Vintage Apron

I had about a yard and a half of fabric leftover from the tie dyed bridesmaid dress and I was just dying to make something else with it. I thought an apron for the bride would be just the thing. After all I knew she would like it because she picked out the fabric.

I wanted to try one of my latest finds from the auction; this 1955 apron pattern. Aren't they all so cute. Each one only uses one yard of fabric even 35" or 36" fabric which was common in the 50's. My fabric was 45" and tie dyed which makes this project span a few decades. For some reason that makes me smile.

The apron itself was not an easy project as you would think an apron would be. The bias binding around the pockets and the top edge gave me fits. I am not that happy with the way it turned out but hey it is just an apron so all is good. The pattern had some tricky design details that I had to redo a few times. The picture looks like a simple design but the gathers at the side and the dart and the contrast waistband were more complicated than they appear. But I think it turned out nice overall. It is a good thing the person I made it for is quite small because this apron is tiny. The pattern claims one size but people must have all been tiny in the 50's or only tiny people wore aprons. That's why I modeled it on my mannequin. I would like to try the other two aprons in the pattern maybe I can figure out a way to enlarge them a bit as I don't have that tiny of a waist. Or I could just wait for Simplicity to reprint the pattern for different sizes.

Brides Apron

http://sewingwiththesparrows.blogspot.com/2012/05/camouflaged-apron.html

So after deciding to make the camo apron for the groom I had to come up with something suitable for the bride. While I didn't want to make the bride a camouflaged apron, I did want it to kind of go together. I wanted hers to be more feminine but still in keeping with the nature theme. So I picked out this flower twill that has been in my stash so long I can't remember where it came from. The large eyelet ruffle was something that was given to me and the small eyelet ruffles around the pockets I have had in my stash for a very long time too. I used the same ripstop cotton in olive that I used on the grooms apron. I think using that same fabric on both aprons is just enough to coordinate them. His being tough and manly and hers pretty and girly.

This was a retro pattern from 1979. It is Simplicity 9209 and I made view 1. This pattern came from a box won at the auction. I am getting quite a collection of old apron patterns. This one took a bit longer to make than I anticipated. But still it was pretty easy to sew together. It was more time consuming because of all the bias trim around every edge. The pattern called for premade bias trim but I wanted to used the olive fabric to match the grooms apron. His had only a bit of bias used as ties and to finish the sides. But I already had some bias strips left over from cutting his out. I pretty much followed the pattern exactly except for making my own bias trim. I think it turned out adorable. I hope they will use their aprons and have fun cooking together.

Camouflaged Apron

I needed a wedding gift for some friends. They are a couple who have already established two homes and now merging into one home. So they really don't need the traditional wedding gifts. But I wanted to make then something personal. The man loves to be in the woods and wear camouflage clothes. Even a lot of his every day clothes are camo prints. They even talked about using that color scheme in their wedding. So for him I decided to make a camouflage barbecue apron. I am making her a more feminine apron with flowers and ruffles.

I used a McCall's patterns 2947. I got the patterns in one of the boxes of stuff I won at the auction. It was printed in 2000 so I am not sure if it is still in print. I used view H which is a very simple style of apron. Very easy to make. The fabric I used came from JoAnn Fabric it is a tree print camo. It wasn't in the clearance section nor was it on sale but I was able to use a coupon. The olive ripstop cotton I used for the pocket and the trim ties was from the clearance section and of course I bought it when the clearance was 50% off. The only changes I made to the pattern was to make the apron about 3 inches longer because the groom is very tall. I hope he likes it!

Ham Apron

I have been attending an auction most Thursday nights. They seem to have all kinds of things up for bid that I never knew I needed. Well a few weeks ago I won this stack of various fabric items such as feed sacks and money bags. Even a couple of vintage aprons. There were several fabric sacks that country hams come packaged in.

When I got my newly acquired goodies home those ham sacks were telling me they wanted to be an apron. My first thought was to sew two of them together down the folded edge because they already had that rounded shape for the hem of an apron. The fabric is rather thin even when doubled and I wanted a bit more body and durability. So I decided to cut off the serged edge and open the bag flat. I went through my stash and found what I needed to line the apron with and that cotton sateen gave it the weight it needed.

I wanted to used some ruffled lace and some trim to tie everything together. The burgundy cotton and the black and cream gingham worked well with the labels on the ham sack. And I had enough to do what I had in mind. Yay!! I used one entire ham sack for the skirt of the apron. For the bib I just cut out the name side of the bag. I like aprons with bibs as I need full coverage. I know that I will not limit my messes to just the bottom half. I am really happy with the way this apron turned out. I had a general idea of what I wanted and then I kind of adapted my idea to use what I had on hand. I love the results.

Fat Quarter Apron

Several months ago I was the winner of these Fat Quarters from Miss Sews-It-All.
Don't all the colors coordinate nicely? I felt like I should put these to good use as soon as I could because Miss Sews was having the contest in an effort to get rid of some of her stash. So I didn't feel right about just adding it to my stash.

