Preparing Fabric...How do YOU do it?

Hi! I am new to SQ but have LOVED cross stitch for years. I was in the Army for a while so all my cross stitch stuff was in boxes for years, recently out seeing the light of day again..and in perfect time. At the beginning of November they found a very large blood clot in my leg and I am now home from work---probably until the first of the year. At any rate, I ordered and have started Kissing the Face of God. This is my first major project like this so I am looking for how others do things.

I am not a patient person so I usually jump in and then later realize I could have prepared better. I like to stitch with a hoop (what have I read about tight enough to bounce a child off...). In the past, the projects I have done I have not bothered to do anything with the edges of the fabric as I was not going to be working on that fabric for too long. I did have edges that frayed still but nothing I worried about. However, I know I will be working on this one a long time and already have lost thread from the edge. I am wondering, what do you all do to prepare the edges of the fabric to keep it from fraying?

Today is the 7th day I have been working on this one and I am hoping to post a picture tomorrow of all the work done through today. I really am glad I found this forum because there is a treasure trove of information here. Yesterday I read something about seeing the page lines in a finished piece and was glad I stumbled across that because I had originally planned on doing one page at a time. I have now changed that tactic to hopefully prevent the page lines.

Thanks!!
Kelly

If you have a zigzag sewiing machine, you can bind the edges that way. Another option is to use masking tape over the edges. And then there's a product called something like Fray Not... I haven't used it but I think it's something like white glue that you put around the edges. (Someone here will probably correct me if I'm wrong.)

On the SQ I'm doing now (The Young Botanist) what I did was fold under the edges on the rods of the scroll frame. It's working out pretty well, especially when you think about it, after scrolling up a bit the stitched part starts getting rather thick and the tension on the edges loosens. This way, the tension stays pretty much the same all the way across.

I use masking tape. Then carefully take it off after I'm done and wash the fabric. This gets the glue out which would turn colors/cause damage years after I'm gone. I've never used the Fray product but heard it can come off after a lot of handling and would need to be re-applied. Good luck! Can't wait to see pics!

I hope this works...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deboeljones/sets/72157625383249047/

For this project I think I might use the tape but a sewing machine is on my wish list so that in the future I can zigzag the edges. Ok, I am sure I can do other things with the sewing machine too, like fix the boys' pants...but hey, stitching first!

You've made a fine start! The piece you've chosen is really lovely. Best wishes.

Forgot to mention the other day I'm also working on this project now. It'll be for my youngest son; I've done pictures for the other kids already. The plan is to get this done & framed to hang in the house while they're still kids. Then they each have a special picture from me after I'm gone. I've told each one the picture was theirs when I started it to try to get them interested in it. The thought is if they see how long it takes me to make & know it's for them, they might actually appreciate it.

quote:

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Originally posted by sverzino
Forgot to mention the other day I'm also working on this project now. It'll be for my youngest son; I've done pictures for the other kids already. The plan is to get this done & framed to hang in the house while they're still kids. Then they each have a special picture from me after I'm gone. I've told each one the picture was theirs when I started it to try to get them interested in it. The thought is if they see how long it takes me to make & know it's for them, they might actually appreciate it.

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What a great idea. This will be a wonderful memory all their lives. What did you do for the other kids?

I cut my fabric a bit bigger around than I actually need and pull the threads until I have a definate "fringe" all around. That stops further unraveling in it's tracks! And it's cute!

Ok, here is the week two update of Kissing the Face of God

http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157625383249047


Kelly

quote:

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Originally posted by Kelly
Ok, here is the week two update of Kissing the Face of God

http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157625383249047


Kelly

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When I click on the above link, I get pics of a dog and kitten, and my own photos, but not yours...