How do I keep ribbon ends from fraying?

Question

My teenage daughter dances ballet, and on a fairly regular basis we need to get her new pointe shoes. After so many pairs, I've gotten surprisingly good at sewing in the elastic and ribbons that need to go on the new shoes.

One thing I would like to improve on is the ends of the satin ribbons. When they are simply trimmed to length with scissors, they will inevitably fray and unravel over time. This is only somewhat alleviated by cutting a "snake tongue" at the end, an indented "V" shape -- that angle will help the ribbons last a few weeks longer, but I'm trying to find a solution that will last for months (without constantly trimming the ends until there is really nothing left!)...

How can I prevent the ends of satin ribbon from fraying?

Answer 1

In most cases satin ribbons are made from polyester or similar "plastic" fibers.

This means you can use heat to melt the fibers together: quickly run the flame of a lighter along the fraying edge. My preferred technique is to hold the ribbon in one hand, close to the end, so that the end is more or less horizontal. (For wide ribbons, a slight 'U' bend increases stability.) Then with the other hand I sweep the flame along the end, repeating if necessary.

I suggest practising with some scrap ribbon, because each type of ribbon needs a slightly different amount of heat, usually more for thicker material. If done right, the sealed end will look just like the rest and, important in this case, be totally flexible.

Even if your first attempts aren't perfect yet, you will be hiding the ends under the second ankle wrap, so it remains invisible. And if anything should go wrong, you can always re-seal the ends (in the worst case cutting a very narrow bit of ribbon off first) without the need of drying time or stitches. Put a lighter in your dance bag and you're good to go.

Answer 2

I would like to suggest something I was told while I was working on my ties. What you could do is to use some clear nail polish, not a lot, to stiffen the ends of the ribbon. That should prevent them from fraying at all. It is likely that you could use something like a super glue to accomplish the same thing.

You don't need a lot so, while it will darken the ribbon, if used sparingly it should not be noticeable.

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The page that comes from also suggests gluing as well as an alternative. It also covers using heat which Stephanie's answer covers better.

Of course, that could also be seen as less then aesthetically pleasing. So to compliment my solution I would then suggest you use some thread and something simple like a tight overcast stitch. The thread will hold around the polish and hopefully distract from its presence. The nail polish alone should be enough to stop it from coming undone for a while. That would all depend on wear and tear at that point.

Answer 3

Get "fray check" from your local fabric store. This is applied to keep fabric and ribbons from fraying.

Answer 4

I used to take ballet lessons, and the methods I've used for preventing frayed ribbon ends were to apply clear nail polish on the cut ends, or to quickly melt the cut end using a candle flame.

For the melting method, as Stephie mentioned, the cut ends are usually tucked out of sight anyway, so even if the end isn't perfectly melted, it won't be visible. However, some problems I've had with this method are:

• Depending on the lighter or candle that you use, the flame may not stay constant (ie they flicker or sway with any disturbance in the air). This can make melting the ribbon and creating a smooth, even edge challenging sometimes. Uneven melting can also result in a slightly warped ribbon, which may be more difficult to tuck in.
• I've also accidentally singed my ribbon a few times. You'll definitely need some patience, practice, and a quiet place to avoid making mistakes like this.
• It may also not be a kid-friendly way to go about sealing the end of the ribbon. (I was probably 12 when I tried doing this for the first time, and I was so entranced at watching how the ribbon melted that I melted too much of it.)

Nail polish avoids all of these problems, but there are still some precautions you should consider.

• Nail polish produces irritating fumes, so unlike the open flame method, you'll need a space with good ventilation and air flow.
• It also takes longer to dry, whereas the melting method takes mere seconds, maybe up to a minute or two.

However, nail polish is also an excellent tool for stopping runs in tights, so it's a good thing for ballerinas to keep on hand, anyway :)

Answer 5

One other method of heat sealing the ends would be to use a butane torch lighter and an Xacto type of craft knife.

Hold the blade over the flame until it gets hot then cut the ribbon. It may take a bit of practice to get the right amount of heat.

If at all possible (I don't know much about ballet shoes) lay the ribbon down on a piece of wood before cutting, it's easier and safer than trying to cut it freehand. That's how I usually cut Paracord.

Answer 6

Either very small bead of superglue applied with the item sitting on plastic wrap

Or clear nail polish, applied over plastic wrap also.

Answer 7

I remember trying both heat and nail polish when I used to dance and neither really lasted as long as I wanted!

Something to consider is a combination of methods since the ends won’t be seen and you’re going for durability!

I’d try trimming it straight, heat sealing, then nail polish, then fold it over and use a tiny bit of glue. Make sure to make the fold long enough there’s room for glue AND the stitches later on because it’s hard to sew through glue but sometimes the adhesive doesn’t hold long term especially on slidey stuff like satin.

Then fold it over AGAIN so you can fully sew in the seam entirely so there’s no chance at all for it to fray unless it gets cut or the stitches get loose. Do two rows of stitches if you really really want to be sure!

I’d use something durable like a backstitch so it’s really in there good! Good luck!

Answer 8

If you need to cut a lot of ribbon, you can also invest in a "hot wire" cutter:

Expensive ($300): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9E5tkKTFg

Budget ($30): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oka_ERvOuYU

I've got the expensive one, it takes a little practice, but works as shown in the video. I don't have any experience with the cheaper one (some of the ribbon I cut was too wide for it, so I've never tried it). Just google either product if you want one - the cheaper product in particular can be found online in various craft stores in most countries.

For low quantities, sealing with a flame as suggested elsewhere here also works, but takes a bit more time and practice to get right (I tended to melt the ends unevenly on wide ribbons, so gave up!). Have not tried nail polish or glue. Here's another video demonstration if you want to try either of those:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTit6tNWkx4

I'm surprised there's not otherwise a more automated product, or anything "hot wire" that does anything other than a straight cut (i.e. a pinking cut). We put a lot of ribbon through a ribbon printer (hundreds at a time), and spend hours having to cut it all manually once printed.