mimisharon

Don't know why it posted twice, I only hit submit once. sighhhhhhhhhhhh

maryb119

I surge the cut ends or zig zag them to prevent raveling.

Gatormom3

I have a rotary blade similar to pinking shears which really helps. It doesn't eliminate threads totally but makes a huge difference.

pieces

I also pre-wash all my fabric. Also to remove excess chemicals and for shrinkage. I sew up the cut ends to prevent all the threads. And I only wash a few pieces at a time.

jamannix

I tried snipping the ends also and found it did not work. When I use the nylon laundry bags that they sell for delicates, I still get strings, but at least they
don't knot with strings from the other fabrics. It is tedious but I give a lot of my quilts away and I don't want some recipient left with running colors or differential shrinkage. I'm saving for a front-loader but they are much more expensive and it's hard to justify when the top-loader works fine otherwise.
Good luck.
Judy

Happy Treadler

I'm starting to think maybe I will only pre-wash quilts that will be 'used', and not worry about wall hangings, etc. I really need to get one of those curly-looking rotary blades!

Thanks for the great tips, everybody. :)

Nolee

I just started washing all my fabrics and this drives me nuts too but I find that my quilt shop or more expensive fabrics don't do this hardly at all. Fabric from the cheaper places do, like Connecting Threads.....perfect name for a company, LOL. They sure connect in the washer. Perhaps just swishing them ourselves in soapy water and spinning out IS the answer!

MillieH

Do a zigzag stitch (use a long stitch setting) across each end. That does the trick and takes a lot less thread than a serger does.

qwkslver

I used to have threads and strings but I got a serger and that solved that problem.

yonnikka

Try to not wash too many new off-the-bolt fabrics in one load. Clipping the corners is helpful. Keep your wash cycle short, on gentle cycle. Pre-soaking helps. Don' use the electric dryer. Let them air dry. Good luck.