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shantell Oct 3, 2005

This may be an already talked about item but I didn't find anything in the search...

Do you frey check your entire pieces cut edge after cutting it out...or

Do you frey check just the places that are stressed more like the openings left for turning and later sewing closed...or

The entire seam itself after sewing the pieces together...or

any combination of the above...or

something I might not have considered at all?

Thanks!!

Shantell...the all curious one!!!

1 user likes this: Karen G.

Helena Oct 3, 2005

Hi Shantell,

I frey check the entire edge, paying special to the openings....

kbonsall Oct 3, 2005

I fraycheck edge and for the ears, I fraycheck the whole thing, not sure why, just what I've always done.... pieces can be fraychecked either before or cutting out... I find that if you fraycheck before, it is sometimes harder to cut and can get "gooey" if you dont wait enough for it to dry... I think I prefer to do it before though and havent had any trouble with "bleeding" - maybe it is the pen I use but I would probably fraycheck my lighter pieces after my invisible ink had become invisible just in case.... 

Hope i helped you more than I confused you LOL 

Pipa Oct 3, 2005

I Fray check all of the pieces afte ive cut them out, i go round the edges of every piece (even the ears) and fray check it all. let it dry then sew em up 

I lso fray check every fabric regardless of wether it's synthetic. schulte or german mohair or alpaca

WildThyme Oct 3, 2005

On Mohair bears, regardless of the size, I trace the pattern pieces, then fray check all the lines, I do try to get a bit more where I know that I will have my opening for turning.... then cut out after it has fully dried.  On wee things, I don't fray check at all... all the fabrics I use don't really fray.... I wonder if there is a reason for doing it before vs. after cutting?  Anyone know?  I've always done it before, but it certainly does seem like it could be done either way.

Beary truly,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

kbonsall Oct 3, 2005

I am wondering the same thing- I usually do it before cutting and I tried to machine sew when I did my first mohair bear and it gunked up my sewing machine - I handsew all of mine now so I dont have this problem anymore

By the way, Kim, love your avatar!  It is my fav of your bears 

psichick78 Oct 3, 2005

I only use fray check on the openings, the nose and the ears. Seems to work fine for me. It's just that fray check is pretty expensive, so I try to be cheap about it.
Because you guys use so much fray check, anyone tried the method of 50% glue and 50% water?? haven't tried it myself yet, but I love to be cheap!!!
Ps, does fray check wash out??
Heather

kbonsall Oct 3, 2005

Fraycheck is expensive!  I need to get more - I went through 3/4 of a bottle in under a year!  I like the smell of it though, and no I am not sniffing glue! LOL 

psichick78 Oct 3, 2005

I dont like the smell at all!!!
Sniffing glue LOL :clap:
Heather

Eileen Oct 3, 2005

Hmm

Has anyone ever tried overcasting the seam allowances by machine before cutting out? I've only done it once on a mohair backing that seemed ready to fray if I so much as looked at it. Since the pieces were fairly large, it wasn't much more trouble than all that painting, really.

Eileen

shantell Oct 3, 2005

I didn't even consider frey checking BEFORE cutting out...hmmm.  So...is it really necessary to do this around all the pieces or is this just something that you do because...

I'm seriously curious about this.  I'm really wanting to improve my bearmaking and sometimes it these little things that can make a difference in the long run.

As I sit here and pick fur out of my bears chin seam...I've already poked myself with the awl...ouch!!!

:hug:

melissa Oct 4, 2005

I used to always use the glue/water method - pva glue (not sure what the us name for it is but it's the opaque white glue that dries clear and peels of your skin if you get any stuck on it)  I used to mix it half & half and store it in an empty film cannister.  It works well but now I only use it on my cotton fabrics.  It can leave a toughish edge but it won't be sticky so you can sewing machine it

but I now use "Aleene's stop fraying".  This is the most perfect fray stop that I have found - it doesn't have that horrible toxic smell that the other brands do.  It has a slightly pearlescent blue tinge to it when you put it on and it did take some adjusting to use it as it is quite goopy but you soon get the idea of how much to squeeze out.  You need to blot it in with a paper towel.  I have never had a problem of it making pen bleed but I do use a gel pen.  It does stay slightly tacky so it's not good for a sewing machine.  However, the needle moves through it so easily when hand sewing and the slight tackiness of it helps your pieces stay together when you are sewing (I don't use pins).  I have used it on pale sparse fabrics and while you can see it on the back of the fabric when you put it on, I've never had a problem with it showing on my finished bear.

that's my 2 cents worth - oh I obviously fray stop before  I cut out but if I have a particularly loose weave fabric I will fray stop the edge of the cut out bits where my openings are.

matilda Oct 4, 2005

I fraycheck all of the pattern. I dont take chances. There are differnt types of fraycheck as well. I like the one that is watery. There is another that is 3D. Hate that one. Fray check blunts your needle faster.

