Stop silk flowers fraying???

[maeve33]

Heya girlies! I'm looking for all your expertise. I have some fabric flowers that i had sent to me and i want to stop them from fraying. I used fray check on some of them but I can see this shiny film on them. Have any of ya got any ideas as to how to stop them fraying pllleeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasssssssssseeeeeeeee!!!!!!! !!!!!:o

Maeve:)

[beansnana]

I wonder if you could quickly heatseal them. It would have to be really quick, but it might work. My first impression was the Fray Check. I used that when I first started making korkers, and for some off reason I was allergic to it. I have a half of a bottle here just staring at me in the face.

[theresabuck]

I was also wondering the same thing. Let us know if you come up with anything.

[maeve33]

I wonder if you could quickly heatseal them. It would have to be really quick, but it might work. My first impression was the Fray Check. I used that when I first started making korkers, and for some off reason I was allergic to it. I have a half of a bottle here just staring at me in the face.
I tried to heat seal them and they went black! I'm running out of ideas. I probably won't be able to use them if i can't find a way to stop them fraying............

[Barbara Jean]

I have tried using a lighter to stop the flowers from fraying. It will work but you have to be quick and don't put them as close to the flame. I did lose a couple of flowers, lol.

[maeve33]

Ok.....i'll try to heat seal them again and see how it works. I may have been a bit heavy handed the first time i did it............LOL

[beansnana]

Heavy handed? You should have seen my first strands of ribbon I korked. LMBO What a riot. I actually just read last night can't remember where, but to use clear nail polish to seal some things. What the heck, what have you got to lose.

[maeve33]

Heavy handed? You should have seen my first strands of ribbon I korked. LMBO What a riot. I actually just read last night can't remember where, but to use clear nail polish to seal some things. What the heck, what have you got to lose.
oooooooohhhhhhhhh interesting!!!!! I might just try that. I don't fancy sitting with my lighter doing it. There are LOADS of them..........

[Idahomommyof4]

Let us know how the clear nail polish works out--I would think that would be a better way to go than a lighter--knowing how clumsy I am, I'd end up with the whole flower going up in flames!!! lol

[modelcraze]

I wouldn't use a lighter (but that is just me). The other day I was trying to re-heat seal my ribbon that lined my gator clip and was trying to avoid the flower petals -- the flower was already glued on. Apparently the heat was still too intense and the petal caught fire and now I am staring at a hole on the petal.... If you do decide to use a lighter, I would keep the petals like an inch away. From now on I think I will just use fabric cutting scissors and trim the fray and call it quits.

[maeve33]

Ok girlies.....an update.

The clear nail polish stained the petals. Left it to dry for a couple of days to see if they'd disapear and no joy. Then i decided to try and heat seal them. I did about 10 and lost 5 of them to fire!!!!!!!!!! I don't have a steady enough hand to heat seal the flowers because the fabric is so thin that it catches fire really easily and if anything it seems to attract the flame. A steady hand is also needed for the clear nail polish because you can only very lightly coat the very ouside of the petals. Both ways require a bit of time and patience which is fine if you only have 1 or 2 to do. I'd personally prefer the heat seal. The fact that i have about 10 million to do is making me a bit impatient..........LOL!!!!!

Hope this helps someone!

Maeve:)

[KasCssAceZjs]

I heard of rice glue!

[Lauren]

What about heat sealing with a wood burner tool? That way there is no open flame for the flower to ignite with. I suppose it is worth a try. Also, I have noticed in the fabric store that there are other brands of liquid fray preventing products (other than Fray Check). Those might be worth investigating as well. HTH!