Easiest way to stop fabric fraying?

[lucysmam]

I'm half way through making a rainbow fish with removeable scales for work out of an old dinner lady tabbard - the tail's not finished off though & I really cba to apply binding/don't want to spend money on fray stop.

My plan is to paint the fishes tail with acrylic when I've finished sewing; do you think that'd stop it?

I've attached a pic so you can see where I mean (ignore the black thread & loose ends - I'm not finished yet!)

Yes that sounds like a good plan! I sometimes use clear nail varnish for small things so it’s the same principle!

Does a bit of fraying matter? Who's wearing it and for how long? If it's a one-off fancy dress costume, it surely doesn't matter? I can't see any fraying - has it started, or are you just worried that it might?

The easiest thing would have been to do a zig zag stitch around the edge of each piece before you attached it, but that ship has sailed now.

You could paint it with acrylic, but that would make it stiff (and probably defeat the object of having used fabric in the first place).

I suppose I can do it for this week & see how it goes. Then if it looks like it needs it, I can apply the binding off the discarded bottom portion.

Thanks @Bigoldmachine I think I just needed someone else to agree with my plan!

It looks like felt? if so that won't fray and you don't need to do anything.

Acrylic as in varnish? I think that'll work. Try it and see if it darkens the fabric.

PVA is my go-to for stuff like dressing up that doesn't need much washing - similar idea but also might cause a little darkening.

@TamSamLam it is felt, sewn onto a fish ish shape from an old (cotton) dinner time tabbard that we don't use any more. The felt's fine. I was more after a quick fix for my fishes tail so I don't need to faff with binding those edges.

I'm going to unpick the binding from the bottom bits anyway so can apply them if needed.

@ReviewingTheSituation I work in nursery -it's for our next story. A week's use is what I'm aiming for but if I can keep it for next time then all the better!

Felt won't fray but it will bobble over time. You say that the scales are removable: how are you attaching them to the tabard? I'd use iron on interfacing on the back to stabilise the scales for multiple uses. Are you planning on giving your beautiful rainbow scales away one at a time? Is that why they are removable? If so the interfacing will enable you to attach a brooch back or a Velcro tab to each scale.

Yeah I’d just leave it as is! The felt won’t fray and the whole thing will last more than a week I’d say!

Assuming you don't have a sewing machine, turn the edge over and staple it. Or a quick oversew.
If you do have a machine just hem/zigzag, much quicker than painting.

Just a quick thank you for the help with my fish the other night. He's all finished & ready to go to work tomorrow.

I went with the binding in the end since it was there 🐠

I meant to add a photo 🙄