I heat seal the ends of my ribbon using a regular lighter. Just run the end of the ribbon along next to the flame. It just melts the end a little. I have also used a lighter on ric-rac and some fringe like trims! Heat sealing has held up after repeated washings on my daughter's clothes. However, when I put only Fray Check on them, they looked a little frayed after a couple washings.
Raising 4 girls & before emb. machine I use to use beads & knots on the ends. Now I use fray chk or fray block to prevent raveling out. bthere is also an iron on stabalizer that is cloth & stays soft I get it at Walmart & sometimes use it to cover things I do not want to ravel out as well as using inside baby things so embroidery does not touch skin & it will b soft. *
I did several hair ribbons for a special group, and I used fray check on the ends. I keep fray check in a drawer by my machine - just in case I nick stitches when I trim a design.
A light dab of clear nail polish across the raw edge. great on the back of where you sew your buttons on as well , and especially on bought buttoned clothing as their buttons always unravell.
You also can take a match or a lighter and get it near the ends. It will sear them. Needless to say, don't leave it on it long enough to catch on fire. I also use Fray Check also. I just recently found out about the lighter trick recently. I think this might only work on ribbon made from poly.
I read somewhere to take a hot iron to the end, but be careful it can get "crispy" and it could also leave residue on the iron. Thinking about it an old curling iron would do the trick and then it wouldn't matter if there was residue.
Thank you all for the help and great tips. Has anyone ever heard of sealing them some way with heat ? I thought I heard some where something like that. Thanks again for all the tips.
If you want it to remain soft, try Fray Block by June Taylor. Find it with the Fray Check in your store, or in Nancy's Notions site. I use Fray Check if I don't mind it being a little bit stiff, but always use the Fray Block if it's on something for the children.
yep fray check should do it but waht clawton said would work also.
You can tie knots in the ends. Maybe even add a bead before doing that.
A little bit of "Fray Check" or stitch the ends under depending on the project. What are you making?
If you're using thin ribbon for hair bows, use the beads & knots as suggested. They will be realy cute. Either way don't forget to make a diagonal cut, this helps too.