Marcy J.

How many of you quilters trim off all the loose threads from the back of the quilt top before getting it ready to quilt. This top was handled lots in the piecing, pressing, and laying out. Some of the fabric has raveled . I read somewhere that you should trim the threads. This quilt was completed about two months ago and I have been procrastinating getting it finished. It measures 63 x 75 which meant I had to use a queen size batting and trim to make it work. I am trimming all the threads right now, but am curious as to how many do the same.

Geri B

I only really trim if it's the ravels of a darker fabric that may scootch over to a lighter one and show as a shadow. I piece everything in beige or gray and machine has cut off or I use L&ES so there are no tails from piecing

Tartan

I try to trim my loose thread ends and ravels but I trim my blocks before setting them into a quilt top. This cuts down on the time needed for a final trim of the whole quilt top.

toverly

I trim as I press the blocks. Then I only trim as needed on the rows.

ManiacQuilter2

I agree with all the above. I do trim my blocks and will trim anything that is a darker fabric showing behind a lighter one. When you trim your blocks down from being slightly oversize, it cuts down on the raveling.

Kitsie

Me, too! I've heard of a tool that is tiny enough to slip "through" the top or backing, allow you to grab the offending threads to pull up through the fabric and be snipped. Anyone know of it? I have some black showing under a top.

Tweety2911

I trim the threads that would show through light fabrics. If they aren't going to show on the finished top I leave them. It is a tedious task but well worth it in the finished quilt.

QuiltnNan

this is what i do too, but make sure i address any darks showing through on a light block

gale

I'm about to trim the back of a large lap quilt. Lots of dark sashing with light fabrics. ugh. I did try to trim as I went but it frayed more when I was putting the blocks together. Tons of matching seams so there was a lot of fiddling.

Prism99

Possibly a very, very fine crochet hook? When I Googled, it showed the smallest U.S. size as a B/1 but I think I used to have a 0 and 00 a long time ago -- probably from some garage sale. I think these might have been small enough to go between fabric threads.