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whip stitches

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:25 pm
by destructiveernie
i've read that some of you whip stitch the fabric before starting. What do you mean?

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 11:13 pm
by Offe
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...

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:31 pm
by 3madspaniels
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

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:35 pm
by destructiveernie
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!!!!!!!

:oops: :oops: :oops:

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 5:06 pm
by Arianwen
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!

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:55 pm
by mechie
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

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 2:08 am
by Mystonique
Some of us know it as overlocking.

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 2:48 am
by rcperryls
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
:dance:

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 2:57 am
by socialsue
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 :)

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 1:49 am
by Corey.G
When you are doing the zigzag on the sewing machine do you have to fold over a bit of the fabric?

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 2:49 am
by Mystonique
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.

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 8:53 am
by Offe
I use the three step zig zag rather than the normal zig zag, to keep the edge from curling.

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 5:23 am
by LadyS
I whip stitch only IF the fabric is fraying a lot, but for smaller projects I usually do nothing at all.

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:46 am
by MaggieM1750
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.

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 2:52 am
by ziana68
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.

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:03 pm
by cairee
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. :)

Re: whip stitches

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 2:01 pm
by richardandtracy
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.