlo is put a little in a small cup. Use a cotton swab or small flat makeup brush and dip into the starch then run it along the edges. Then let it dry. That should hold it at bay.
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
Hairspray will just make it sticky. Use starch.
Also, for future: wondering if you squared up your fabric before cutting anything. I usually get more issues if I'm working on a bias & sometimes fabrics are wound off-grain so just cutting without squaring things up can result in issues with fraying. It's the reason why I stopped buying any of the larger pre-cuts.
Also, for future: wondering if you squared up your fabric before cutting anything. I usually get more issues if I'm working on a bias & sometimes fabrics are wound off-grain so just cutting without squaring things up can result in issues with fraying. It's the reason why I stopped buying any of the larger pre-cuts.
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 86
#7
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 86
Hairspray will just make it sticky. Use starch.
Also, for future: wondering if you squared up your fabric before cutting anything. I usually get more issues if I'm working on a bias & sometimes fabrics are wound off-grain so just cutting without squaring things up can result in issues with fraying. It's the reason why I stopped buying any of the larger pre-cuts.
Also, for future: wondering if you squared up your fabric before cutting anything. I usually get more issues if I'm working on a bias & sometimes fabrics are wound off-grain so just cutting without squaring things up can result in issues with fraying. It's the reason why I stopped buying any of the larger pre-cuts.
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,535
You will get less fraying if your pieces are cut on the straight of grain but some fabrics fray worse then others. If you do have fraying do not pull the strings but gently trim with your scissors.
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: England Alton Towers
Posts: 6,673
Some precuts are cut using a zigzag, pinking edge. I find that these tend to fray off little threads at times. Give a gentle starching to areas done and all those pieces you are still going to use. Let them dry without ironing it will stick to the iron.
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