Stray Threads

[Shaz2360]

Hi all,
I am in the midst of making a quilt for my daughter out of yellows and darks. The problem I'm running into, and that I always run into, are stray/fraying threads from the blocks that show up under the top.
Because mine in a lap quilt, I've taken to putting Fray Check on the edges of the dark fabrics, but I will have to spend hours trimming and clearing off frayed threads from the yellows.
How do you deal with them?

Sherri M
Toronto, Canada

[sewcarolyn]

I am not an expert on this but when I have high contrast fabrics (very light and very dark) I find if I press to the darker fabric and use starch to keep the pressed seam down it really helps. I then snip the threads and use my lint roller to pick up the strays. The seam allowance is then on the dark fabric and less likely to show. I would rather have a little more bulk on one side then the frayed fabric showing.


Fray Check is a good idea for small quilts I will keep that in mind.

[cindyg]

I wash, spray starch and iron my fabric before cutting and that seems to help a little. Mostly I press toward the dark if at all possible. If I must press to the light I sliver trim off the dark fabric after the seam is sewn so it won't show. Those strings are irrigating, aren't they? Oh, one more thing, you might try a pinking rotary cutting blade so the fabric won't fray so much.

[sewbug]

I don't know if you can still buy this but my DD use to frost her hair using a kit. In the kit there was crochet needle with a teeny tiny hook end that she used to pull her hair through the cap. It works great to reach in and pull out stray threads from a quilt after it is quilted. I use it to pull quilting thread ends underneath too. It like a ball needle, it goes between the fabric threads not piercing like a needle. The thread goes right back and no hole is left in the fabric.

[TheKid]

After doing all of the previous suggestions, I have also thrown the item in the cold air dryer for a few minutes and the threads that are loose, will stay in the filter of the dryer. But, pressing toward the dark as you go it the wisest solution. It is a nuisance to press this much, but it saves a lot of headache when you are finished. Good luck as you go.