I started looking through my patterns and books to find a good project for these pieces.
I also needed a gift for a friend. I found the perfect pattern in my book Small Stash Sewing by Melissa Averinos. Apron For All used three fat quarters and a half yard of coordinating fabric. Since I only had five fat quarters and no 1/2 yard pieces I thought I could adapt the pattern to use all my fat quarters. I only had to buy some bias binding to match. I was able to make the apron using almost every scrap of the five fat quarters. I think I have enough left over to piece together the top of a pot holder. I had to adjust the size of the straps to make everything fit.

I like the way she suggest making the seams. They are sort of like french seams, they are sewn wrong sides together first and then the bias binding is sewn over the top so everything is enclosed. It is very easy to do and the finish is really nice with no exposed raw seams edges. The pattern was easy to follow with very clear instructions. I think every project in the book is very straightforward and easily accomplished.


L"/>

Butterfly Apron

Today I finished my Butterfly Apron from Crochet Adorned . I crocheted the butterfly pocket and the trim yesterday and sewed up the apron today. The directions for the apron are included in the book. It is really a basic gathered half apron so it was a quick project to sew.

I had picked out the main fabric from my stash because I liked it with the pink thread I used for the crochet. So after making the butterfly and the trim I needed to find something in my stash to use for the contrast waistband and lower band. Even though I have a huge stash it proved to be difficult to find anything that looked good with this fabric and trim.

You may ask why didn't I just go out and buy something. Well I joined





Stashbusting September at T-Shirt Diaries.




So I am not allowed to buy any new fabric or craft supplies. After rooting through several bins of unorganized fabric nothing was really looking even remotely right with what I had picked out so far. Finally I found this black and ivory gingham and I thought it gave the apron just the right vintage feel and contrast. I was thinking about giving this as a gift but once it is finished I want to keep it for myself. Maybe I will just make another one for a gift.

I am going to enter this project in the Craft Book Month Linky

Party. I might win some more goodies to add to my stash. I think that is allowed since winning isn't buying anything.

Ruffle Apron

I have been hearing about Hobby Lobby for a long time now. There has never been one near me. Well about a month ago they opened one in a town about an hours drive from me. So my friend and I went to check out the grand opening. This is my kind of store. I picked up a few things that I didn't know I needed until I saw it.

One thing I purchased was the book Crochet Adorned. I have been eyeing this book for quite some time. It is full of crocheted embellishment for clothing accessories and household item. I have already started a project from the book the Butterfly Apron.

Maybe you can tell I like aprons because one of the other things I picked up was a kit for making an apron. It was a fabric panel for a ruffled apron. It was very easy to sew up. All I had to do was cut out the pieces, hem the edges and attach the waistband and ties. A quick and easy project. This apron has another thing in common with the project from the book. Another favorite of mine butterflies. The very top fabric on this ruffled apron has butterflies on it. And the project from the book is an apron with a crocheted butterfly for a pocket. Both are fun projects. And I think this little ruffled apron will become a gift.

My Swap Apron Arrived

It has been a while since I have been able to post a blog. I received my apron from The Super Simple Apron Swap. My partner sent an adorable apron with one of my favorite themes (cupcakes). She also sent a couple of extras, some dish scrubbies and a bar of lovely homemade soap. I have participated in several apron swaps and all were such fun and I received some nice aprons. I have really started wearing aprons around the house for cooking and cleaning and sometimes for just eating. I tend to be a messy eater too. I want to wear an apron to protect my clothes but at the same time I don't want to mess up my pretty apron. I guess I need to make some out of leather or something practical. I wore one of my older aprons the other month for making funnel cakes at a local fair and it got really yucky from all the oil splatters. My clothes stayed nice but my apron wouldn't come clean. Oh well I guess that is what aprons are for.

Apron Swap

I joined an Apron Swap on Craftster. I finished an adorable apron for my partner today. I am not sure if she reads my blog or not. I don't want to post a picture yet just in case. However I made another apron using the same pattern different view. I used Butterick 5474. For fabric I upcycled a couple of denim jumpers I purchased at the thrift shop for $2.00 each. I adapted the pattern from view A.

Since one of the jumpers had this cute birdhouse applique I knew I wanted to use it for the bib of my apron. The fringe fabric around the applique inspired the fringed binding. So instead of binding the edge with bias tape as the pattern suggested I cut 2 inch wide fabric strips and attached them around the unfinished edge of the apron. Then I sewed the jumbo chenille Ric-rac down the middle. Then I clipped the both edges of the strip at intervals about 1/2 inch apart. After attaching the pockets which came from the lower band on the jumper I threw the apron into the washing machine. The washing and drying helped to make the fabric fringe and ravel which was the look I was going for.

