Which is better?
I'm a beginner and I don't know about these things. Right now I'm working on a pillow, so the edges will be on the inside and you won't be able to see them, so looks don't count. I just don't want the darn thing to unravel..
I know how to do the rest, it's just this one thing that's bothering me. Thanks!!!

you're going to hate this answer...

neither.

Fray check is basically a clear flexible glue, and you can feel it through the seams in more lightweight fabrics.

Pinking shears are supposed to work on the premise that bias cut fabric don't fray, but I've found that when using pinking shears, it does fray in a nice neat little triangluar shape.

My reccomendations are:
*use/borrow a serger (most professional, but $$$)
*if your sewing machine has an overcast stitch--or a loose zigzag--use that (depends on your machine
*sew a french seam (wrong sides together, sew a narrow seam and press. turn right sides together, sew a normal seam, encasing the previous seam in the first one, press.) (Time consuming and I don't even bother to do it for chiffon let alone pillows)
*use extra large seam allowances (easiest, but carries risk)
*use 2 lines of stitching about 1/8" apart. one on the seam line, on in the seam allowance

good luck!
Jen

Thanks for the tips! I do like your answer, it will same me a lot of trouble in the end.

As for the loose zig zag, do you mean doing it all along the exposed edge? I don't think I'm that precise yet, but I've seen it done.

I think doing the two lines of stiching is what my mom does. I guess the "outer" line will help keep it from fraying all the way in to the "inner line"? Does it really work?

I'd ask mom, but that would mean talking on the phone for at least 45 minutes, and I'd rather do it myself! :)

I second the loose zig zag suggestion, although maybe not so loose i would suggest, its what i use on most everything i make including clothes that go through the washing machine and its very effective at stopping the fraying. You don't have to be that precise with it... if you cant get right to the edge of the fabric it doesn't matter you might get a little bit of fray up to the line of stitches but it usually stops there and if we are talking about something like the inside of a pillow which is unlikely to get much wear then it should be fine. ros.

I used to use the zig zag method to stop the fraying. It worked pretty well. I agree that serging is probably the best method. I don't sew enough to really justify having a serger, but for about $30 I got a presser foot attachment that has a serger-like cutter attached and works with your sewing machine's overcast stitch. You end up with a nice finished edge. I highly recommend it.

ooooh, I want one of those! Is the cutter specific to your machine, or is it a general kind of atatchment that works with many machines?

-Anna

Anna - I did get it when I was buying a new machine, but afterwards I realized it wasn't specific. It justs attaches like a fairly generic presser foot. I looked at the box last night and it doesn't say much on it. One side was labeled "Side Cutter II". I'll see if I can get some specific info on it. Otherwise, maybe if you ask at a sewing machine store they might know.

-jo

I found a link to a place that you can get the Side Cutter II from. It's a place called Shoppers Rule and somehow you name your own price. Seems weird, but at least the item is listed. It shows a retail price of about $30, but I don't know what you'd actually end up paying for it.
>http://www.shoppersrule.com/new_page_16.htm

-jo