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Baird'sBears
This is good news . . . I was getting worried.
Unless you're going to be handling the cut pieces a lot, or dying them with lots of squooshing, I don't see why you'd need to fray-check everything. Right (I hope)?
Eileen
Wild Thyme OriginalsI think maybe some of it has to do with the size of your seam allowance.... the bigger the seam allowance, the less likely you would really need to frey check the whole pattern. I tend to skimp a bit on my seam allowances... probably because even my larger bears tend to have wrists and ankles that are fairly slim... making turning a bit more difficult. When I skimp on the seam allowance a bit, they are easier to turn.. less doubled up bulk to pull through the turning hole. But since I HAVE sewn closer to the cut edge than ordinary, I like to have that frey check there just as a protective measure. I also HAND sew everything, so my pieces are probably handled a whole lot more on the cut edge than someone who might use a machine... again a bit of extra protection...
AND I stuff really really hard.... I mean REALLY hard, (so long as I'm not using an armature where I want to stuff a bit more softly so movement is possible). I find that when I reach my hemostats in along the seam where I am stuffing, i am also chewing up that cut edge sometimes! Early on before I was frey checking, I once had to unstuff basically and entire bear because I was absent minded and forgot to put on one of the disks ( I had the washer in there, but not the disk :doh: )
After she was unstuffed, I took a peak inside the body cavity and the seams were kinda chewed up on the cut edge in the areas where I had not frey checked, but they were nice and neat where I had (around the areas left open for turning, the muzzle...) .... After that I started frey checking the whole darned edge of everything!
I think there are a lot of factors that determine whether or not you really need to do it at all, much less do the whole thing. I'm sure there isn't really a right or wrong way, just a personal preference, like so many things in bear making.
It does get expensive, and I know that I am one for overkill and worry!
Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
Just Us BearsKim (I was going to add a B for Basta after your name so you knew which Kim I was addressing...and then realised that's the same too!!!).
I fraycheck all my seams too..and go in deeper again in the areas where I have the openings because I pull very tight when I ladder stitch and it's reassurance that my seams are strong. Re your avatar..I think its lovely too but would be a shame to delete the text because it's too small..can't you just make the whole avatar double the size?? Or is that the size you designed it at?
I can't believe you guys fray check your entire pattern edges! It must cost you ten thousand dollars a year in fray check!
Don't forget my pieces are a fraction of the size of yours - I maybe sew 50 or 60 bears a year and a bottle lasts me about that.
Ahem...did completely forget that when I made big bears I NEVER fray checked unless absolutely necessary. With little bears my seams are so much closer to the edge (about 2mm) I only fray check mohair, rayon and alpaca - never the uv which doesn't need it.
Matilda Huggington-beareLove the new avatar Kim. It's really pretty and sweet. :)
Yes fray stop costs me heaps. But worth it. I hand sew with small seam allowance. Nothing worse than having a seam fray and open while stuffing firmly. Mohair seams donot like being sewn twice.' Better safe than sorry' is my motto. I dont use it on synthetics. Its not necessary. And when dying mohair, I leave the fray stop until after.
Wild Thyme OriginalsKim (I was going to add a B for Basta after your name so you knew which Kim I was addressing...and then realised that's the same too!!!).
Re your avatar..I think its lovely too but would be a shame to delete the text because it's too small..can't you just make the whole avatar double the size?? Or is that the size you designed it at?
Yes, Kim and I have our own Kim B. club.... we have another Kim here too if I'm not mistaken as well!
I have huge problems trying to figure out how to resize my photos so that they are the right size & resolution to post as avatars.... maybe I'll give it another try!
Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals
Actually, it makes sense that for small bears one would fray check, now that I think about it -- and read your further posts. I don't do it because I get to have a full 1/4 (even 1/2, if I want) inch seam allowance on my bigguns. I guess if you're leaving a 1/8" allowance, or less, you really get right up to that last woven thread, which could pull right out. So, okay. Gotcha!
Baird'sBears:clap: Excellent point.
My first and only 2-inch teddy was shredded long before I had a chance to finish him. :(
Eileen
Winneybears and FriendsOh Yoohooo ! Are you still buying Dritz Frey Check in the little squeeze bottle ? It has 3/4 Oz. ( 22.5ml) Can't remember how much it is..$1.98 ?
I have good news...I found June Tailor Fray Block ( same stuff) 1 1/2 Oz. at Walmart for less than above ! Hah! you get twice as much ! I believe some quilter magazines also carry June Tailor too...but with Walmart I don't have to pay shipping ..LOL.
I fray check alot, mainly the openings and any holes I make for joints, eyes, eye cord but for really small bears I would fray check all the edges as I will be handeling the fabric closely a lot....and sewing really small seams.
When I work with synthetics with a knit back I fray check the entire broad eye area BEFORE I turn the head part right side out.... I sometimes get synthetics at Hancocks or Jo Anns where after I make a 1/8" eye hole,...it very soon turns into a 1/2" hole ...then I have to mend the hole before I can use it ...AND...fray check it too.
I have found a useful thing for me to do... line the whole head on synthetics except for the muzzle BELOW the eye areas..because I WANT the muzzle to expand ...get poofy.... Isn't that a switch ? I have found the name of the game is " control, control, control "...meaning; My control...which is whatever I have to do to get the effects I want ... Winney
Thanks for the tip, Winney, on where to find quality, affordable Fray Check.
Kim-Bee BearsMy fraycheck was three or four bucks a bottle! sheesh!
