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i've read that some of you whip stitch the fabric before starting. What do you mean?

To stop the edge from fraying, you use the whip stitch to bind the edge. You fasten your thread, bring the needle up through the fabric near the edge, let the thread go over the side of the fabric and bring the needle up through the fabric again a bit further along the edge. And again, and again...

I find it a lot quicker and easier to just use a sewing machine to zig-zag stitch along the edge!

Here'e a diagram that show's you how to whip stitch though!
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/embroidery/basics/whipstitch/" target="_blank

Completely agree with you 3madspaniels but I share a sewing machine with my mum, and it tends to live at her house, I have no idea how to use it so would need a lesson, so was trying to think (and please don't shout at this) of an alternative to my usual method of masking taping the edges!!!!!!!

I used to masking tape my edges too so dont worry

Now I use Fray Check. its an awesome product that is sort of like a glue Find it here http://www.sewandso.co.uk/Products/Fray ... 68020.aspx

I know some people also use a little PVA. Dab it alone the edges of your fabric and leave it to dry fully before using - no messy sticky tape marks!

I can't sew either, but I managed (a rather messy) whip stitch on my last few projects. Before that I'd use masking tape. You can sort of see one of my whip stitches here. It's not too hard once you get the rhythm down.

mechie

Some of us know it as overlocking.

I can't sew so when doing a project that will get framed I put masking tape along the edges to keep the fabric from framing. I think whip stitching is probably a better choice, but never could get it quite right and I don't have a sewing machine. And no one can see much of anything when its framed. I might have taken the tape off, but its been a while and I don't remember.

Carole

I use my zigzag sewing machine for the edges since in the past I used to use masking tapes but it got too messy and hard to take off. I didn't think to cut the masking tapes off but I didn't want to waste too much of my fabric so switched to my sewing machine.

socialsue

When you are doing the zigzag on the sewing machine do you have to fold over a bit of the fabric?

You don't need to fold any fabric over for zigzag on a machine or whip stitch - the fabric curls itself very slightly under the stitch.

I use the three step zig zag rather than the normal zig zag, to keep the edge from curling.

I whip stitch only IF the fabric is fraying a lot, but for smaller projects I usually do nothing at all.

I'm an edge taper as well.. well I was until I bought a little hand held sewing machine for $15 about 2 weeks ago. It only does an straight stitch.. and not very straight.. but it works well enough.

Whip stitching is very useful if you are using handheld sewing machine. From the past two years I am using electric machines this is reason the quality is far better than hand operated ones.

I don't sew (by hand or machine) the edges, I don't tape either. I leave an extra inch or so for fraying and let it go. I call it my fray and frame allowance. even on projects that take along time to finish I've never had more than a half inch of frayed edge.
doing nothing to the edges means I get to start stitching sooner.

I tend to hem the edges - turn maybe 1/4" over & run a line of running stitch to hold the two bits together. I haven't had any fabric fray enough to be a problem that way in my roller frame, and some of my projects have taken a year or so.

Regards,

Richard.