Help! I'm fraying!!
 

I am making star blocks consisting of 1 1/2" squares that automatically begin fraying when I just look at them. Is there anything I can use/spray on the small blocks to keep them from fraying while I work with them? Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Starch heavily. BEFORE cutting is best, but you can use spray starch on the ones you've cut and an up down press. It's pretty odd that they are fraying that much. Cutting as close as possible to the grain of the fabric also helps (unless you are cutting around a motif). Is your fabric cotton or a blend? Blends tend to fray more for me. Homespun also will fray more.

Try spray starch. Using small pieces results in plenty of handling. I would have sprayed the material not lightly before cutting, easier.

what kind of fabric are you using? cotton or something else?

I too find using starch helps to reduce the fraying. .. but use it prior to cutting.

You can use Dritz fray check, but applying it to a lot of edges would be tedious, and it is a bit stiff when it dries. If the fabric frays that badly (homespun?) do you think it will hold up until you can get it quilted?

I can understand. I got some fancy Moda prints and when sewn, even in large pieces, I am dealing with extensive fraying. I am handling gently and trying to decide whether to spend the time and money on quilting it.

Is your blade sharp? My fabric frays alot if I have a dull blade.

Oh my. Fraying is indeed a problem. Yes, starch helps, and now they are cut out you could line several up, spray starch and press.

Having said that, do you want to do all the work of making a quilt and have it come apart. I had one baby quilt that just came apart, and I wished I had just junked the fabric. I knew that there was a problem but kept going, and wished I had not.

If you decide to continue, I would recommend dense quilting.

amh