prewashing and fraying
#11
I also just let it fray and just rip off the threads. When I wash fabric, I open it all the way up. I find that some manufacturers don't get it rolled on the bolt completely straight. So, I open it up completely, wash and dry it, refold it so there are no diagonal waves when held selvage to selvage, (I usually lose 1-2 inches here - but it has been as much as 3.) Then I trim it with the rotary cutter and iron it and it gets either used then or stashed for future use.
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2010
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Originally Posted by dunster
Probably. Some people pink the edges, others sew or serge them, some even sew the two raw edges together. Me? I just let 'em fray, and then rip off the strings. Sometimes I get civilized and use the scissors. I figure the last inch or so of fabric is going to be cut away anyway.
#13
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
I do a zig zag stitch along the edges . It really does not take long ( no need for prescise sewing) and is worth the effort .
Before sergers became readily available thats how we "overcast" garment seams to prevent fraying.
Before sergers became readily available thats how we "overcast" garment seams to prevent fraying.
#15
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
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I finally learned to either serge the raw edge or overcast the raw edge with a long, narrow zigzag stitch before washing.
I lose - at the most - about 1/8 inch of fabric when I zigzag the edges - none when I overcast if I remove the stitching.
Two other advantages: I can tell which fabrics have been washed - or not
It totally eliminates all those threads and wads and fabric loss.
I lose - at the most - about 1/8 inch of fabric when I zigzag the edges - none when I overcast if I remove the stitching.
Two other advantages: I can tell which fabrics have been washed - or not
It totally eliminates all those threads and wads and fabric loss.
#16
Originally Posted by dunster
Probably. Some people pink the edges, others sew or serge them, some even sew the two raw edges together. Me? I just let 'em fray, and then rip off the strings. Sometimes I get civilized and use the scissors. I figure the last inch or so of fabric is going to be cut away anyway.
#17
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,659
If one has a piece of $12.00 yard fabric - and lose 2 inches of it due to fraying (one inch from each end) - That's about $0.67 of fabric that was lost.
At $10.00/yard - That's only about $0.55 of fabric that is lost.
Doesn't make sense to me to waste fabric like that - especially when so many people are crying about the high cost of cotton fabrics.
At $10.00/yard - That's only about $0.55 of fabric that is lost.
Doesn't make sense to me to waste fabric like that - especially when so many people are crying about the high cost of cotton fabrics.
#19
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,659
Originally Posted by MadQuilter
I have no trouble trimming the strings from frayed fabric edges. It is still faster than spending time edge-sewing a piece that will be cut off anyway. To me that's a waste of thread.
To itch his own. (Depending on where the itch is, or course. :mrgreen: )
#20
Originally Posted by dunster
Probably. Some people pink the edges, others sew or serge them, some even sew the two raw edges together. Me? I just let 'em fray, and then rip off the strings. Sometimes I get civilized and use the scissors. I figure the last inch or so of fabric is going to be cut away anyway.
I've tried snipping the corner and noticed no difference at all.
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09-04-2011 07:48 PM