How To Sew Raw Edges For Sewing Fabric To Pre-Wash

I'm am one who believes in pre-washing fabric.  Regardless.  I only buy yardage off the bolt and fat quarters.  

Yes, i do wash fat quarters.   I do them much the same, and safety pins are important for fat quarters to keep your raw edges to the inside and makes it easier to cut them back open to iron and use.

 This is a great way to use bobbins or spools nearly empty but you dont want to start and have to change mid seam.   

Here is how I prepare yardage off the bolt.  

This happens to be a one yard cut from walmart.  All i did was unwrap it from the cardboard center thingy.   But just fold your fabric regardless of how long your fabric is into a long length, but not very wide. 

You do not need to trim the raw edges instead go by the shortest one.

Photo #1: I sew a seam a good 1/2 inch from that shortest length.   

Photo #2: Then I go back and zig zag to the right of that seam using my shortest length.   I do increase my zig zag stitches by 2 clicks to enlarge.  

I do the two different seams because the zig zag keeps the fraying to a minimum.   Perfect is not needed.  I like the second straight seam as it makes it easier to trim this but you ensure that your ends are contained to that shape.   

Photo #3:  You can see my raw edges finished being sewn. 

ALSO NOT Shown in Photo #3, but shown in 4.1, i add safety pins along the side that comes together along the long strip. You dont need to pin the folded side, just the one that opens. This keeps your fabric together as you will see in my next photos. 

I had two lengths of fabric that needed laundering.   Each 1 yard long.   

As you can see in photo 4.1 has been pinned along that long side so you can see its neat and tight, easy to deal with post washing. But this is also easy to trim off the sewn area. 

As you can see in photo 4.2 that was not pinned along that long side.  Its all opened up during the washing and drying phase.  Doable yes, but not near as nice to trim off the sewn raw edges.