Tangle Mess!
07-23-2012, 03:51 AM
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: soutwestern ontario
Posts: 143
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.
07-23-2012, 06:16 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Smoky Lake, Alberta, Canada - Coolidge, AZ
Posts: 1,638
If you cut a tiny bit off each corner of the fabric it will hardly fray. Cut on an angle. I use to serge all my cut edges before washing now I just clip the corners. Much quicker & works wonderfully well.
07-23-2012, 06:57 AM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: California
Posts: 191
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.
07-23-2012, 07:03 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Wine Country-Southern California
Posts: 1,449
I always use the pinking rotary cutter, really all but elimates the ravels, and since I don't always pre-wash everything, I know when I go to use the fabric latter, if it has a pinking edge I have washed it. I also think it helps if you use the most delicate cycle on your machine. USE PINKING ROTARY CUTTER 
07-23-2012, 07:15 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Riverside Washington
Posts: 1,508
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.
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.
07-23-2012, 07:40 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Wine Country-Southern California
Posts: 1,449
One trick I have is multiple rotary handles...I have a 60mm, several 45mm, 28mm and a 18mm. Have them standing in a coffee Mug (broken handle).
The pinking blade is also handy to fast grade a seam.
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