Tips for Sewing The Apron

Use a quilting ruler and rotary cutter to cut out straps or ties. I have a three inch wide ruler that is 24 inches long. It isn't hard to slide it up to cut out 30 inch ties.

For button hole and button areas on single fabric thickness items such as an apron, make a small reinforcement, add it on the corners, then bind around it. This photo shows the two layer reinforcement - it could be interfaced for additional structure - cut to match the back curve of the apron piece. I cut four, sewed two together at the bottom to have a neat edge, then applied it to the back of the area where a button and button hole would go.

Applying binding can be a pain. It is hard to make sure you pick up the small bottom ridge while sewing from the front. After sewing the binding on the front, I turned it and used the joining foot for my machine (it has a center metal ridge). I ran the ridge along the seam created by the binding, which caught the under ridge just perfectly - see the left side binding in the photo. I used white thread so you could see it clearly.

Copying an Existing Vintage Apron

As you saw in yesterday's post, I copied a favorite vintage apron for a friend. How I went about it is discussed below.

First, I cut the apron apart before I had this blog, so I didn't think about taking a photo. I simply cut the apron on the seamlines, cut the darts off on the seam lines, etc. These photos show the disassembled apron.

I used these pieces to make the pattern. I copied each onto a piece of Freezer Paper. I like Freezer Paper for this because it is strong. Simply trace around the piece (folding anything like the front piece in half), mark any darts (this one had a large dart down the front body, and two small darts in the neckline on each side), then add your seam allowances to the drawing. You will see the completed pattern in the following photos.

Use a ruler to check lines that need to be straight, a french curve or another appropriate sized curve (dinner plate, etc.) to check a curve. The photo below shows a pattern piece (in this case the front), on the fabric. You will see that in this situation I use pattern weights to hold the pattern down.


Then cut the pattern piece out. I used a rotary cutter and a ruler to cut out three aprons at once.

Fruitful Day of Sewing

Last week, we stayed home for Thanksgiving, with the idea that I would be able to sew all weekend and get some Christmas things done. This worked wonderfully for Tuesday night and all day Wednesday. For the first time in months, I finally had hours and hours to sew.

However, Thanksgiving morning, I woke feeling queasy. By 2:00 my temp was 101.2 and there was no way I was going anywhere but bed. Poor S had to get to the grocery just before it closed and got a rotisserie Turkey Breast. Well Fa La La La La. So much for the holiday and sewing.

But I want to share what I did get accomplished: two, yes two projects, involving three, yes THREE items. I have a third apron cut out, but not sewn as yet.

Items One and Two: Friend's Aprons (I made you as tall and skinny as I could!)

My friend J had S and I over for dinner a few weeks ago. She was poised at her sink with an old apron - boy you need a new one, I said. She said someone made it for her years ago and it is her favorite - despite the ripped sides, raggedy ties and un attached pockets. So when we left I scooped it up, and promised a new one.

Selecting the fabrics for someone else was incredibly difficult. The photos show the finished product, and a cameo of the other fabric. I selected a 1930's style daisy that looks nice and fresh, and a chicken pattern. Now in general I object to chickens on things - something about them I don't like. But this pattern appealed in some way.

J said for the purposes of the photo to share with you, the apron would look better on a hanger with the ties drawn to a petite 23 inch waist. Maybe so, maybe not. I insisted that she model the apron - and she insisted that I make has as tall and thin as possible!

I hope you liked these J. Tomorrow I will post directions for replicating the apron, and some sewing tips.

Project 2: Smaller Version of Large L2 Sewing Workshop Bag

I have some old bark cloth I bought a couple of years ago in/near Rowley, Massachusetts at a weekend Flea Market when I was visiting my friend H. I loved the old fabric - bright pink and green puff flowers on brown branches.

I've been wanting to make a purse with the fabric since I bought it. Well I took the L2 Bag pattern, reduced it by 60%, and made the bag. I like the way it looks, but that size decrease was too much. The smaller photo below shows the proportions to the original bag size. I might try again with a 40% reduction.

Here is something different I tried when making the handle. I used a plain fabric cut twice as wide as the webbing I covered. Fold and press so that the edges meet in the middle. Then I cut a piece of the main body fabric the same width as the webbing, then ironed a seam down both sides. This went in the middle of the strap and was sewn down. Then I took a piece of satin covered cording, set it along the side of the body fabric along the strap, and zig zagged with clear thread over the satin cording. This made a nice edging for the strap and the zig zag is a good pattern over it.

No Sewing This Weekend

No sewing this weekend - Steve and I kept the little ones. Boy, they can wear you out. But it is a good worn out.

So my sewing this weekend has been limited to washing fabric - four sets of flannel for pj's and cotton for my friend Joan's apron.

This week I will post how to copy the apron pattern and put it together.

Quilt with Easy Pattern at Antique Mall

Earlier this year, we took a short trip to northeasten Indiana. In an antique shop in Shipshewana, I found this lovely quilt hanging on the wall.

I liked the design so well, I had to take a photo. It is a simple design, with five leaf shapes appliqued, and a green stem appliqued on it. It thought others might be interested in it too.