With the decorative stitching finished, this top is almost ready to be sandwiched with a batting and a backing. There are several things that need to be done first to ensure that the satin stitching stays in place.
First of all, what can we do with those messy thread ends? I can't write or "say" this loudly enough: DO NOT CUT THEM OFF! If you get in a hurry and clip them from the front, the satin stitch will unravel. If you pull the thread ends through to the back and clip them short, the stitching will also unravel. It might take a little while, but your hard work will come undone.
There are two different methods I use for keeping the thread ends hidden and the satin stitching intact:
1. If you are working on a top that had not yet been sandwiched, gently pull the thread ends to the wrong side. Sometimes, you might have to thread them on a needle, then pull them through to the back that way. Next, dab a dot of Fray Check right where the thread end comes through the back to keep it from working its way back out. Let the Fray Check dry, then clip the thread about an inch and one half or two inches away from the fabric, leaving a tail. Don't worry about it dangling there. It will eventually be sandwiched inside your quilt and no one will ever know about it.
2. If your quilt is already sandwiched and you need to get rid of the loose thread ends, thread them onto a needle one by one and bury them horizontally in your batting for several inches. Then push the needle out of the batting, exiting on the back of the quilt. Clip off the tail of the thread. If your thread is exceptionally springy like rayon and looks like it is still threatening to unravel, you can also dab a little bit of Fray Check on the ends of your rows of satin stitching. You may need to do this on the front of the quilt, but be extremely careful. Dip a toothpick into the Fray Check, then apply it to your stitching. Don't try to put the Fray Check directly on your work using the plastic bottle that it comes in. Friends of mine have literally had to throw their work away when the product comes out much, much faster than was ever intended.
That should secure your stitching. I will give you another tip to dress up your satin stitch in a future post.
Good tips - I never knew or thought about satin stitching ends.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun joining a circle of satin stitching, too, and trying to hide where the beginning and end meet.
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