Frayed at the serge line

[temom]

Either last summer or the summer before I bought a piece of fabric to coordinate with something, and didn't use it. It is a nice weight cotton, and is crinkly, like a gauze, but heavier. When I bought it, it was at JoAnn's, on the regular floor. I remember that it was more expensive than I usually pay, since I only buy material when it it seriously on sale.

I made dd a pair of shorts out of this, and she wore them once. Today when I was doing laundry I see that along the center seam the fabric frayed at the serge line, and beyond it by a good 3/8 of an inch. This is in the front, above the crotch. I noticed it was having issues elsewhere along the serge line, but hadn't progressed. I fray checked the entire seam, and will run another stitch with my sewing machine, which will definately change the size of the shorts, as they will now be about 1/2 inch smaller along the seam, unless I try to ease into it, which would affect the grain lines - at least I think it would.

What if anything should I have done differently?

Do you have a better idea on how to fix it?

[lendube]

Theresa, did you run a stitching line first and then serge? The serging might have been a bit too intense for the type of fabric.

[temom]

Lennie, I sure didn't do that. I guess I should have! Live and learn. I always thought serged seams were stronger, but I guess not.

[DorothyL]

Some fabrics do that anyway when there is any stress, I think.

Dorothy

[bridesmom]

I bought some rayon type fabric for a shirt for DH and I think he got about 4 wearings out of it, the underarm has all frayed exactly like yours and making it smaller - well, he'd have to lose about 20 lbs to get into it. It's just hanging in my sewing closet until I figure out what to make out of it. I had serged and sewn a seam line, but it still did it. Sometimes I think it's just the fabric and the stress that gets put on it.

[sewingmom]

I'm also thinking that the fabric type/weave is not up to the wear the garment gets. It might have helped to sew bias tape in the seams. I read that somewhere years ago.

[Shellymoon]

I always run a regular seam and a serged seam. It just reinforces things a little better.

[temom]

I'm also thinking that the fabric type/weave is not up to the wear the garment gets. It might have helped to sew bias tape in the seams. I read that somewhere years ago.

That is a seriously wonderful suggestion. Stretch denim also does that, and I've been hesitant to use what I have because of it. I inherited a large amount of bias tape, so I'll give that a try with future projects.

I will now also do the stitch and serge on all her shorts.

Thank you for all your input.