Originally Posted by cad_queen_2000 (Post 5386719)

I don't have pinking shears. I read someplace, (can't remember which magazine,) but i rip both ends of the fabric straight and snip a small piece of all four corners off (selveges), clean off all loose threads then wash. It doesn't eliminate the problem, but it does cut down on the tangled mess.

Originally Posted by ghostrider (Post 5386709)

People here will give you as many ways to avoid the tangles as there are days in the month. Try as many as you want and when you find one that works for you, stick with it. I have, even though I've never heard of anyone else doing what I do.

My method of choice is this. I prewash all fabrics, like colors together, on a gentle cycle in hot water, cold rinse. The fabrics do not tangle on gentle. I take each fabric out of the washer, one at a time, trim off any loose edge threads at that time and toss the fabric in the dryer, a very fast operation. I run the dryer about 20 minutes until they're just dry, take them out shortly after it stops, and fold them right away. Without loose threads, they do not tangle in the dryer. They don't get ironed until I'm ready to use them and they never get (or need) starch.

My fabrics never tie themselves in knots, are never deeply creased or wrinkled, and I don't waste my time with pinking or clipping or serging or pinning or zigzagging or sewing the edges together or any of the other suggested solutions you'll get. The added bonus is I get to save the thread trash for art quilt embellishment. :)

Originally Posted by teddysmom (Post 5386829)

Thanks for your reply! First of all, where did you buy your pinking rotary and why don't you pre-wash kits?

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen (Post 5386880)

I solved the problem by quitting prewashing.