Thread Snipping Warning
 

When snipping the frayed and tangled threads, from a newly washed and dried length of black Kona cotton, always unfold the fabric, before snipping. Just saying. . . . :shock:

LOL, did you just cut a chunk out of your fabric? Or maybe cut yourself?

Oh no!

I bring my little scissors into the laundry room and snip the frays after the wash and before the dry.

Just a little snippet, near the middle of the yardage, about the size of a pin head. Luckily, it only got one layer . . . and the fabric will be used mostly for sashing. It was one of those slow-motion-type moments, as the tip of the scissors closed on the fabric. LOL

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh I hate when that happens........

I second that!!!!!!!

I usually do the same, in order to untangle the fabric. Lucky me - this piece didn't tangle, so didn't get snipped until later. Lesson learned! LOL

yikes.....just put a sticky note on it and you will be fine!

I put a safety pin, over the hole, before folding the fabric (with pin side up). Probably need to put sticky note warnings, on all sharp objects! Between stabbing myself with pins (smoothing fabric that's already been pinned) and mishaps with scissors . . . . Well, it's like that Catherine Aird quotation, 'If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.' LOL

Be glad it was "just" fabric... I did that was a completed quilt! There was a little thread sticking out from some applique, I snipped & voila! A hole in a quilt that was about 2 hours away from being presented at a baby shower! Luckily it was a quilt with flower blocks & believe it or not, I had one of those little pre-made appliques of a bumblebee, so I slapped it on there. Whew!

I think this is common. Recently I found a little hole in a quilt all quilted and finished. I appliqued a little heart over it. I don't think the "baby" I had made it for minded. Kathleen

I used to do that all the time but now I use fingernail clippers for close threads. There is also a larger toenail clipper.

Next time you could overcast the raw edges of the fabric BEFORE you washed it - eliminates all those loose threads - AND saves fabric that you 'lost' that raveled

Not to start the debate again about whether to prewash or not, but I always prewash and I serge the edges before hand. My darling dog, Annie, loves it. I just serge a huge stack and throw the finished one on the floor. She is delighted to have a cozy nest to lay on. Then I sort the colors and wash. Now I don't have to worry about big clumps of threads for me to cut off and screw up my fabric, which I am certainly very capable of doing quite well, thank you very much!

Been there done that. Snipped a thread too close, it was on the fold, went right through the fold. Had some beautiful slits all through the fabric. ARRRGGGGHHH

I would have said a not-nice word, but then, you were going to cut it up anyway, right? Thanks goodness it wasn't a quilt!!

I don't have a serger, I tried sewing and that was too much hassle. So now i pink the raw edges before I wash, and there is usually little or now shreddign. Better yet, I can tell instantly which of my bolts have been washed and which haven't (I can't decide which way I'm going with this issue).

YIKES !! thanks for the warning !!!

Nothing like experience to make us better next time...lol.

Is that experience talking? Been there done that.

When I prewash, which isn't often, I fold the fabric ends back and forth to make a 3-4" fold like an accordian and then safety pin them, wash and dry. When you take the pin out the edges that have reveled but not very much. very easy to trim.

I serge everything before I wash it.

Now that was BRILLIANT thinking!!! :thumbup:

Years ago, my daughter needed a "solid color dress" for a sorority whatever. I made her a pretty red one and after it was finished, was snipping a thread from just below the zipper. Yep, you guessed it! Luckily, it was right at the stitching line, so I dabbed it with Fray Check and advised her to be careful with the zipper. It was just a tiny snip but just made me sick! You'd think I'd have learned a lesson, huh? LOL

Sounds like a good idea but I'm always a bit wary of pinning things, going into the washer. With my luck, the pin would catch on something and end up ripping a hole in the fabric! I've also heard of basting the fabric first . . . but that seems like an awful lot of trouble. To my credit, I do at least put the smaller pieces into lingerie bags . . . when I remember. LOL

Love it!!! We should all keep appliques on hand!!!! :::::making mental note:::::::

Glad no real damage done. I use my pinking shear rotary cutter (no sure the correct name) so I don't have thosethread issues after washing. It makes my Life so much easier.

A timely warning! Just getting ready to wash a bunch of fabric. Thanks!

I'm not ashamed (maybe embarrassed) to admit I've done this and I've also snipped my fingers.

I have been saying this alot on the current wip! I will remind myself of the "oops" with the thread snippets too.

I'm partial to drawing blood, by stabbing my hands, with pins. I just finished a dog bed (quilt block top), for a friend of mine . . . and I swear, I stabbed myself with that thing, at LEAST a dozen times! Smoothed the top. . . right into the already-there pins. Folded the bulk, to sew seams . . . and guess what happens, when you press down on pinned fabric! <sigh>

One time I was trimming a Lone Star top and cut one of the corner squares. I had to buy fabric and replace all four squares. I feel your pain.

I was taught to just place the scissors edge against the thread & it will cut it. don't snip. also, when washing any
amount of fabric, snip a 3/4" triangle off the four corners. no tangles. If I have several yards of fabric, I fold it into
a piece about 24"x WOF (width of fabric) . then pin in middle & all edges with large safety pins. will go through the wash & dryer just fine with no tangled mess to fool with.

This is a great idea - must get some pre-made appliques to have on hand if this ever happens to me. Thanks for sharing your tip.

Oh---Don't you just hate it when that happens!

Norma

Ouch! Well, at least it didn't happen AFTER sewing the piece into a WIP! I did that once to a blouse that was nearly finished. =(