PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,279 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,279 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
12 
Member since 6/4/15
Posts: 6787
Send Message
2 Replies
Posted on: 8/13/18 10:10 PM ET
I have a RTW sweater that I wear a lot in the summer to protect me from icy office air conditioning. Today I noticed that the front edge is unravelling!

Do you think I could attach grosgrain ribbon or something all along the edge to prevent more unravelling?

I'm on the RTW Fast and will likely make a new sweater but it will take me some time to find the right fabric. Recommendations on this are welcome, too!
-- Edited on 8/13/18 at 10:11 PM --
-- Edited on 8/13/18 at 10:11 PM --
  
Member since 6/4/15
Posts: 6787
Send Message
2 Replies
Posted on: 8/13/18 10:12 PM ET
Close up of edge
  
Member since 11/13/04
Posts: 15931
Send Message
1 Replies
thumbsup 6 likes
Posted on: 8/14/18 0:22 AM ET
In reply to LifeofJanine
Quote: LifeofJanine
Close up of edge

First I would take my smallest metal crochet hook and repair the runs carefully like the knitted stitches. I have done that several times on knitted tops,or knitted sweaters over the years.

When finished It looks like invisible mending. If not, I would crochet a border around the sweater in matching or similar color.
-- Edited on 8/14/18 at 5:06 AM --
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 13492
Body Type:
Send Message
2 Replies
thumbsup 3 likes
Posted on: 8/14/18 0:49 AM ET
In reply to TeeGee
Agreed. In knitting, these are called 'dropped stitches, 'runs' or 'runners,' and you need to catch them before they unravel further (and they will, at the drop of a hat).

Here's a pretty good tutorial. You might need a knitting friend to help you, if you aren't skilled with knitting. But really, the important thing is to keep the unraveling vertical rows from getting longer.


------
Elona
  
Member since 12/13/08
Posts: 24921
Body Type:
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 8/14/18 2:30 AM ET
...I'd be the person who had to track down a knitting friend for that. (I am hopeless at knitting and crochet!)

What I *would* do, though, even if you do mend it, is to bind the edge. I'd use a coordinating knit fabric and apply a neckband from the hem all the way up and around the neck and back down to the other hem--you can do it just like a T-shirt neckband--cut a straight strip on the crossgrain, fold it in half lengthwise, and serge it to the front edge of the sweater, then topstitch it down with a twin needle. Rayon jersey might be a nice match for the weight/softness, although it would probably be squiggly to work with such a long piece!

You could also try fold-over elastic. PR member Anne Whaley binds everything with FOE, and has a video tutorial on her blog:

http://www.annewhalley.com/blog/2015/6/5/anne-whalley-fold-over-elastic-tutorial-1

You end up with quite a narrow finish, though, which might not completely encase (and therefore sufficiently protect) the damaged area. So in this case I'm leaning toward the neckband.

Good luck! I was just looking at my own beloved summer cardi today--a metallic sweater knit version of the McCall's peplum cardi--and was thinking how sad I'll be someday when it starts to wear out. :(
------
~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
  
Member since 12/13/08
Posts: 24921
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 8/14/18 2:30 AM ET
Dupe post--sorry!
-- Edited on 8/14/18 at 2:32 AM --
------
~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
  
Member since 5/2/09
Posts: 11280
Send Message
thumbsup 2 likes
Posted on: 8/14/18 2:51 AM ET
In reply to LifeofJanine
Not a great knitter here at all. But, if you catch and stop the runs with just even some sewing thread and even a hand sewing needle, then do a little mending to pull back into shape and reinforce the top edge, (and also really stop the cast off or whatever goes all around it there, where it first broke, so it can't get any worse, you could just stick some applique of choice, made or bought over that. It could wrap around the edge even. If you do the same on the other side in the same place, then they would/could look like they were even there on purpose.
  
Member since 1/15/10
Posts: 855
Body Type:
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 8/14/18 2:56 AM ET
I like TeeGee's suggestion of repairing the runners (using a crochet hook) and then adding a narrow crocheted picot trim along the edge. With some skill and luck, the edge could look even better than it did when new.
------
Bongoramsey
  
Member since 1/15/17
Posts: 1827
Send Message
thumbsup 1 like
Posted on: 8/14/18 3:12 AM ET
In reply to LifeofJanine
Another vote for crochet first and if the edge isn't looking nice enough then binding. I would not use not grosgrain ribbon though but instead something flexible that nicely binds the curved parts of the opening, e.g. Petersham ribbon.

-- Edited on 8/14/18 at 6:08 AM --
------
For 2019 committed to:
- Continue using what I have (fabric, notions, patterns, books, mags, tips & tricks etc.).
- Strive to re-use 52 items from my upcycle cupboard.
- Continue purchasing fabric and patterns mindfully.
- Continue tracking my fabric stash.
- Resume tracking my pattern stash.
- Continue with RTW fast. Exceptions: bras, socks, panty hoses, shoes. Plus anything that coincidentally crosses my way and is a truly mindful purchase.
- Prioritize replacing some plain wardrobe basics (pillars or backbones) that are close or past their lifespan over adding fun, more exciting garments that I, strictly speaking, do not need (nice-to-haves).

2018 Summary:
- Used successfully what I had and bought mindfully, i.e. fabrics.
- Got a very good grip on my stash (measured and catalogued almost all of it) but failed to sew 10% down (got 9.28% done).
- Did not meet goal to make 50 projects (new, finish or re-use UFOs, upcycle, mend, repair).
- Key take away for 2019: Set fewer number-specific goals. My sewing should be driven by needs and love, not by achieving numbers.
  
Member since 11/13/04
Posts: 15931
Send Message
thumbsup 2 likes
Posted on: 8/14/18 5:28 AM ET
In reply to Elona
Elona,the video is good !

I use safety pins to secure each single run to prevent each one from unraveling more while mending one run at a time with my metal crochet hook. As I got older I had to use magnifying goggles over my glasses to see each run on thin sweaters better.
  
12 
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Elliott Berman Textiles
High-end Fashion Fabrics
Specials!