Wednesday 14 January 2009

Hettie at the Hat Shop

Today I completed my first block of An Angels Story by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched. I am using the Simplicity range of fabrics by 3 Sisters.



This is Hettie who has 'a hat for every day of the year and one extra for leap years.' Apparently she is 'often seen sauntering down Halo Drive follically heightened and halo enhanced.'



Over the last couple of weeks I have prepared all the blocks for this lovely quilt ... attached borders, ironed on the appliques, traced the stitchery elements and coloured these lightly with watercolour pencils.





The only thing I'm not completely happy with is the amount of fraying that occurred on the outside of the block as I stitched. Does anyone have any suggestions to reduce/avoid this? All I can think of is maybe zig-zagging around the edges. Any suggestions gratefully received.

38 comments:

  1. Spotlight stock Fray Stop. That works really well. That is a lovely block. That quilt and her gardening one are on the 'to do' list....which I will complete in about 1 000 years. lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. she looks gorgeous! I do love the Simplicity range of fabrics and it will suit this quilt perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Christine, what an organised girl you are, well done. The 'Fray Stop' sounds good. I am not as methodical as you - in getting the whole block set up before applique/embroidery - so, my way in the past has been to cut the piece to be worked on bigger, allowing for fray, and trim to size before adding borders etc. Your way would give that satisfied, finished feel much quicker. I'll be looking into the 'Fray Stop' alternatives. Your block is beautiful and I have made a discovery.
    Thanks for sharing, Debs.

    ReplyDelete
  4. hi christine,
    well haven't you done a lovely job! beautiful work.i always, always overlock/zigag around my blocks, no matter what they may be. i learnt this the heard way whilst doing my joy of life quilt. there is nothing worse than trying to piece blocks that have frayed so the point where you can lose a good 1/4 inch or more! it can easily throw the entire quilt out. i find blocks i've spent a lot of time working on, ie stitcheries do go through lots of handling and they suffer for it if not treated with before hand. this will also help to make for a nicer edge when piecing, i've found.
    all the best,
    julie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fray Stop gets my vote too. Your block is adorable;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm with Deb, do the stitchery then cut it out, but sounds like Fray Stop will solve your problem. This si my favourite block from the quilt and the simplicity fabrics are very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You find and make the most glorious patterns!! I love this one too!!
    What about basting on an outer border of an inexpensive muslin that you can discard when you finish the blocks and are ready to put them all together?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very, very cute block !

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can't help with the fraying, sorry - but this quilt is absolutely beautiful!
    Anne in UK

    ReplyDelete
  10. hello christin,

    dit is sooooo nice.
    i love tis so match.

    greatings sydney

    ReplyDelete
  11. Christine
    I make the whole darn quilt up THEN do all the fiddly bits.. then I trim the edges down.. or I make the block bigger than it needs to be and trim it back.. which I dont really like doing too much cause it wastes fabric.. and there could be a world shortage of fabric one day *W*


    Lissa

    ReplyDelete
  12. beautiful first block for Angels Story, love your fabrics... looking forward to seeing more of your blocks completed Hugs Jx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your block is wonderful! I'm a new member to the angel club, but I bet you'll finish before me... I do the applique by machine, and I'm quite pleased with that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I absolutely love what you have done! Beautiful! Although you say there is fraying, I can't see any. I wish I had some suggestions for you.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just lovely - beautiful stitches!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

    ReplyDelete
  16. I just started this quilt too. I love your choice of fabrics!

    I am doing the embroidery first and then cutting to size and adding the borders, this way there is no fraying on the design wall when it is finished.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh MY Christine!!! I LOVE IT!!!! :o)
    Please say you will join the club... :o) I know the deadline is tight ....but hey...never mind...maybe just the little extra to get it finished......
    And for the blocks... I add a little exra on the background blocks and trim them... works super!!
    This will be fun ...to see all your lovely blocks!! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Those are sooooooooo cute. I see you already have advice about Fray Stop..

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful. That is one of my favorite blocks too. Love your fabric choice. I have some simplicity but I haven't used it yet. I like it too much. Crazy I know!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this pattern and can't wait to start. Your Hettie block is so sweet. What perfect fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  21. It is so much fun to see all the ladies around blogland, they are so different yet the same :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a beautiful block...Your stitching is impeccable.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I Love the soft colours you are using in this quilt....the block looks Pretty...mine was in kit form so some fabrics would not have been my choice...but yours will look lovely.
    cheers

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Christine,
    An inspiration as always

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your Hetty is looking great. I have also made some angels. I'm going to use in a big quilt to put on my bed I think.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Christine, this block looks soo delicate and funny, so sweet that I've really fallen in love with. I think the best advice to avoid fraying is to cut the right measure after appliquè or embroidery is done.
    hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your first block is beautiful and so dainty looking. I only hope my garden journal quilt turns out a fraction as nice as your Angel Story.. Ifind Fraycheck i excellent.
    Thank you so much for sharing.
    Hazel (UK)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Christine, I am here for the first time. This is a gorgeous block and your stitches are so neat. I love your blog, so much to see and read!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your blocks are very pretty, I love them. I personally overlock my edges, but I like the idea of making the blocks slightly bigger than necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Its lovely!! What a great choice of fabrics. Maybe try zig zagging or stitching on a larger size of background fabric then trimming before adding borders.
    Nicky

    ReplyDelete
  31. She's such a beautiful girl. Can't wait to see al her friends. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fabric choice(Mmmmm Simplicity). Hope the fray stop you picked up yesterday will help.
    K x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hettie looks divine. I love your colours. I also make my blocks bigger and then cut them back after I have stitched them. You are doing a really good job. Are you a member of Stina's Angel Story club????????

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hello Christine. I also have this quilt in mind. I bought the same fabric collection to do it. We have had the same idea. It looks lovely. Lots of kisses from Spain

    ReplyDelete
  34. I keep seeing this pattern and I love it but I had better not start it as I still have 3 blocks of a Leanne's house quilt to finish...I love your colours.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Lovely lady in a hat store and Simplicity fabrics are so cute..
    Thanks for visitng my blogg again. You always makes beautiful things.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love your blog and your stitching is delightful and lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a treat it is going to be to see all the blocks in this series as you finish them.
    This is gorgeous - love the fabric choice.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your thoughts.

Christine