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Home » Sewing » Sewing Techniques

STOP FRAYING FABRIC | How to Stop Fabric from Fraying

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Stop fraying! Pick a fight with fabric that frays and you can end with a frazzled seamstress.  Learning just a few tips on how to stop fabric from fraying will help keep your nerves intact and stop you from unraveling. Keep that special piece of fabric from disappearing before your very eyes!

stop fraying, how to stop fabric from fraying
Stop Fraying

Contents

  • Stop Fraying
  • How to Stop Fraying in Fabric
    • 1. Widen Seams
    • 2. Sew French Seams
    • 3. Use Interfacing
    • 4. Pinking Shears
    • 5. Zig-Zag Stitch
    • 6. Handstitch
    • 7. Use a Serger
    • 8. Bias Tape Bound Edges
    • 9. Fabric Glue and Fray Stop
  • Deliberate Fraying
  • Stop Fraying - In Conclusion
  • More Sewing Articles

Stop Fraying

Some fabrics tend to fray more than others. Sheer fabrics, beautiful and exotic as they are, can give you the worst uphill battle before you even start to sew.  

(Read sewing sheer fabrics)

Then there are the stronger but loose weave fabrics that also have a tendency to fray due to the texture of the fabric.  Burlap, canvas and some linens fall into this category.

The following tips will help keep your focus on the fabric and not the fraying.  They can apply to all fabrics but the first few are more suited to sheers and the last tips for burlaps and canvas.

how to stop fabric from fraying, stop fraying
Stop Fraying

How to Stop Fraying in Fabric

There are 9 main ways to stop fraying in fabric

  1. Widen Seams
  2. Sew French Seams
  3. Interfacing
  4. Pinking Shears
  5. Zig-Zag Stitch
  6. Handstitch
  7. Serger
  8. Bias Tape
  9. Fraying Solutions

1. Widen Seams

Cut sheer fabrics with a wider seam allowance.

For example: If you add on an extra ⅜” (1cm) and change the seam allowance from ⅝” (1.5cm) to 1” (2.5cm), this allows for some frayed edges.

2. Sew French Seams

Create a French seam with a wider seam allowance. A French seam is a method of enclosing the seam allowance on the inside of the garment.

This means you can sew and then trim off any frayed edges without compromising the seam.

3. Use Interfacing

Using iron-on fusible interfacing on the edges works very well to stop fraying.

Pre-cut ¼ inch (6mm) narrow strips to add to the raw edges of the seam before sewing.  This will stop the fabric from fraying.  I

f you still wish to use a French seam, trim off the fusible facing before you turn the fabric and sew the second step.

4. Pinking Shears

Pinking shears are a type of scissors with a zig-zag serrated cutting edge. Because it cuts the fabric on the bias, it stops some fraying.

Pinking shears to stop fraying is best suited to cotton and crisp fabrics with a tight weave. Loosely woven fabrics may still fray so you may want to try another method.

5. Zig-Zag Stitch

A simple machine zig-zag on the edge also works well on cotton fabrics. Try a zig-zag of width 3 and length 3 and see how that looks and whether the fraying is stopped.

A three-step zig-zag is also a good stitch to stop fraying and can make the edges sit flatter.

If you are fraying denim edges and want them to stop at a certain point, a zig-zag stitch around the leg a few inches from the raw edge will stop it fraying all the way up your leg. That way you can control the amount of fraying.

6. Handstitch

For thicker fabrics stop fraying by using an overcast or blanket stitch.

We all know hand-stitching is time-consuming so this method is best for really thick fabrics like a canvas which won't go through your sewing machine easily.

7. Use a Serger

Raw edges can stop fraying with the use of a serger. This is, in fact, a sergers primary purpose.

Your serged edges will stop fraying and look professional at the same time.

Some regular sewing machines may have an overlock edge foot and stitch function which gives a result that looks very similar to that produced by a serger.

This will work just as well but the main difference is that it won't trim the raw edge before sewing. You can do this manually with a sharp pair of scissors before you sew. Minimize the amount you handle the fabric before sewing.

Further Reading

  • How to Use a Serger
  • Serger vs Sewing Machine vs Cover Stitch Machine
  • How to Gather with a Serger

8. Bias Tape Bound Edges

Two raw edges sandwiched into a strip of bias tape is also acceptable to stop fraying but is inclined to be bulky.

Bias bound edges can work well for hems and other tricky edges and is commonly used in jacket construction.

There are 2 main methods of enclosing a fraying seam in bias tape

bias bound seams
Stop Fraying with Bias Bound Edges
  • Bias Bound Seams
  • Hong Kong Finish

9. Fabric Glue and Fray Stop

In bulkier fabrics, fabric stop fraying liquid can come to the rescue or even fabric glue or Mod Podge painted on the edge of the cut fabric.

There are numerous brands of fray stopping liquids including -

  • Fray Stoppa
  • Fray Check
  • Dritz Fray Stop.

The liquid or Modge Podge stops those threads from unraveling. Some brands have a squeeze nozzle and others a spray nozzle. The squeeze nozzle is better for more precise applications.

In some circumstances, clear nail polish can be substituted where the seam and item won't be washed regularly.

Make sure the edge is cut immediately before applying any of these products so there are no flyaway threads to get caught up.

Deliberate Fraying

Your other option is to relax and let it fray!

There are always exceptions to the rule and sometimes the frayed look is intended as part of the garment.

Frayed jeans and woven fabrics can look good with frayed edges placed strategically.

Read my full article on how to fray fabric.

Stop Fraying - In Conclusion

The truth of the matter is that getting into a fray with fabric is not the solution to those ragged edges. Use one of the tips provided to stop fabric from fraying and keep yourself at peace with the fabric you are working on. 

Stop fraying today!

More Sewing Articles

  • How to Fray Fabric
  • How to Stop Ribbons Fraying
  • French Seam
  • How to Use a Serger
  • Types of Hems

4.9/5 - (36 votes)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Treasurie

    December 14, 2020 at 4:26 am

    You could make a feature of the edge and hand sew a blanket stitch. This would look decorative and would stop further fraying. Otherwise, you could turn the edge over twice to create a double hem.

  2. Treasurie

    December 14, 2020 at 4:17 am

    Polyester can fray easily and unfortunately, it may be the quality of the fabric. I would resew the seams a fraction in so there is a double row of stitching. Cotton pajamas will always last the longest.

  3. Nora

    December 04, 2020 at 10:30 am

    I need a solution for repairing polyester pajama pants that fray at the seams. The pants are loose fitting but, probably from shifting during sleep, each of the major seams has frayed right into the garment. How can I stabilize the seams without sacrificing comfort?

  4. Tracey

    November 27, 2020 at 1:48 am

    Hi there, I have napkins that have a frayed edge and want to be able to hand stitch something to stop it from fraying further. Sewing is new to me so any advice would be helpful.

  5. kim birley

    August 13, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    This was very helpful and easy to understand for a beginner. Thank you for taking the time to explain more than one way

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