Don't you just hate fabric that ravels? I am working on a scrap quilt for my daughter and this one teal colored fabric is raveling. I put on one 1 1/4" sash and it raveld. Now I am putting on another 1 1/4" sash so I am almost done and I decided to use a locking stitich to avoid future ravels. Not sure if it will be bulky when I am ready to quilt it, but it can't be any worse than it falling apart at the seams.

Just had to tee off because it's taking longer than my usual time to overlock. Almost done with this top so I'll just keep trucking for now. I lost interest in this project when I put it aside months ago and now I made myself a promise to finish it for her before starting more projects.

So, gotta go so I can get it done with. Will post pics soon.

I bought some really neat fabric to make my granddaughter an outfit out of and discovered too late that is is very prone to raveling. I cut out the pieces, then zig-zagged every piece before sewing them together. Looks cute, but I will never use that fabric again!

I second the GRRR

Just bought a black print at my LQS - DH was waiting while I ran in to buy a piece of black - so didn't look carefully at it (dumb me!) - and the stuff is raveling dreadfully!

Again - no guarantee that because I BOUGHT the fabric at my LQS that it will be wonderful fabric. :hunf:

starch, starch, starch!!!

That's usually my mantra. But I just finished a king-size quilt using a red Kaufman Marbleous Jacquard fabric. The fabric is divine but what a freaking nightmare.

It wouldn't even take the starch - I was practically soaking it ing the stuff before it would stiffen up just a bit. And the unraveling - I'd start with a 1/4" seam allowance, but by the time I got it sewed on, I was lucky if I had half that.

I used if for 1" long sashing - 11 times down the length of the quilt (96 inches), plus the borders and binding.

This was primo LQS quality fabric. I was quite surprised. I know it maybe had a bit to do with the Jacquard, but still??!??!?!

I was so glad when I was done with that binding. And it's too bad because the fabric is gorgeous.

So, yeah, I feel your pain.

Will starch keep it from raveling?

Won't stop it completely, but will help. The heavier the starch, the better. I use a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo and water to saturate the fabric, toss fabric in dryer, then iron with steam -- all before I cut the strips. Of course, this assumes I realize the fabric ravels easily before I cut. After cutting it's much harder to starch sufficiently, but heavy spray starching will still help a little.

I bought a really badly cut jelly roll a year ago, where nothing was on the grain and a few strips were cut on a decided curve. If it hadn't been batiks, and thus tightly woven fabrics, I don't think it would have been usable. As it was, clipping off the stray threads just before I basted was a job I do not want to repeat!