Textiles Talk

Fraying Fabric Edges – Use of Fray-Stop

Question:

 Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off.

I’ve used Fray Stop and think it does a good job on fabrics that aren’t too loosely woven. I did try the shortcut of using it on some curtains and it didn’t work when I washed it. (I used a washing machine <G) I would think it would work well on an item that you plan to frame, not to use it as "the way" you finish the edges, if you know what I mean. Kim Fabrics2U – Buy 10 patterns, get one free! Want to be on my monthly sales list? <http://members.aol.com/fabrics2u/index.html

Response:

How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always

used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

I used to use masking tape until a UFO discolored.  Now I just zigzag very close to the edge, it takes less than a minute to do, and I can cut down on wastage when finishing.  Maybe I’m being cheap, but I prefer to think of it as waste not, want not. <G Charly Saskatoon

Response:

How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

I usually don’t do anything, let if fray I say! But, there’s always an exception, one type of material I used once frayed so much I got dw to serge it for me. Don’t ask what the material was, I forget. (it’s a guy thing) Richard

Response:

I usually serge the edges of all my fabric (except for hardanger pieces – just in case I have to make a repair).  It wasn’t too hard to convince the owner of my LNS to bring her serger into the shop, so now we offer to finish the edges for anyone who buys fabric from the shop.  Before that I would always use a three-step zig-zag around the edges. Kelly – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

Response:

Good morning from Rosedale, MD!                                                                    6-12-99     Nicole Blythe wrote to rctn, "How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off."     Here is my personal analysis of the above-noted products:     Fray-Check:  toxic… Fray-stop:  non-toxic (good to know where pets and children are involved)     Fray-Check:  makes "crispy", yellow edges when dry…Fray-Stop:  leaves clear and flexible edges     Fray-Check:  MSRP $3.15US…Fray-Stop:  MSRP $2.50US     Fray-Check:  if spilled onto fabric where not wanted, may be removed  by application of         alcohol-dipped cotton to area in question…where ground fabric color may then also be         lightened unintentionally…Fray-Stop:  washes out with soap and water     Fray-Check:  a mildly-viscous sollution…Fray-Stop:  a suspension (i.e., needs to be shaken         before each use or you get that "runny mustard" effect)     Guess which product I personally use?…..            –Carol in MD

Response:

How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always

I wouldn’t use any chemical at all.  I either have my Local Store serge my edges when I buy the fabric or I just pull out my sewing machine and do a tight zig-zag stitch around the edge.  I had one piece discolor and it is believed that it was from the chemical in products like these.

Response:

Hi, I use Fray check, too.  A sales person at Michaels told me I was wasting my money, that clear nail polish worked just as well and as safe.  Any comments. Dawn0 How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

– The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt with the heart-Helen Keller

Response:

How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?

Maybe I’m commiting an unforgivable sin here, but I don’t do anything.  I have my material cut 4 1/2 to 5 inches extra on all sides and just let it fray.  It usually stops after a few threads. Joy "To be nobody but myself, in a world which is doing its best night and day to make me everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."  e.e. cummings  

Response:

I also trim off the fray ck after I finish the product. Dawn0 How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying? Maybe I’m commiting an unforgivable sin here, but I don’t do anything.  I have my material cut 4 1/2 to 5 inches extra on all sides and just let it fray.  It usually stops after a few threads. Joy "To be nobody but myself, in a world which is doing its best night and day to make me everybody else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."  e.e. cummings

– The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.  They must be felt with the heart-Helen Keller

Response:

Hello Hello! I used to use fray-check, but I no longer do.  When I did use it, I cut off the edges.  I’ve since learned that fray-check is not a good product to use for "heirloom" quality finished works.  I would imagine fray-stop would be the same (??).  If I were to use fray-check again, I’d have a good 5" allowance, then I’d cut off a good 1" to get rid of the treated edges. What I do now is absolutely nothing, no fray-check, no hand-edging, no zigzags, no tape, etc.  Because I almost always have a good 4" allowance (or more) for my fabrics (linens/evenweaves), I just let it fray.  Also, I use scroll frames, so the top and bottom edges aren’t exposed and cannot fray.  Nearly always, I have a side that is the selvage, so that doesn’t fray.  That leaves only one side (usually right) that may fray just a litte, e.g., 1/4". Sweet Stitching!!!!!!! Helen (Skyhooks) hmardis at uiuc dot edu http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~hmardis/index.html "reply to" address antispammed — remove the xxx. TFTD:  Good things turn up when each end of your mouth does the same! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

Response:

How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off.

Most of us zig-zag or serge it, or whipstitch it by hand.  Its a personal choice, and I personally choose not to put chemicals onto my fabric.

Response:

How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

Response:

I have never done anything to the edges of my fabric–for some reason, my pieces don’t seem to fray very much. Maybe I’m really careful when stitching in hand? And the stuff I put on my scroll frame never frays because I don’t mess with the edges. When the occasional  fabric thread does come loose, I cut it off very close to the weave, and that seems to solve the problem. Carol Sylvester How do the rest of you stop your fabric edges from fraying?  I’ve always used Fray-Check in the past and my LNS owner suggested I use Fray-Stop because you don’t get the discoloration on the edges.  Is Fray-Stop safe to use on the fabric?  And yes, I wash my cross-stitch pieces before having them finished off. Nicole

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Response:

Filed under: cotton fabric

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