Holice

If your seams are ravelling then the 1/4" is not the issue. I have old wuilts that have 1/8" or less and they have been washed many times and never ravelled. So stop worrying about it. There are plenty of over seams and wuilting to hold it. If you toss a iece of fabric in the wash does it ravel 1/4". Probably not. S stop worrying.

vickig626

I actually did have this happen on one of my first quilts and I think it's because I was using cheaper fabric which was probably looser woven (as a beginner). but since using quality fabric, never had this happen since.

MartiMorga

I have had "STORE" bought quilts ravel to death. But I have my grandmother-in-laws quilts that I wash constantly still in great shape. Hers were all done by hand sewen and quilted and no problem. Why is that? I guess it gets down to quality and care. I am new to quilting and just for safety's sake I am fray checking every seam. Of course the teachers are just shaking thier heads at me.

IAmCatOwned

If the cotton still unravels easily after washing and drying, then only use it in a quilt that will be closely quilted. Otherwise, it's generally a non-issue.

I've purchased fabric that easily ravelled before it was washed and dried. Washing and drying stabilized it nicely.

SamanthaTheQuilter

I just had this happen to me on my very first quilt! I used a jelly roll pattern and I think some of the strips were frayed to begin with and I didn't notice. Now I am stuck trying to figure out how to fix where they came undone

Marilyn Philips

I will only use a scant 1/4" when absolutely necessary, like where several seams meet together. Even then, if you use a standard 1/4" seam it can always be trimmed down to keep things neat. Standard 1/4" also lays better when pressing.

maecece

Since I tie mine I have had trouble with the seams fraying. Does that make a difference? It is ones I have made for my granddaughter and daughter. They get used a lot and are washed a lot. Seems I'm always fixinf them. Does it make a difference if they are made of flannel?

Pieces2

Good quality fabric will not ravel with 1/4 inch seams. Poor quality fabric will ravel with a 1/4 inch seam.

carolynjo

Unless you are just using the top, unquilted, no batting, and no backing, I can't see how the seams would ravel. I have once in a great while, had a seam pull apart because it was a scant 1/4" or a loose weave fabric. When the seams are enclosed in the quilt sandwich, there is little chance of the seams raveling, IMO.

quiltstringz

In addition to the quality of products used, I really think that a lot of issues can be solved if your machine is working well. No you don't have to have an expensive machine (that is a matter of choice) and I have seen many successul quilters that use vintage or "cheaper" machines. I personally don't know how to explain this but if you are having issues I would ask around at my LQS/Quilt Guild/anywhere you can find experienced sewers to teach you about Tension. With the newer threads available (Aurifil/Masterpiece/etc.) that even though they are 50 wt like Star/Guetterman/Connecting Threads, they actually run through your machine smoother or like a little smaller thread. I think that this is the area that a high percentage of us are not knowlegable. I know that Superior Threads has some great information on Needles and believe that they also do on Tension. Anyone who has any other good sources that might be a great topic. Sorry I am rambling - listening to a conference call for work at the same time