How To Fix Unraveling Seam

You do not have to throw away your favorite garment because its thread starts to come out in some areas. All you have to do is fix the unraveled seam, and your apparel is as good as new. Stay with us to learn how you can do so instead of tossing off your clothes.

How To Fix Unraveling Seam?

You can fix an unraveling seam with the help of a backstitch. First, you have to secure the seam and subsequently sew along the ripped area. Continue stitching until you reach the other end of the tear. It would be best to backstitch again to secure the seam. You can also go for a zigzag stitch along the seam allowance to further prevent the fabric from fraying.

Read on to learn the process of fixing an unraveled seam in depth. We will also help you understand a few more basics related to repairing ripped seams.

How to Fix An Unraveling Seam Using A Sewing Machine

Whenever it comes to stitching, you can choose to do it either using a sewing machine or by hand. In this method, we will look at the process of fixing the unraveled seam using a machine.

Requirements:

• Needle
• Thread
• Pins
• Thimble
• Iron

Step 1: You have to turn the garment inside out, then iron the unraveled area. It would help if you did so because you will find it smooth and manageable to work.

Step 2: Now, pin the seam together again. It will help to keep the fabric as flattened as possible.

Step 3: Start with a straight stitch a little before the ripped area. You will have to sew on the existing seam line.

Step 4: You have to backstitch the seam. Now, sew along the unraveled section until you reach the stitches on the tear’s other side.

Step 5: It would be best to backstitch again to secure the seam.

Step 6: (Optional) You can do a zigzag stitch along the seam allowance to further prevent the garment from fraying. However, if the material has unraveled beyond the seam allowance, you will have to stitch your way from the frayed area to the stable fabric to prevent it from coming apart.

Step 7: Pull the ripped section carefully over the original seam line and secure it with pins to keep it in place.

Step 8: Now, start stitching on the existing seam line before moving over the stable fabric.

Step 9: Sew your way back towards the original seam line smoothly.

How to Fix An Unraveling Seam By Hand

If you do not have a sewing machine at home, then you can fix your garment by hand. Let us take a closer look at it.

Requirements:

• Needle
• Thread
• Pins
• Thimble
• Iron

Step 1: At first, turn the garment inside out and iron the ripped section. It would help to do so because it will make the fabric smoother and manageable to work with.

Step 2: Thread the needle and tie the two ends together, meaning you have to use a double thread.

Step 3: When fixing by hand, backstitching is the best option. To begin with the stitching, you will have to sew one stitch.

Step 4: You have to bring the needle up as you go for the second stitch, which will be better if it is 5mm ahead of the preceding stitch.

Step 5: Now, take the needle back to meet the end of the previous stitch.

Step 6: Repeat the stitches until you reach the end of the unraveled section.

Step 7: If your garment’s fabric has unraveled beyond the seam allowance, pin the frayed section over the seam line and start stitching backward over the stable material until you reach the original seam line.

Step 8: However, if the material has unraveled more than 5mm from the seam, it would be best to use an iron-on patch.

Step 9: Now, iron the patch on the garment’s inner side and secure the unraveled area with a few stitches using a machine or by hand.

How To Lockstitch With A Machine To Prevent Seams From Unraveling?

The option of a built-in lockstitch is available in most of the sewing machines’ newer electronic models. It sews a specified number of stitches and then stops stitching. A seam has a starting point, and an endpoint and a lockstitch are used to prevent and secure these ends from fraying. This type of stitch is suitable for sheer fabric and a material having a substantial sweeping drape. It is preferable because it does not interfere with the natural make of the material.

Step 1: If you have a sewing machine with a built-in lockstitch feature, you can learn the process by referring to the machine’s manual. It sews the single stitch front and back without repeating the stitches.

Step 2: You can also achieve this stitch with a machine that does not have it built-in. All you have to do is shorten the length of the stitch as much as possible. Then, you have to stitch two to four times in the same spot. However, it would be best not to sew beyond that, as it may jam the appliance and create a thread knot.

Step 3: When you stop the sewing process, leave a thread tail. Then, pull the tail to the other side of the fabric and knot the thread tails tightly to the material.

How To Keep fabric From Fraying Without Sewing

There are mainly three methods, with the help of which you can prevent material from unraveling without sewing. Let us take a look at them.

1. Pinking Shears

These are nothing but scissors with serrated blades. It creates a zigzag cut on any fabric. This method delivers a neat and clean result and is quite manageable for almost anybody. You have to trim the edges of the material with the pinking shears. These types of scissors are best suitable for crisp yet smooth fabric, for instance, taffeta. However, it is not a permanent solution, as, after several washes, pinked edges will also start fraying.

2. Fabric Sealants

You have to trim the unraveled edges of the fabric. Apply a thin coat on it and let it dry clear. These sealants do not make the fabric stiff; however, they also have a fair chance of wearing off after several machine washes. You can choose to remove it, if the necessity arises, using rubbing alcohol.

3. Fusible Interfacing

You have to select the correct weight of the fusible interfacing as per your fabric’s weight. Place the interfacing with the webbed side downwards on the fabric’s wrong side edge. Now, line up the edges and start interfacing. Iron it for better results.

How Do You Stop A Stitch From Unraveling?

As time passes or sometimes for some unavoidable circumstances, stitches of a garment start unraveling. Instead of tossing off the apparel, you can fix it to make it wearable again. During such scenarios, a backstitch or a lockstitch is the most useful to prevent the fabric’s unraveled points from fraying. It will also help the garment stay in shape. You can backstitch at the start and endpoints of the seam, using back and front stitches. This stitch is sewn over the seam stitches to secure it again.

How To Fix A Loose Thread On A Seam?

Fixing loose threads is not a big deal as it seems to be. If such threads have come out of your garment, it is best to secure them to prevent the fabric from fraying and going out of shape. You will need a spool of thread that is of the same color as the loose ones and cut a long piece of it for the process. You have to knot the new thread with the old. It would be best to make it as close to the hem as possible. Now, cut the loose thread at the end of the knot. Sew your way to create a new hem and tie a knot at the end. And your garment is as good as new.

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Jessica

I'm Jessica Flores, a professional fashion designer and an expert seamstress.

Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years.

I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills.

It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.

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