Monday 8 June 2009

Help! I'm All Frayed!

Remember all the pretty fabrics I bought Saturday? Well, I couldn't wait to wash them so that I can start using them...


Now look at this mess:

I could hardly get the pieces out of the washing machine everything was so tangled up together.

Does anyone have ANY tips about stopping fabrics from fraying? I've tried rounding off the corners before, but it didn't seem to make a difference unless there's a specific way of cutting the corners...

If any of you can help me avoid this mess in the future, I'd be so grateful!

(that must be a couple of inches worth of fabric there!!!)

7 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

This a question for the "wash" or "not wash" subject :) Some people wash every single piece of fabric they buy others like me only wash the dark colors that might bleed on to others in a finished quilt.
the way I wash my dark fabric is - put the fabric in the washing machine and let them soak for awhile - no spin - does any color wash out - if yes let them soak some more. Then I add a little soap and swish the water around by hand. I wring the fabric out gently by hand. Empty the water out of the machine and do it again and again until no color washes out. I do not let the machine spin ever - I have had too much trouble with the fabric doing like yours. I always gently squeeze the water out by hand and then put in the dryer. Hope this helps. I'm sure others will give you their opinions as well.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Crispy said...

I often handwash, actually rinse as I don't use soap, all of my fabric, more to make sure that it won't bleed. Light fabrics just get swished a bit, wrung out and put in the dryer. This way I avoid most ravels and I can make sure the fabric is done bleeding.

Crispy

Nichole said...

that is the reason why i do not prewash. it is such a pain! i have heard if you trim the edges with pinking shears that they do not fray as much. however, i am lazy and usually don't feel like doing that. hence the reason i don't prewash. :)

Unknown said...

OOOOOOOOh, what a mess. The only time I have prewashed was red fabric last year. Otherwise I'm in the no washing crowd. Too much work and then all the ironing to make it look like new.
What a disappointment for you. that's a good job for scissors for sure.

Cristin said...

I don't pre-wash before quilting too. 1) I'm lazy and 2) I like the crinkly old-world quilt look
IF there's a dark red or blue, I will soak and rinse in mild detergent to make sure it doesn't bleed - but I RARELY use dark colors like that.

Jocelyn said...

Hey there sweetie. I am a faithful wash the fabric before cutting the first piece person. I always prewash my fabrics. And the best solution I have is to clip the corners. I am not sure what you meant by rounding the corners, but I just take my scissors (I do not own pinking shears either), and just clip the corner of the fabric. I have minimal threads ever since I started doing that faithfully. Whether it is a small piece or large it seems to work the best. I do use a very small amount of detergent to take the sizing out of the fabric. I too love to press my fabric. I will usually toss the fabric into the dryer for a short time, but take it out and let it dry either on the ironing board, or hang it over the shower bar. Hope that helps! Sorry this is so long :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi! I just found your blog tonight and love your quilts. I rarely prewash but if I do, I run my fabrics cut edges through my serger taking off the tiniest bit. If you don't have a serger you can do a zig zag stitch down the cut edges.