jeanharville

I do have a pinking blade and that would have been the best thing to do had I know that the fabric would fray so much. I should have mentioned that I have already cut the blocks. For these already cut blocks, the starch sounds like a good idea as well as the stay stitching. I'll probably do both. Fortunately, it's a small quilt. It's the fence rail pattern with the snowballed corners (as seen on MSQC) and should not have been hard, but it has sure been a big learning experience for me. I have learned to check for block size as I go, not after all are sewn. I know gremlins made some of my blocks turn out too small, so then all the blocks had to be trimmed to be smaller. That was fun. I also learned how to ensure a consistent quarter inch seam. Had to do some unsewing there. Tried out 3 presser feet to find the one that really worked best. I could go on about the tiniest little changes that made cutting and piecing go so much better. Thank goodness for those of you who post tips and techniques that you've learned along the way and for the youtube videos. Thanks for your help again. Your suggestions all are workable. I know it's better to work with fabric that doesn't ravel, but sometimes that is just the prettiest choice.

tessagin

What about paper piecing? Just use washable glue on the foundation paper and lay it on there. Just cut a small strip. The white tissue paper is fairly cheap, especially at the dollar stores. Most packages come with 30 sheets 20x20. The glue would hold the fabric.

jeanharville

Bearisgray, thanks for offering to help look for a better fabric. This is a crib size quilt and more for practice than for anyone special. Although, I do hope it will turn out good enough to give if need be. But anyway it's not worth the trouble this time. I have looked at Hancock's, Joann's, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart and the dark dusty rose must be an older color that no one carries in cottons. I've made this out of scraps that was given to me a long time ago.

auntpiggylpn

Put a lightweight fusible interfacing on the back of the blocks.

Annaquilts

If you really need to use it, iron on fusible interfacing. I made a block for a member on the board that they wanted me to use none cotton fabric that frayed. I used the fusible interfacing and then cut it. It enabled me to use this fabric.

EasyPeezy

If you starch the pieces after cutting, there is a great possibility that your pieces will shrink.

jeanharville

I like the light weight fusible interfacing idea. Thanks to both of you for that suggestion. I knew y'all would have this figured out already.

Kwiltr

I know 'they' use a lightweight iron on stabilizer on dupioni silk for this reason when putting it in a quilt...easy fix, no stitching little pieces....

ckcowl

you could always add a fusible stabilizer to the back before cutting...a lightweight fusible stabilizer doesn't add much (bulk) and really helps with fraying edges.

rebeljane

Why not use iron on fusible then cut the pieces?