satin stitching whiskers

[Diane F.]

Hi -- I'm doing a quilt with a large fused applique, which I'm satin-stitching around the edges. I'm having a problem with "whiskers" that poke out along the edge of the satin-stitching; the more I handle the piece moving it around under the machine, the more the edges are getting a little frayed. Is there an easy way to deal with this, other than trimming the whiskers off after I'm done? Thanks!

[Diane F.]

Many times when I am doing a satin stitch I go around more than once. That usually helps. I am sure there are others with better ideas since I don't do that much raw edge applique.

[Diane F.]

I don't do a lot of satin stitching myself but I think that you might try a wider stitch - so that more of the stitch goes past the edge of the fabric. You need to 'clear' the edge so as to not catch any of the fraying edges.

[Margo C.]

Using a fusible web just around the edges (like Pat Holly and Sue Nickles recommend in the current BOM) would help stabilize the edges.

Ricky's raw edge applique uses Steam A Seam II for the same reason.

In the TQS show with Grace Errea http://watch/watch-shows/video/show-...based-quilting Grace demonstrates a new technique that she has developed for raw edge applique that would stabilize the raw edges for satin stitches.

At the very least, I would generously apply starch to my applique shapes to help control the fraying.

[Margo C.]

Thanks all -- Margo, I did fuse the edges with Lite Steam-A-Seam 2, and gave some of the trickier bits a little Fray-Check on the edges after fusing. I didn't think of starch -- I'll see if a shot of that helps. I was afraid that if I starched before I fused the pieces, it would impair the fusing -- but now I've read that it does not. It's all fused down now, so any actions will be remedial.