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I’d always been under the impression that heat finishing nylon (ie, cutting with a hot knife or melting edge with a flame) added strength to nylon fabric. Certainly it does stop fraying, however I recently read a discussion that advised against heat finishing, preferring a finished seam (such as flat felled or french) instead. Indeed, the author suggests that heat finishing causes abrasion, weakening the fabric instead.
This sounds reasonable, especially since I know a large melt at the edge can create an edge that cracks easily. Plus, I’m sure the fumes are unhealthy. But then every sewing book I have on the subject suggests heat finishing. And this was how I was taught to sew the stuff, so my gut says to heat finish, at least for seams/edges that come under stress.
I wonder what folks here think? Got any knowledge on this topic?
Mary
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I made a down quilt years ago and used the heat finishing method. The edges remained hard through use and some cracked. I had to redo most of my work. Since then I've found the tried and true seam finshes the best, usually flat felled.
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