Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

Hello

I need a little advice please.

I am currently working on a (for me) quite big project and I have noticed that the aida has been fraying. I am really scared that by the time I would be finished there is nothing left of it.

I have read about tape and stuff.
My problem is that I am currently unable to buy any extra materials towards this project and I also think that it does not look nice.

I do however have lots of thread! I bought a 150 different colours pack from ebay before I realised I wanted to use DMC for my projects.
I would want to stitch or sew (I don't really care, I have normal threads as well) a wee border around the project to stop it from fraying. I'd prefer it to look nice as well.

I prefer handstitching cause I have no idea how my sewing machine works and last time I tried to use it I noticed it needed oiling desperately .

Are there any ways where I can stitch a nice looking border around the edges of the aida to prevent it from further fraying? If so what is it called? So that I can google it.

Thanks!

I never have a problem with fraying I know others do
some use this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aleenes-Stop-Fr ... B00114RDVI" target="_blank

Thank you Reta.

What I mean is, if I have to go out and buy stuff then I'll have to wait 2 months before I have money again
So I'd rather do something I can with the materials I have.

I usual hem the material before I start stitching so that it doesn't fray. I usual use a machine, but I have done smaller projects by hand. It takes a while but its worth it.

Hope that it helps.

If you have plenty of thread the you can use it to whip stitch around the edges of the fabric. Hope you will share some pics of your project!

@Heidi, My first thought was to hem it (although I didn't know that term then) but I was told that it would be too thick to put it in a frame later on

ah Ill have a look at the whip stitch

I will post pictures later on but its just black and browns at the moment (very boring )

When i did not had a sewing machine I used to do exactly the same thing Amanda linked. That or just used masking tape, the kind made of paper that you would use to protect door etc before painting.

neviril wrote:@Heidi, My first thought was to hem it (although I didn't know that term then) but I was told that it would be too thick to put it in a frame later on

Perhaps they thought you meant that you fold the fabric under and then hem it? All you would have to do it sew it around the edges, no need to fold it under. It's not really like hemming clothes, which is when you would fold the fabric underneath to create a neat edge (at least I think; I'm not a seamstress). Once there is thread running along the border of the fabric, the threads in the fabric itself will have something to prevent them from coming apart.

I myself am an edge taper. True, it doesn't look the best, but I don't care. Its quick, its easy, it will be cut off when its finished. I'm to impatient to stitch a border.

Except, the way aida is woven.. it won't come apart. Its not like an evenweave that you can just pull the fibers out. I just keep my edges rolled up and tucked out of the way- hair clips, big black office clips.

If you don't want to do a whip stitch, you could always do a running/ straight stitch, two- three blocks in from the edge. Which can also be used to anchor if you lace your project to a frame when its done.

There is also the option to do a buttonhole stitch that would make a nice boarder.

MaggieM1750 wrote:I myself am an edge taper. True, it doesn't look the best, but I don't care. Its quick, its easy, it will be cut off when its finished. I'm to impatient to stitch a border.

Except, the way aida is woven.. it won't come apart. Its not like an evenweave that you can just pull the fibers out. I just keep my edges rolled up and tucked out of the way- hair clips, big black office clips.

If you don't want to do a whip stitch, you could always do a running/ straight stitch, two- three blocks in from the edge. Which can also be used to anchor if you lace your project to a frame when its done.

What do you mean with the way aida is woven?

I keep getting (fibre?) loose threads (of the aida) that fall off. It has gone so far that I have lost at least 2 squares while stitching. Its making me scared of continuing


Edit:
wow that buttonhole stitch looks awesome!! *adds another half year to the project*

how about from the middle of the fabric measure to the edge of design( If its 12 x 12 then 6 inches plus 3 == 9) and in another half inch do a border of half cross stitch /////

I hem the edges of mine. I just fold about a cm over and do a running stitch. It holds the fabric firm while I am stitching and then I remove the stitches to frame the work. You don't need a fancy edge as the frame will cover it.

I've had some Aida that unravels a bit, but I've never lost more than a couple threads per side. I've used plain old masking tape folded over the edges, and I've also just stitched the edges using a whip stitch or a running stitch. Remember that the edges won't be seen when your project is framed, so you can use whatever method you have at hand. It doesn't have to be pretty or fancy.

I use my sewing machine to just zigzag the edges. I position the fabric under the foot so that the right edge of the zigzag is just at the edge of the fabric and the left edge catches the fabric. Even if you're slightly off it is ok.. the zigzag will still hold the fabric in place and keep it from unravelling.

As for worrying about how it will look - sure it's not the prettiest of edgings, but if you are going to frame the piece, it will be hidden in the framing anyways. The advantage this has over doing it by hand is that it takes just a few minutes (literally - I would say no more than 5 once your machine is threaded) compared to hours of doing it by hand. If you don't want it to be too visible, you can use thread that matches in color to your fabric, but I never bother - I just use whatever is already on my machine since the edges will get hidden in the finishing. Another advantage of this is that the fabric remains flat and flexible - the zigzag adds no extra bulk.

I looked through my photos to see if I could find a sample of the zigzag, and this is the best one I have..



The fabric in the background has been zigzagged on the machine.

I use blanket stitch when I'm stitching the edge to stop fraying and I want to display it that way ...

http://www.holiday-crafts-and-creations ... titch.html" target="_blank

I am one who does nothing at all with the edges. I allow myself an extra inch or two of "fray allowance" and just let it fray, it never goes more than a quarter inch, even on my long term projects.
one thing I do to keep the fray short is to cut the fabric square, if your edge is straight with the weave of the fabric you should only loose a few threads, the rest will stay.

of course there is nothing wrong with securing it with a stitched border, remember the border wont show on the finished piece, so it doesnt matter what it looks like.

You should have enough of a margin on your fabric that you can afford to lose the bit that frays, or that you can cut off whatever you use to prevent it from fraying.

I personally dont do anything to prevent fraying now that i have a scroll frame, but before that i just folded a piece of masking tape around the edge. If you dont already have some around the house, it's cheap at the hardware store. It doesnt look nice but who cares what it looks like while you're working on it? Since your sewing machine is out of commission, hand sewing is really your only other option and i for one would rather invest that time to the actual design.

I whip-stitch. I find it "relaxing" while watching tv. That's the "only" time I watch while doing my sewing. I like "peace and quite" while I am sewing. Don't even like B/H being home on weekends or taking any time off from work, as it's "my time," 6 days a week, 5 am-1 pm M-F. and 5 am.-2 pm. on Sats. He just "irritates" the heck out of me on Sats. "Honey, I'm going going or doing so and so." Don't know what I'm going to do when he "finally" walks out of his company, after 40 years, Aug. 1, 2014.

HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

I purchased a used serger off ebay some years back specifically for binding the edges of my cross-stitch fabric. If I am home, I run it through the serger. It works wonderfully and doesn't take hardly any time at all. Occasionally I have rethread the serger, but it's not too bad when following the instructions. I use the larger cones of thread, so rethreading happens seldom. When traveling, I have done either a whip stitch around the edges, or something like a blanket stitch.

- Tricia
aka afdish