I overcast the edges of my fabrics before washing - either a longish fairy narrow zig-zag - or a serger stitch .

Kind of depends on what color thread I have in the serger at the time.


I overcast ALL edges (of a FQ or larger) before sewing. When I've forgotten or neglected to, I've regretted all those loose threads.

I always prewash using the gentle cycle to minimize the agitation but that's all I do to reduce the 'thread trash'. I know many quilters, myself included, who save it and use it for embellishment on art quilts. It's great stuff!! I've never lost more than a quarter inch from any raw edge of fabric so it's just not worth worrying about for me.

Here is my method.
I use a 2-thread serger on the cut edges. Just keep feeding one piece after the other, cut apart when done.
Wash and dry until still damp enough to iron. I shake the pieces out, then fold and roll, then into a clear plastic bag.
I iron on my big board I made for my fold-up metal ironing board.
I fold selvedge edges together.
I use either hardboard or a piece of plexiglas 11 1/2" wide by 24". I fold the fabric around the board. I figure the folds will give me a total of 12".
I slip the folded fabric off the board. you can then just count the folds.
You can always tell how much you have left even if you have cut off of it.
Joyce