How to eliminate fraying from your finished mesh ribbon projects. This illustrated tutorial shows you how to seal the ends of poly mesh (e.g., Deco Mesh, Geo Mesh) before making a wreath, garland, or other project. And a technique I discovered for gathering “poofs” as you work that should end fraying worries. Have fun and don’t be a-frayed!
No-fray mesh ribbon tips (tutorial)
| Difficulty | Cost | Time | Age | Person | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Easy
|
$1 to $25
|
30 Minutes
|
-- | -- | -- |
You Will Need...
- mesh ribbon
- floral wire
- glue (fabric or hot glue)
- clips or weights
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Seal ends (shorter “width” length at beginning and end of roll) before attaching mesh to frame. Fold over end of mesh and weigh down as you fold along the edge (1/2” to inch) to make a flap, like making a hem. Apply fabric glue or hot glue.
Step 2
Gather end of fabric, but before attaching it to your wreath frame, fold it in on itself. This is commonly referred to as making a “ponytail”.
Step 3
Secure the loop with wire and twist closed before attaching it to the back of the wreath frame.
Step 4
As you gather your mesh, keep the two edges (along the length, top and bottom) curling inwards, so you are working with a kind of “tube” of mesh. The mesh will naturally curl in toward the middle, just keep those frayable edges towards the middle of the tube.
NOTE: To clarify, the “tube” has both ends curled toward the middle, inside the tube like this: ɷ
Step 5
This keeps the frayed edges neatly inside as your grab sections of the “tube” to make your “poofs”.
Step 6
Repeat steps #1-3 when you come to the end of the roll or mesh, or decide to cut the mesh ribbon at the end of a section.
Thanks for your help on keeping the edges down.