When you are talking about "washing" your fabric what do you mean? It doesn't need to go through a long wash cycle like a pair of work pants? If you are trying to preshrink your fabric (and I do not) you just have to put it in a very short very gentle cycle to wet it and spin it and dry it. Don't over dry it either. If it is falling apart on a gentle cycle you wouldn't want to use it anyway as it will fall apart. :D
This is just my thoughts and feelings about it. I don't even prewash my fabrics I like to have them have to old look after they are washed. Sandi

I have been trying to get all my old fabric washed and folded neatly. I clip the corners and have very little fraying. However when you cut or break off those stray strings I save them for future fiber crafts. I saw some beautiful work the other day at a high school art show. Now I want to try it for sure. I have been saving threads from washing and also clipped threads at the sewing machine just for this

I see so many here saying this works, but it doesn't work for me when I do it. I wonder what the difference is? Is it HOW we wash our fabrics? Top loader vs front loader? Different cycles? Regular vs gentle or perm press?

I'll cut off a small corner with my pinking shears. I don't over load my machine. I use my top loader and perm press setting on cold for about 6-8 minutes and let it spin.

When I take my several pieces of fabric out of the washer, they look like a train wreck! They're all twisted together with a webbing of tangled threads that takes me the longest time to cut off. I know this can't be good for my fabric, as it's pulling on the weave, but in most cases, I DO prefer to prewash for a variety of reasons.

What am I doing differently that's causing my fabrics to tangle when so many others' fabrics here are coming out just fine, no tangled thread?

Amen!!!

:lol:

before I wash my fabric I serge it on my serger with what ever color of thread I have in there. That way I am sure it won't fray.

I tried this with alot of <1yd and FQs and was disappointed in the results - had to clip chunks of threads to get the fabric flattened out on some pieces. Very disappointed. :cry: I'm not sure what I'm going to try next. :roll: I hinted really strong for a serger from my kids at Christmas but it didn't happen.

This is what I do too!

[quote=EagarBeez]I don't want my fabric to fray in the wash.


I heard somewhere many years ago to trim off one corner of the fabric before laundering. I've done this for years and it really helps to control the fray.

~Shirley

next time just cut a 1/2" triangle off each corner (4). it will not ravel because the thread can not "run"across the fabric.

i either serg or sew my up the edge of mine before washing