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.

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38 comments:

  1. Sue14 January 2009 at 15:40

    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

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  2. Renee14 January 2009 at 16:32

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

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  3. Anonymous14 January 2009 at 16:34

    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.

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  4. Julie14 January 2009 at 16:36

    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

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  5. Karen14 January 2009 at 16:40

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

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  6. Chookyblue......14 January 2009 at 17:17

    love applique.........

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  7. Jo in TAS14 January 2009 at 17:22

    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!

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  8. Cathi14 January 2009 at 17:38

    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?

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  9. Anonymous14 January 2009 at 18:42

    Very, very cute block !

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  10. Crazy Bird14 January 2009 at 19:03

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

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  11. Anonymous14 January 2009 at 19:27

    hello christin,

    dit is sooooo nice.
    i love tis so match.

    greatings sydney

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  12. Lissa Jane14 January 2009 at 19:50

    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

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  13. Julz14 January 2009 at 19:59

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

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  14. Elin14 January 2009 at 20:27

    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.

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  15. Unknown14 January 2009 at 21:38

    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.

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  16. Lurline14 January 2009 at 23:24

    Just lovely - beautiful stitches!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  17. Yvette15 January 2009 at 01:24

    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.

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  18. Stina Blomgren15 January 2009 at 01:26

    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)

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  19. Idaho Quilter15 January 2009 at 03:47

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

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  20. Pat15 January 2009 at 04:51

    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!!!

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  21. Karen15 January 2009 at 04:51

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

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  22. Unknown15 January 2009 at 05:27

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

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  23. Sew Create It - Jane15 January 2009 at 08:16

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

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  24. Unknown15 January 2009 at 11:22

    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

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  25. Anonymous15 January 2009 at 14:30

    Hi Christine,
    An inspiration as always

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  26. Anonymous15 January 2009 at 18:47

    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.

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  27. chiara16 January 2009 at 07:22

    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!

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  28. Anonymous16 January 2009 at 09:36

    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)

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  29. Jossie16 January 2009 at 11:17

    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!

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  30. Melinda16 January 2009 at 16:30

    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.

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  31. Nicky16 January 2009 at 22:13

    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

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  32. Kathy16 January 2009 at 22:19

    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

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  33. Willow Grove - Kez17 January 2009 at 14:39

    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????????

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  34. Anonymous18 January 2009 at 10:15

    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

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  35. Leanne18 January 2009 at 10:26

    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.

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  36. annemariesquilt19 January 2009 at 07:32

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

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  37. Anonymous20 January 2009 at 14:45

    Love your blog and your stitching is delightful and lovely.

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  38. Solstitches26 January 2009 at 05:22

    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.

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

Christine

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