Poll - What Do You Do to Prepare Your Fabric for Stitching?
Monday April 27, 2009
When I was a beginning stitcher, I fretted over how to keep the edges of my fabric from ravelling. I used tape, I had my mom stitch zig-zag stitches around the edges, and I tried fray preventative. After awhile, unless I was stitching on fabric that was very loosely woven, I stopped doing anything.
I make sure to cut off any selvages, then cut my fabric a bit larger and go with it as is, saving time spent on prepping edges.
Doing pretty much nothing to prep the edges of my fabric works for me, but what method do you use? Vote in the poll and let us know. If your method is missing, use the comments section below to let us know about it before you vote.
More on Prepping Fabric: Tape Fabric Prep Method | Glue Method for Prepping Edges | Stitching the Edges before Starting | Pre-Shrink Fabrics From About.com Sewing | Fabric Burn Test From About.com Quilting
Doing pretty much nothing to prep the edges of my fabric works for me, but what method do you use? Vote in the poll and let us know. If your method is missing, use the comments section below to let us know about it before you vote.
More on Prepping Fabric: Tape Fabric Prep Method | Glue Method for Prepping Edges | Stitching the Edges before Starting | Pre-Shrink Fabrics From About.com Sewing | Fabric Burn Test From About.com Quilting
Comments
I used to do nothing, and that wasn’t bad. But after reading a tip here, I made a loose stitch wrapping around the edge of my fabric, and I like it a lot. Not only does it prevent fraying, but it looks pretty, cheerful, and neat, which makes me want to stitch even more.
Why do you cut the salvage off when preparing the fabric for stitching. If I am cutting a fabric piece that has a salvage, I leave the salvage on, but allowing for it when I measure before cutting the size I need. If I am stitching “in hand,” I have the salvage side to my right, and roll the left side up and hold it in my left hand. (I am right-handed.) With the salvage to the right, it prevents the floss from catching on the fabric, and of course, won’t ravel.
mkm
I always oversew the edges by hand. To me the preparation is part of the overall project. If the area to be stitched, say a picture or sampler, then I always grid out the fabric with a light coloured thread to make it easier to see where I am on the chart. I know this too takes time, but then cross stitch isn’t a race, and time spent in preperation is time well spent.
I cut my fabric just a little larger and pull out about 3 rows of thread, leaving a kind of fringe. It works for me, and I don’t have any stitches to worry about.
I cut the selvage off because it is usually only on one side and it can cause uneven tension as you stitch for one side to have selvage and one not.
I usually use cheap masking tape. If it gets ragged, I generally just pull it off and leave the uncovered edge. If it stays to the bitter end, I cut it off.
I always prep my fabric edges somehow. I used to use a fray preventative, until I was told to NEVER do that by a designer/teacher (one reason – you don’t know what’s in that stuff, especially the solvent one which is the only one that works well). Now I either zig-zag (if I cut my own piece) or have it serged if purchased at my LNS. Canvas wasn’t mentioned, but if I’m using canvas or another stiff fabric, I always tape the edges because stiff ends catch everything – floss, clothing, me – and also because I almost always tack to stretcher bars, and that’s much easier with taped edges.
I usually tape the edges that are cut. Otherwise, if I have a side of the fabric that won’t fray, I will leave it alone.
now i’m real picky about the edges of my material. LOL i look for pieces that have selvage so that part will be the bottom of my work. then i use the fray stuff, after it has dried i use cheap masking tape to prevent the material from getting caught on me, the cat, and floss. happy stitching every one!!!
I always use silk tape on my edges. Wears well better than masking tape. I purchase it in the first aid section of store.A roll costs but it lasts. Just fold it around all the edges.
I don’t bother, but then most of my stitching is done on a frame. I find that keeps me from catching the edges with the floss, myself, and pretty much everything else. I also find it convenient to prop the frame up by my chair within easy reach, but also situated so the dog won’t step on it.
I use masking tape and fold it around the edges. I am considering maybe trying a different kind of tape in the future but I will not do just “nothing”. This is because when I am working with a really large pattern (often) the edges do get mauled and frayed and I don’t like to do any extra cutting after the pattern is complete.
I’m something of a perfectionist … I have to have my edges three-stitch zigzagged before starting. If I did not sew, I would overcast the edges by hand. I, too, leave the selvage edge if there is one, but now that Connie says not to, maybe I won’t in the future. I always thought it helped stabilize the fabric. I have a cousin who stitches. She taught me to do the easiest thing … use masking tape and forget it. Once the piece is completed, you’ll never see the edges. She tapes them down on the back as part of the framing process. However, I sew wall-hangings of my cross-stitched items, so I lean more toward stitching.
I don’t typically do anything to mine. Recently I’ve started buying fabric at a different LNS and they zig zag the edges of every piece of fabric they sell. I must admit that I like it.
I zig zag serge the edge – if you are working on a big piece you don’t want to get more than half through and find out your edges are in bad shape