The length sides are the bound selvage, so really don't need sealing. It is a very nice end, though - and flows right into the veil - very high-quality silk) If you tried to surge or do a rolled hem, it would totally mess up the flow. I can't explain unless you saw it in person. where it comes off of the fan, it has a curve that gracefully goes into the "tail" of the fan. it "needs" to be sealed there. It also "needs" to be sealed just at the very end. I know the majority of dancers are used to rolled and surged ends usually - but it just doesn't work with these like that. So far, though, it actually hasn't been a big deal at ALL (I started dancing with them before sealing them, and frankly, nothing happened at all. (shrugs) But - since I wanted them to last for many many years - I wanted to seal them "just in case". If you look at some of the very top silk custom-dyed veils, though, for dancers who take care of their stuff and don't want to mess with the beauty of the silk veil (how it flows) - they never seal their ends - so go figure....

I hope this explained a lot and cleared up any assumptions about silk and how to treat edges. I work a lot! with silk of all sorts, so get to experiment a little. ;-P

These are very helpful tips ladies - I haven't done anything to mine yet. They are still gorgeous, even after performing with my 3yd blues a few times. But I think I will take the time and seal them according to these instructions. Thanks!

I'll admit - It's a personal thing with Fray Check. (See earlier comments in original post) It's my own personal hangup and cross to bear, so to speak, so I just wanted to offer other alternatives if anyone wanted them. I'll see if I can put the link in if someone will tell me how - I'm over 40 and technology challenged - do they have a "Technology Challenged Anonymous" group anywhere? ;-P

I wouldn't have sealed these edges, either, if it weren't for the fact that I won't be the only one using them and caring for them. I am a co-director of a dance company, and I just KNOW that the fans are going to be a part of things - and with about 15 people running around like baby nutballs, it's just not me using them anymore, so they are going to have to stand up to a lot of abuse (which is actually one of the reasons I went with Jennas - quality, quality, quality).... With that said, I just want to reiterate that the quality of the fans is TOPS! and that there are just some things you shouldn't do to nice silk like this, and that's surge or hem the edges...