Can I cut this fabric without it fraying?

[Mykittensmittens]

I am fine with a sewing machine but looking at this I don’t think it needs it.

i’m short, and the reason I don’t wear this long, open cardigan/over layer is that it’s just a bit too long and drowns me. I was going to chop 3 inches off and hem, but I don’t think it needs a hem, it doesn’t have one now, it’s a raw edge? It’s 95% cotton and 5% elastane. I can re-secure the side seams no issue.

can anyone see why I can’t just go for it or will it randomly fray? I’ve tried to photograph as close up as I possibly can!

You’re right, that won’t fray. Jersey fabric doesn’t fray, but the ends may roll up (did you uncurl it for the pic?

It’s a knitted fabric so it will unravel if it’s not hemmed. I’d overlock the raw edge ( or use a zigzag stitch) then turn up the hem and slip stitch or machine stitch in place. If you fold over twice to enclose the raw edge it will be quite a bulky hem.

It will curl and unravel - not a good look to my eye

It looks like Jersey. I cut that and don’t hem all the time. Completely unnoticeable if you do a clean cut. It wears just fine.

This is my confusion. I’ve worn it and washed it for a year and it hasn’t unravelled whatsoever and I can’t understand how!

I don’t have an overlocker but I can do a zigzag! I may try this at the weekend.

Yes it’s rolled and I don’t mind that at all!

I cut the sleeves off all my t shirts and they roll themselves up and don’t fray.

Only thing that might come undone is the actual stitching on the seam so I’d put a couple of stitches in there but otherwise I wouldn’t hem it etc as its likely to flare out, even just zigzagging it I find that it can make hems flare out.

I actually think a rolled raw edge looks nicer than a zigzag hem, which can make it lay a bit more wonky. But maybe I'm just cack-handed with a sewing maching 😳