A fancier apron

You can probably guess this is no 'one yard' apron, LOL! (Click on my header, then scroll down for my clothespin apron post). Frankly, it took me forever to make this. The fault is more mine than the pattern--I am notorious for not reading instructions and proceeding on my own. This is not a good thing if something is totally foreign to you (even after 40 years of sewing). That zig-zaggy bottom was a pain in the neck. Silly me, I tried to sew it 'right sides together,' because that is what you usually do. No, in this case, you fold down the raw edge on the eyelet then lay it on top of the gingham. No twisting and turning necessary.

I like the back, although I'm not used to aprons that criss-cross like that. I have to figure out the straps when I put it on.

Oh, and that really is a Target bag on Sunny the Mannequin. I don't know what they cover dress forms with, but slipping things on and off of them is really difficult--too much traction. The plastic bag makes this easier.

I'm linking to "Sew Cute Tuesday" today:

http://thecreativeitchboutique.blogspot.com/2010/06/sew-cute-tuesday-60110.html

Go pay Misty a visit!

(BTW, this is my second post today. I also posted for "Tammy's Recipes" for "Kitchen Tip Tuesday.")

EDITED ON THURSDAY TO LINK TO:

"It's So Stinkin' Cute" Thursday

http://itssewstinkincute.blogspot.com

Check out the cuteness on Julie's blog!

Another One Hour Project

Here's another project from the "One Yard Wonders" book (by Yaker and Hoskins). It's called "Granny's Clothespin Apron." In my version, I used two different fabrics, but they do add up to about a yard. This fabric came from Joanne's and it was in the baby section. Brown with either pink or powder blue seems to be a color combo for bambinos these days--very stylishly cute!

This project went together very fast. Now all I have to do is wait for a sunny day to use it. I keep my clothespins in a bag Debbie J (see my sidebar) made for me, but the clothesline doesn't move so I keep having to go back for handfuls of pins. Now I can keep them in Debbie's bag but carry them in my apron.

I'm going to try to link up to some creative carnivals this week. Today I'm linking to "The Girl Creative" for her "Just Something I Whipped Up Monday."
http://thegirlcreative.blogspot.com/

I'm also linking to "Motivate Me Monday" over at "Keeping it Simple."
http://craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/

Edited to link to:

"Look What I Made" at Creations by Kara
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/05/look-what-i-made-day-9.html

"Creative Share" at Trendy Treehouse
http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/creative-share-blog-hop_25.html

St. Pat's Apron

Note from mom2fur: I'm so happy to report (thanks for the info, Nanci!) that Shereen is back with "Sew Crafty Friday." You can link there from my sidebar. I hope others will join in the fun, too--you don't have to sew, just be crafty!

One thing that's nice about being snowed in, with no obligation to go places, is you get time to finish something or other. My something or other is this St. Pat's apron. I have an apron I bought several years ago that is flattering on me. It's kind of scooped around the bottom, then it tapers up to the waistline. So I traced around it on this shamrock fabric. I left off a bottom ruffle, which is very pretty but more work than I wanted to do for something I'll only wear one month out of the year.
The binding around the color is bias tape I made myself. I got the idea from "Sewing with Nancy." You just line up strips of scrap fabric, sew them together, then cut them on the bias. If you have an apron you love that lays nice and flat (no gathers, I mean), you could also trace off a pattern from it.

I'm off in a little while to get my hair done--my husband pays for the whole thing every 6 weeks. Isn't he something?

Snow More, please

All right, I know it's still officially winter, but I've had enough of snow! We've got 10 inches on the ground today and it's still coming down.

Oh, well, at least I don't have to go anywhere. I've got banana bread baking in the oven and I'm working on a new apron for St. Patrick's Day. I was really happy when I was putting away Valentine's goodies that I found a box marked "Spring Fabric." Wahoo! Not only were there some pretty ones with flowers (like tulips) and some cheerful pastels, but I bought 3 yards of shamrock fabric on sale last year! I'm making a full apron and some potholders with it, and I'm sure there will be other projects. Don't you love it when you take out a box and find things you bought on sale a year ago, but forgot?

It's almost like a gift!

Hope everyone is warm and safe.

Must Be Santa Monday

It's time for "Must Be Santa Monday," so join already, will you? Don't tell me you don't have anything to post about Christmas!
http://bejollybygolly.blogspot.com/2008/12/must-be-santa-monday-12.html

When I saw this fabric, I couldn't resist. I had no idea what I planned to do with it, but then it hit me: a friend of mine (she won't see this--she doesn't read blogs) is a big fan of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

So I made her an apron. I had enough fabric left to make one for myself, too, although at the rate I'm going my own will be finished next year, LOL!

The bias binding is candy-cane striped, and I made it myself. Making binding is a pain, but it's so cute when you're done.

The apron is from the book "A is for Apron," and the pattern is "Lemon Meringue," sans pockets. I really do need to make something else from the book, but I like this pattern. It's easy and very flattering--no gathers at the waist!

BTW...the green blouse is my Christmas top, so far.

More news: I cashed in my quarters for an Amazon.com gift card via Coinstar. Can you believe I had over 250 quarters? With some other pocket change, I ended up with about $75. I've ordered a few things, and still have about $25 left to play with later. I took some items out of my cart because the shipping was so high, and stuck with 'eligible for free shipping' items only. I'm danged if I'm going to send someone $22 just to ship a few t-shirts!

The apron, continued

I did some more work on my apron. As you can see, I tucked a hand towel into the waistband. It just happens to be the right colors.
The only thing left to do is the sashes. I only had a half yard of the red and white fabric and a yard of the kitchen print. I don't have enough of either to make ties, so I'll probably use some brown ribbon, which picks up from the print. Then I might put a brown bow to match at the top of the towel...to 'tie it all together' (yes, I get the pun.)

I don't have a sewing tip today, but if I think of one I'll be back.