When I saw these jumpers in the thrift store I knew I was going to use them for another project. The birdhouse jumper said apron to me. Once I decided what I wanted to make I had to finish it right away because I was anxious to see the results. It was a quick project and I love the results. Even though I was in the apron swap on Craftster I didn't think this apron was my partners style. I wanted to make her one with new fabric. Actually her apron is made from free fabric that friends had given me. When people know that sew I they often clean out their closets and offer fabric to me. I usually take whatever is offered and give away what I don't want. It is all good.

Cupcake Apron

I thought I would show another one of the projects I did for my latest swap. I decided to make my partner an apron. She said she would wear one if she had one. And I love making aprons. An apron is a garment you can use all those fun novelty prints with and no one is going to laugh at you for wear something with huge cupcakes all over.

I had all the fabrics already in my stash. I used Aunt Emma's Apron Pattern from Indygo Junction. I liked the hanging pockets in this version. My partner collected vintage handkerchiefs so I thought she would like the half handkerchief I added to the bib. Mine is not really vintage but it does have a vintage feel to it. A while ago I found handkerchiefs at the Dollar Tree a package of 3 for $1.00. I picked up a few packages and have been looking for more ever since. I have never seen them again. They are perfect for craft projects. I usually don't like to cut up any of my vintage handkerchiefs. I used some others for some tea towels I made. For some reason my camera did not save the pictures I took of those. I will have to wait until my partner post her pictures in the gallery to show them here. I really loved the way the towels turned out so I do think I will make myself some. In fact I already have some started.

Tiny Aprons

I haven't posted in about a month and I am not sure if anyone noticed except my friend Mary. She has told me that she wanted me to post something new.

Mary made me these tiny aprons as a thank you gift. She picked up these bottles at a secondhand store. I don't remember if they are Aunt Jemima or Mrs Butterworth. But they sure are adorable. The small one is my hand soap bottle. I love these tiny aprons and they are even reversable.

Mary had to adapt the pattern a bit because Mrs Butterworth was a bit plump for some of the aprons. But the three of them have been proudly keeping watch over my kitchen. And they love their adorable aprons. I love them too and the good friend who gave them to me.

A Silk Apron

I made this apron today from my stash fabric. I just love it. I got the silk fabric for free from a friend who works in a drapery workroom. I probably wouldn't have made an apron out of this pricey silk fabric but it was scraps that would have been thrown away. The lace around the edge of the skirt is some vintage lace that a friend gave to me. It looks like it was cut off a garment or something it already had sort of a rounded shape. So it worked well around the rounded edge of my apron skirt. The only thing I bought for this project was the doily topping on the skirt. I got that in a lot of embroidered and crocheted linens from Goodwill online.

http://www.shopgoodwill.com/

I joined a Cookbook-Scrapbook swap on http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=335316.0 . In this swap I have to make a cookbook-scrapbook with at least 10 recipes and send a purchased cookbook and craft a kitchen related item. I made this apron with the intentions of sending it to my swap partner. I think she is going to love it. She likes nature themes and sage green. That's why I picked out the leaf embroidered silk for the skirt. I think this is a fun and flirty apron and maybe a bit impractical. Although silk can be washed even when most care labels say to have it dry cleaned. I wash silk all the time. I just wash in cold water and hang to dry and I may have to iron it a bit. I like this apron so much I may have to make another one for myself. I have been enjoying making aprons lately but this is the first one I have made of silk and this is probably the fanciest one I have made too.

Using every scrap

I picked up this quilt pattern Off Your Rocker Wacky Log Cabin Quilt from Carolina Patchworks. I wanted to make a queen sized quilt which need 49 coordinating fat quarters. I had 2 collections in my stash one with 20 fats and the other with 24. My daughter gave them to me for Christmas. I just had to find a few more in my regular stash and I came up with 50 that went together well enough for the quilt. I really don't do very much quilting but I like these stack and whack quilts because they go together relatively quickly for a quilt. I also love the idea that this was wacky and nothing had to be precise and it had a nice scrappy look to it. Well the quilt top is finished I just have to decide how to quilt it and finish it.
Since the quilt used 18 inch squares and fat quarters are usually 18" X 22" I had fifty 3 to 4 inch strips left over plus all the pieces I trimmed while making the quilt top. I was determined to use every scrap so here is what I came up with. First I used the trimming to stuff a pin cushion. I thought this worked well because it made the pin cushion weigh more than with just fiberfill. I like a weightier pin cushion.

First I made an apron that used 24 of the strips for the skirt and 4 more for the waistband and ties. I cut wedges about 3 inches on the bottom and 1 1/2 inch on the top to make the skirt flair out a bit. I lined it with some fabric left over from another project. I love the way it turned out even though I prefer an apron with a bib too because well I just need more coverage.

















To use up the rest of the strips I made 2 pillows. The round one used half of 16 strips and some more of the leftover brown fabric I used to line my apron. Lastly I used the rest of the strips to make the rectangle pillow. Now all I have to do is finish the quilt and use it and the pillows on my bed. The apron will be used in the kitchen as I haven't yet found a use for an apron in the bedroom.