Meri Bears (UK) Oct 4, 2005

Hi

I always fray check once I have the pieces sewn together. Always on the openings, ears and nose and sometimes all round depending on the type of mohair. I find that some fabrics are really 'delicate' and fray so easily and some are really firm but I always have a reasonable seam allowance that I build into my patterns and quite often double stitch.

Gel pens never bleed. I learnt a hard lesson after using blue biro on a white fur in my early bear making days :mad:

I have tried the pva/water method. I'm probably doing it wrong but it seemed to take forever to dry. Apart from the cost, I like fray check because it dries so quickly.

Kate

WildThyme Oct 4, 2005

That's why I like the Fray-Check brand as well, Kate, the fast dry time..... I have a hard time even waiting for that to dry..... I always want to get those scissors out and dive right in immediately!!!! 

I mark out patterns with a Pigma Micron, made by Sakura Color Products Corporation... haven't had any problems with bleeding, even with the fray-check.  I use a gold metallic gel pen when working with dark backings, haven't had any problems with that either.

WildThyme Oct 4, 2005

By the way, Kim, love your avatar!  It is my fav of your bears  :love:

Thanks Kim.... she's my all time favorite of the larger bears I've made so far... I almost wish I would have kept this one.... her name is Rhaine, and she lives in Germany now.... to far away to even visit her!  Her new owner is super nice though!
I've gotta erase the text from my avatar though... to small to see!

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

WildThyme Oct 4, 2005

Has anyone ever tried overcasting the seam allowances by machine before cutting out?
Eileen

That's an interesting idea Eileen... the only potential problem I could see with that is that you wouldn't be able to much inside seam grooming.....?  If I'm understanding it right.... I don't know....

Beray truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

kbonsall Oct 4, 2005

Kim - i guess you didnt see my other post on another topic... I had her pic posted there!  She is my fav bear and she is the first bear of yours that I saw on ebay that made me want to get in to bear making -  :clap:

I use Aleen's- or however you spell it - as well - I use a ballpoint pen for marking on med color fabrics, gold for black or really dark colors and I use disappearing ink on my whites when I trace my patterns.   I too have learned not to use blue ballpoint pen on white early on and it almost wrecked my bear! my mommy has that bear now - she loves it - it was truly my first

Eileen Oct 4, 2005

You're right on, Kim,

I had a  :twisted: of a time! I couldn't groom inside the seam allowances at all, though grooming the right side was easy enough. Fortunately, the pile was on the sparse side. On a thick pile, it probably wouldn't work well at all, unless you managed to shave the area first . . . too much hassle for an ordinary mortal.

Eileen

Jellybelly Bears Oct 4, 2005

I use the 50/50 water and pva glue and it works really well.  Does take some drying time, but much cheaper and just as effective as fray stop.  I always fray check just after I cut...so its not harder to cut on my hands (arthritis) I find it better to do it before I sew as sometimes it will go past the seam and stain a little, or clump the fur...if you do it before you sew it doesn't get through and easier to wipe off if you go overboard...
I try and do this all but sometimes I forget in my rush and sew my bear up and then think...I forgot to fray check!!! lol.  Then I do it carefully lol
Oh and I've had that same thing happen with biro...yikes...not very happy with that.  Metallic gel pens rock  :dance:

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorOct 4, 2005

I feel like I missed a step in bearmaking school, reading this thread.

I fray check awl holes, and any place where I'm too close to a seam, or where there will be extra tough pressure.  Sometimes I fray check around the muzzle area.

That's all.

I can't believe you guys fray check your entire pattern edges!  It must cost you ten thousand dollars a year in fray check!

ellen Oct 4, 2005

ditto what Shelli said.
hmmmmm.....??
*moving to the back of the class*

kbonsall Oct 4, 2005

Oh, I do awl holes and where they are jointed as well.... forgot to mention - As I said, I am almost out of my bottle of fray check LOL 

shantell Oct 4, 2005

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who doesn't frey check everything.  I've only been doing the openings, awl holes and places that I might stress...such as the muzzle area and the toes of the foot pads (in case I get stuffing happy).

I thought perhaps there was a logical reason for doing the entire edge and I didn't know it.  I think I'll just keep doing as I am. 

Thanks for the info.

psichick78 Oct 4, 2005

I'm with you Shantell. NO offence to anyone.
But I do think I'm going to buy stock in fray check!!  :rolleyes:
Heather