If I wash thinner fabric, like from JoAnns, it will always ravel. Heavier not so much. Some say just cut a bit off each corner. That sometimes helps.

Or trimming the cut ends with pinking shears. :)

Donna

Not sure why some fabrics fray more than others - - maybe it depends on the "sturdiness" of the selvage?! I snip the corners before washing, but not sure how much that helps. I find that it generally looks worse than it really is when I pull it out of the wash. I just go ahead and dry, press, square, and trim. At that point, it doesn't seem so bad. So I've not yet resorted to serging/sewing the raw edges. Also, read somewhere that if you pink the edges they will not fray, but haven't tried that either.

I just throw it all in the wash and then trim the mess of threads away. I'm way too lazy to stay-stitch the edges. I think the fraying depends on the tightness of the weave. Batiks hardly fray at all. I've purchased some fabrics at quilt shops for $12-$14 a yard that were loose weaves and they frayed like crazy.

Not sure where I read it, but I did try this and it seemed to help. There were still some threads to trim off - but not nearly like the first time I washed fabric. The article said to make a small triangle cut at the corners from raw edge toward the selvage edge. I did that at the top and the bottom corners. It may have been a fluke that it seemed to help - but it's worth a try the next time you prewash yardages.

I always trim the corners before washing and then trim the threads off before drying. But, that's just me.

Yup, trimming the corners has always helped me. Sometimes there are still a few loose threads, but not many. I don't trim small pieces though.

You can sew each piece into a tube and completely eliminate fraying and snarls, then cut off the seam. I usually just hand wash in the sink and rinse it well and then spin it out in the washer before machine drying. It doesn't fray much at all then.

Wow...tube idea!!! that sounds like a great idea. I'm so lazy tho, it's an effort just to wash n iron the pieces!! But..I'll have to try some of these tricks.....

I got involved in 3 swaps and had to wash a bunch of pieces for that all over a few days. Nothing seems to help. I did not try the triangle, but tried all the rest. It just frays. If you want to take the time, you can sew along the edge. That helps. A zig-zag would probably help more.

bk

I found clipping all 4 corners really helps. I clip about a 1/2" deep triangle at the very corners including the selvage edge. Since I've been doing this, seems much less fraying. I tend to wash all yardage, dry & then hang it quickly to minimize the wrinkles.

I may have even learned that trick here, from all of you ;>), so THANKS!

Lena