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Does organza fray? how could I finish the edges?
meleliza   Intermediate PA Member since 5/4/11 Posts: 516	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/21/12 5:25 PM I bought this amazing silk organza to make an over skirt for baby girls costume. I want to cut it into petal shapes and build a skirt. I originally planned to double up and stitch petals in pairs, creating a finished edge. However, this fabric I found might look even prettier in a single layer. It's so floaty and ethereal. I wonder if I could just leave the edges unfinished? Otherwise, how would I possibly hem a curved petal shape? Thanks for any help. ------ Melanie
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 5/2/09 Posts: 1554	Login to reply to this post In reply to meleliza << Like this post Date: 10/21/12 6:37 PM Yes it does fray. Mabe does not matter that much for just a childs Halloween costume they might never ware again though. I think sometimes cut on the bias it might not fray quite as much. If you are not going to wash it too much, and only maybe once or never, possibly putting some fray check on the cut edges of it, might make it fray a bit less. That would be tricky to finish off edge on single layer flower petals, but I guess you could turn under and hand sew. Or finish off with a ovrlocker pretty easy, or maybe use pinking shears or even run one line of straight stitch around petal, then cover with a tight satin stitch, and only afterwards then cut edges off close to that. That might work fine, as it's pretty stiff even all by it's self. Also could always cut two like petals, place them back to back. seam it, clip the curves and them turn inside out and press and then you would have a finished edge. If you used the not so nice as real silk, but just nylon or polyester oganza instead (which also frays just as much I think) then I think if you stitched around it once, even just by straight stitch, then cut and sealed it with heat (like a soldering iron or something like that) because that kind would melt there then, that might seal it off and keep it from raveling so much, but it would make it stiffer on the edges, and maybe not so great against skin then. If you buy a bunch of cheap fake fabric flowers though, those are already sealed off on the edges of them, (the kind with plastic stems and fabric leaves and petals) most times they got a bunch of flower petals stacked on top of each other for each flower there. Held together with some kind of plastic plug there. If you pull that off, then you can get a bunch of loose pre-formed flower petals that way, and you could just very easy sew those over and on top of some other kind of base fabric for a skirt.
meleliza   Intermediate PA Member since 5/4/11 Posts: 516	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/21/12 10:05 PM Thanks for all that info! This is actually very nice silk, and I imagine it will get lots of use. Last years Haloween costumes are still being worn for dress up! But I think I will make it a separate over skirt that ties with a ribbon so it will last and not need to be washed with the rest of the dress. Maybe I'll just do the double layer stitched and turned for a clean finish. I always preferr that anyway, just wanted to go for the most ethereal look I could muster. The shape I want will be difficult to hem anyway, although I like your satin stitch idea. That might help it look like leaves... ------ Melanie
sarah in nyc Advanced NY USA Member since 1/8/05 Posts: 1594	Login to reply to this post In reply to meleliza << 3 members like this. Date: 10/21/12 10:18 PM you can paint the very edge of the leaves with acrylic paint to seal the edges. you can use the same paint to add veins to the leaves. Thin down the paint. You can use paint from a tube or in a jar. Clearly you need to thin down the tube paint more. paint and then let the paint dry for a day before you sew it to the dress. ------ sarah in nyc www.sewnewyork.blogspot.com
couturemom   Advanced NC USA Member since 7/19/11 Posts: 112	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/22/12 12:08 PM I think cutting as much as you can on the bias will do the trick - and you can use Fray Check along the edges as well. I like the paint idea also.
mmcp   Advanced Beginner MD USA Member since 5/31/09 Posts: 98	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 10/22/12 3:58 PM What about purposely fraying the edges, so the leaves are sort of feathery?
Courtney Ostaff   Intermediate WV USA Member since 11/23/10 Posts: 624	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/23/12 10:02 AM If you want it "perfect" (which I totally wouldn't do for a kid's costume), you could do this Perfect Baby Hem
sarah in nyc Advanced NY USA Member since 1/8/05 Posts: 1594	Login to reply to this post In reply to Courtney Ostaff << Like this post Date: 10/23/12 1:57 PM You can also sew a straight stitch a presser foot away from the leaf edge...it ought to keep the leaf from disintegrating..I would add stitched veins at the same time ------ sarah in nyc www.sewnewyork.blogspot.com
meleliza   Intermediate PA Member since 5/4/11 Posts: 516	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 10/26/12 8:04 PM Thanks for the creative suggtions! I have a little extra fabric, so maybe I can try a few techniques on mini leaves. ------ Melanie

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