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How to Fix Unraveling Seam Full Guide of 2023

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You don’t need to throw out your favorite item of clothing because the thread comes out in places. All you need to do is fix the unraveled seam and your clothes will be as good as new. Stay with us to learn how to do this instead of taking your clothes off.

How to repair the unraveling seam?

You can fix an unraveling seam with the help of a lockstitch. First you need to pin the seam and then sew along the torn area. Continue sewing until you reach the other end of the tear. It is best to sew again to secure the seam. You can also choose a zigzag stitch along the seam allowance to prevent the fabric from fraying.

Read on to learn how to fix an unraveled seam in depth. We’ll also help you understand a few of the basics related to repairing ripped seams.

Repairing an unraveling seam with a sewing machine

When it comes to sewing, you can choose to work with the sewing machine or by hand. this method we will look at fixing the unraveled seam using a machine.

Requirements:

  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Pins
  • Thimble
  • Iron

Step 1: You must turn the garment inside out and then iron the frayed area. It would help if you did, as it is smooth and manageable to work.

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

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

Step 4: You need to top stitch the seam. Now sew along the unraveled section until you reach the stitches on the other side of the tear.

Step 5: It is best to backstitch to secure the seam.

Step 6: (Optional) You can do a zigzag stitch along the seam allowance to prevent the garment will fray. However, if the material has unraveled past the seam allowance, you will need to sew from the frayed area to the stable fabric to keep it from falling apart.

Step 7: Gently pull the torn part over the original seam line and secure with pins to in place.

Step 8: Now sew on the existing seam line before going over the stable fabric.

Step 9: Sew smoothly back to the original seam line.

How to Unravel a Seam by Hand

If you don’t have a sewing machine at home, you can repair by hand. Let’s inspect.

Requirements:

  • Needle
  • Wire
  • Pins
  • Thimble
  • Iron

Step 1: Turn the garment inside out first and iron the torn part. Doing this would help as it makes the fabric softer and more manageable to work with.

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

Step 3: If you are fixing by hand, topstitching is the best option. To sew you need to sew one stitch.

Step 4: You have to raise the needle while going for the second stitch, which is better if it is 5 mm in front of the previous stitch.

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

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

Step 7: If the fabric of your garment outside the seam allowance, pin the frayed portion over the seam line and start sewing backwards across the stable material until you reach the original seam line.

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

Step 9: Now iron the patch on the inside of the garment and heal the unraveled area with a few stitches using a machine or by hand.

How to make a lockstitch with a machine to prevent seams from unraveling?

The option of a built-in lockstitch is available in newer electronic models of the sewing machines. It sews a certain number of stitches and then stops sewing. A seam has a start point and an end point, and a backstitch is used to prevent and secure fraying. This type of stitch is suitable for see-through fabric and a material with a significant flow of drape. I preferred it because it does not disturb the natural shape of the material.

Step 1: If you have a sewing machine with a built-in lockstitch function, you can learn the process by using the manual of the machine. 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 need to do is make the length of the stitch as short as possible. Then you need to sew in the same place two to four times. However, it is best not to continue sewing as this could cause the appliance to get caught and create a thread knot.

Step 3: Leave a thread tail when you stop the sewing process. Then pull the tail to the other side of the fabric and tie the thread tails securely to the fabric.

Preventing fabric from fraying without sewing

There are mainly three methods, by which you can prevent that fray material without sewing. Let’s look at them.

  1. Pinking Shears

These are nothing but scissors with serrated blades. It creates a zigzag cut on any fabric. This method produces a neat and clean result and is easy to handle for almost everyone. You need to trim the edges of the material with pinking shears. These types of scissors are best suited for crunchy but smooth fabrics, such as taffeta. However, it is not a permanent solution, as pink edges will also fray after several washes.

  1. Fabric glue

You need to trim the non-frayed edges of the fabric. Apply a thin layer on top and let it dry clear. These sealants do not make the fabric stiff; however, they also have unreasonable chance of wearing out after several washes in the machine. You can choose to remove it with rubbing alcohol.

  1. Fusible Interfacing

You have to select the correct weight of the fusible interlining based on the weight of your fabric. Place the interfacing webbed down on the wrong side edge of the fabric. Now align the edges and start interfacing. Iron it for better results.

How do you prevent a stitch from fraying?

As time passes or sometimes for some unavoidable circumstances, the stitches of a garment unravel. Instead of throwing the clothes away, you can fix it to make it wearable again. In such scenarios, a lockstitch or lockstitch is most useful to prevent the unraveled points of the fabric from fraying. It also helps keep the garment in shape. You can backstitch at the start and end points of the sea with front and back stitches. I sewed this stitch over the seam stitches to secure it again.

How do you tie a loose thread on a seam?

Repairing loose thread is not as bad as it seems? If such threads have come out of your garment, it is best to tie them up to prevent the fabric from fraying and getting out of shape. You will need a spool of thread that is the same color as the chain stitch and cut a long piece of it for the process. Knot the new thread with the old one. It’s 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 make a new hem and tie a knot at the end. And your garment is as good as new.

Avatar for Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim is the founder and editor-in-chief of sewingtrip.com, a site dedicated to those passionate about crafting. With years of experience and research under his belt, he sought to create a platform where he could share his knowledge and skills with others who shared his interests.