5 Methods to Stop Cross Stitch Fabric Fraying

[@cindyhoomalu1566]

I started a bookmark for my son, and by the time I got over to the right side my edge had frayed so much that I couldn’t finish the design. I’m so sad, and I need to start all over. Thank you for the very helpful video!!!

[@catkinandlillie]

Oh no, so sorry to hear about your bookmark but I'm glad this video can help you out and I'm sure you'll soon have a beautiful bookmark for your son to enjoy 🪡😄

[@lucio6659]

just started as a hobby and i was going a bit crazy trying to stop all the fraying, this helps a ton! amazing video, thank you so much!

[@catkinandlillie]

Welcome to the fabulous world of cross stitching 😄🪡 I'm delighted this video was helpful and good you'll find more useful videos in my playlists too ☺️

[@sophiakhouri2472]

I never used to prepare my canvas. But thanks to you.... I may just start. I like the look of the whip stitch. I'll give it a go. Thanks for the advice.

[@catkinandlillie]

That's great, I hope you'll find it helpful. I may not love spending time doing it but it's so nice not to have the edges getting more and more tatty especially on a long running project. Totally worth it!

[@elizabethmurray4821]

Thank you for the different methods. I zigzag my edges because I don't have an overlocker on all my projects. When I was a new cross stitcher I left the edges bare and as you say your thread gets tangled in the edges so have changed from them on. Interest video again,😀

[@catkinandlillie]

I'm delighted you found the video interesting and thanks for sharing your methods...sewing is such a nice satisfying method I find 😄

[@suntexi]

I use a paper strip, fold it along and edge and use a stapler to hold it in place. This is as good as tape, but without the sticky and it coming undone. you only need three staples per side: one at each end and one in the middle.

[@catkinandlillie]

That's a brilliant idea! I'm definitely going to try that, thank you 😄

[@suntexi]

@@catkinandlillie Of course, you can use a strip of fabric instead of the paper. I found that it is possible to catch the edge of the paper and tear it. If so, then just fold it back and use another staple to hold it. I use a staple remover to get them out when I've finished the project. Please let me know how you get on - and anyone else. I've never seen this done on any videos, so it may be my only invention to help people. Other than my invention of using a loop of thread to pull short pieces of yarn through the canvas when filling in stitches, miles from any others and I don't want to leave a long lead to bridge to them. I can use the short bits of yarn, snipped off after securing a stitch run. Effectively, I make a long rigid needle into a short flexible one. 🪡

[@catkinandlillie]

@@suntexi I'll definitely let you know how I get on with the paper edging. It's a really unique approach. The loop of yarn technique as a 'needle' sound a lot like my 'running in a short thread end' video...it's such a great trick!

[@suntexi]

@@catkinandlillie I'll have a look at your video. It's good we are able to share tips on this site isn't it?

[@sunnykat2762]

Texi, do you ever have problems with staples grabbing your floss? This sounds like a brilliant solution.

[@shadowlandsfarmandcreamery5400]

I haven't done cross stitch since before my kids came, they're 14 and 12 now, but I want to pick it up again. Thank you for posting this, I remember doing the tape method way back and didn't like the sticky edge leftover, I'd like to try thw whip stsitch method this time around. Love from Maine in the U.S, Deb

[@catkinandlillie]

I find cross stitch has a way of drawing you back in! I hope you'll enjoy getting back into it and I'll be so happy if my videos are helpful to you along the way 😄🩷

[@greenprobe]

I like the idea of sewing best, it feels most fitting for embroidery or cross stitching. I have used my machine with a zigzag stitch a few times and it was pretty quick once you get the hang of catching the outermost fabric threads.

[@catkinandlillie]

Yes, there is something pleasingly appropriate about sewing the edges, and I like it best even if I have to do it by hand! I'm glad you have a machine to help you 😄

[@lorenaariasbuentello5926]

Thank you. I’ll try one of the methods.

[@catkinandlillie]

Great! I hope you find one that works for you 😄

[@joydillow2041]

Thank you again for a great video. For tiny projects I don’t do anything to the edges. For bigger projects I machine overlock the edges ❤

[@catkinandlillie]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video, and I am always a little jealous of anyone who has a machine that does overlocking 😂

[@121mzc]

Would love to see you actually glue the edges. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@catkinandlillie]

Yep, I can definitely do a quick video on actually using the glue/seam sealants; I'll pop it on the list to do 😃 I'm glad you found the video helpful 😊

[@catsarethebestpeople5790]

I'm guilty of using masking tape. As soon as I receive/open a new cross-stitch kit, I'm impatient to get started, so it's a quick, easy option! I always wash my finished pieces because I'm sure my handling of them has left them grotty. Great video, again. 👍

[@catkinandlillie]

I 100% understand the impatience to dive into starting a new kit...sometimes I've just had to put in the first few stitches before going back to prepare the edges 😂 I am all in favour of quick wins though so crack on with your masking tape! I totally agree about washing at the end too; it's always a good idea I reckon 😃

[@sunnykat2762]

I deliberately fray edges most of the time on even weave. Your right on the hanging of the sides. I have used all the methods you mentioned. Except fray check or pinking shears (I do own a pair).

[@catkinandlillie]

That's interesting that you go for frayed edges, and in fact I did this for my latest huge project as it seemed the easiest given the size! I can recommend fray check or similar for small pieces though.

[@sunnykat2762]

@@catkinandlillie lol 😂 I know I am strange. Usually what happens is a fray will start and I just pull it. 😂 kind of relaxing pulling the threads from the sides.

[@sunnykat2762]

@@catkinandlillie fray check does sound like it would work great for ornaments because of usually I use either scraps or pieces of Aida. lol 😂 serous fraying and not much wiggle room.

[@TheKjoy85]

I'm new to the world of cross-stitch and embroidery. I've done several small projects recently. Those directions didn't mention protecting the edges from fraying. I just bought a new, bigger project kit, and it said to overcast the edges to prevent fraying, but it didn't tell me how to do an overcast stitch. I remember my grandma taping the edges of her projects when I was a kid. The masking tape didn't age very gracefully.

[@catkinandlillie]

I think a lot of kits, especially smaller ones probably don't talk about prepping the edges. And if it's a very small design on a decent sized bit of fabric i.e. plenty of margin around the stitching, then I probably wouldn't do anything to the edges. I do like to sew the edges for medium to large projects and overcast stitch is also called whip stitch which is what I showed in the video...they are the same thing! I have to say I am am not a fan of masking tape...it leaves sticky residue and/or falls off and it just doesn't feel very nice when holding your project especially if you stitch in hand.

[@TheKjoy85]

@catkinandlillie Once I understood what they wanted me to do thanks to your video, I did a blanket stitch around the fabric. This project is supposed to be 5" × 7" when it's done. The previous designs were little cross-stitch ornament kits that my mom had bought 30 years ago. I found them tucked into an old pencil box among my sewing supplies.

[@catkinandlillie]

@@TheKjoy85 What a fab find! Im glad you got yourself all sorted with the edging 😀

[@SusanSmith-yh3ue]

I have always taped but I think I may do the whip stitch method next time

[@catkinandlillie]

I'm glad I could give you some ideas and hope the whip stitch works well for you 😄

[@jessicajones9464]

I use bias tape. You can stitch it on by hand or use your sewing machine.

[@catkinandlillie]

That sounds like a fab way to do it! I don't have a sewing machine so I'd have to hand stitch it so I wonder how that would compare time-wise to whip stitching. I guess I'll have to try it and find out!

[@pamelanizlak8589]

Masking tape work good