Thursday Things

Since I have been under the weather all week I have not been able to sew. I have however done some digging in my sewing room. I discovered a few dish rags I knitted this winter. I knit in winter when it is too cold to go out and do other things.

I knit when I need quiet and prayer time too. There is something calming about picking up the needles and a skein of pretty yarn and just letting my heart talk to God while the needles do their work.

I was told I should put these on Etsy too. So I took pictures. They are very cheery. 

 

I have small hands and while sometimes I want a big dish rag some times I want a smaller one, easier to control too. They measure 5in x 5in. They take a shorter time to knit and less yarn too. I only use sugar and cream yarn for these. I do intend to make some bigger ones too, once I have more empty time on my needles!

I hope you like these!

Keeps sewin' (er knitting?) y'all!

Friday Finish!

Well this week I did not get much sewing done. Today I finally finished this LHOP apron. I loved this material, seriously it is too cute. Though the wobbly lines did not make it easy!

We began with this:

Iron Iron Iron:

Pin Pin Pin:

Sew Sew Sew:

Tada!

 The mistake:

Actually it is not really a mistake. I wanted to be certain the ties and straps were sewn in good and tight. It just showed up badly on this one spot, but is hidden well among the gathers!

Now from prior experience with this style I learned you need a button or something on the straps to hold them up. So I went with a big red button and a sewn loop.

I think the next time I do a LHOP apron I need to find some way to contrast the fabric. One so my eyes don't go buggy again and 2 because I think it would look better.

I have tons of lace and such, it is just deciding what lace is sweet but not too fancy to use on an apron.

3 Aprons done and ready to get final pictures for the Etsy store! I may actually get it open tomorrow!

Keep on Sewin' y'all

Fun Friday: Altered Apron

Well I did not get any serious sewing done today. I really should have. However my brain just could not handle it. My Beloved was ill last night. A call to his Dr resulted in reduced medications and he was ok this morning. Still I spent a sleepless night expecting to take him to the ER.

Once he was safely fed and off to work I laid back down and slept for... 5 hours! I never do that!

Then I had to tussle with my sewing machine, Baby, which I LOVE but she did not want her new needle put in. I guess she was tired after yesterday's apron and mending too.

Finally after about 30 minutes of fussing the new needle was installed and threaded. By then my brain needed something fun and quick and so an altered apron was born.

I do not know if you are like me or not. I always have too much stuff I want to keep next to my living room chair. To the point where I recently downsized my table from a 2 shelved rectangle to a small no shelf square. Just enough space for my lamp, tissue, note pad, Bibles and a drink. Some days that works, others not so much. What do I do with the magazines? What if the kitties knock over my drink on my Bibles?? Such great problems needed a solution.

Here dear ladies is that solution.

You will need

1 pocketed 1/2 apron

scissors

safety pins

some method of sewing

and a wooden dowel about 12 inches long.

This is my beginning:

The apron was made for me by a dear friend, but as you already know I just don't do 1/2 aprons. I also have very limited storage space. So if I am to keep it it must have another use. 

 

Cut cut cut:

Pin Pin Pin:

Sew sew sew:

Now to put it in place

Slide the dowel end between the cushion and the arm:

Hang it over the side:

Put the cushion back:

Fill it with things you do not have space for on your tiny square table. 

 

In my case I have a Country Living Magazine (new one!) Penzey's Spice catalog and one of my Bibles. I also put my back scratcher in there.

I hope you enjoyed this diversion!

Keep Sewing y'all!

Retro Style Apron

This finish was harder for me. Mainly because I began this one over a year ago and it has been sitting partly sewn in my to make basket since then. Things I thought were ok then, kind of pester me now! LOL

I like this one for its full coverage. It is almost a jumper! One thing I have decided is that any new aprons that have the facing will also have material to cover it. I am just not giddy with the facing.

Here I go again:

Iron the rumpled pieces

Sew some seams

Oops broke the thread! I really dislike those nicks they put on the thread spools. When hand sewing they are ok but when one stops your thread when you are machine sewing everything goes all wonky!

Get the magnifier out for rethreading...

Ok off again sew sew sew

Place the pockets

Pin the bodice

The facing I am not giddy about:

The collar I am not really sure about either

The skirt

Tada! I will get some pics of a person in the aprons this weekend.

Keep on Sewing y'all!

Another one finished!

This one is actually going to be for sale. It is a pretty blue one.

All I need to finish is making the magnets. These are the ones I have chosen:

Pretty aren't they? These are vintage buttons from about 15 to 20 years ago. Made in Italy even! (Sounds fancy doesn't it??)

This one had odd pockets I almost put them on upside down... You will notice they are set differently in the piecing picture and the final picture...

What do you think?

Iron:

Measuring the pockets to get them even:

 

Tada!

Keep on sewin' y'all!

Construction of a Magnetic Apron

When I begin an apron even though I know how it will look in the end, I am always excited to see it happen!

My aprons are all one of a kind creations. Each will have it's own quirks, and none will be perfect! I will reuse a pattern, but no two will be alike. Usually because I only have enough fabric to make 1 apron. I get my fabric from the usual sources, Hobby Lobby, Hancocks and walmart. It just depends on what floats my boat when I see it. I also use unusual sources for fabric. Tag sales, Thrifts, my friends! So when I make an apron it is something different, special because no one will have one exactly like it. That is what makes it fun to sew them!

This apron was made specifically with my dear friend Gina in mind. Her fave color is aqua. I did not envision a solid color apron for her though. Hers needed to be fun and a touch funky. This material has been in my stash (my stash will keep me in business for at least 3 months even if I do not buy any more fabric!)for quite awhile awaiting my inspiration.

I decided to make her a prototype of my magnetic apron. The purpose of the magnetic apron is it is strapless. I do this so that ladies who want a full bib apron but are like me, detesting straps around the neck, can have the best of both worlds. Also, I liked the style of the buttoned aprons from the 40's. However I do not think ladies today would be willing to sew buttons to their blouses for the apron!

I also work hard to make sure there is no unraveling of the fabric. I fold it over twice, and iron the fold to make sewing it easier.

So here are the pics!

The fabric and ties:

Ironing the ties:

The ties are salvaged from this altered apron project

Sewing the pocket:

Pinning:

Ironing the seams:

Sew Sew Sew:

Picking out the perfect buttons:

Making the buttons into magnets:

Tada!

What I felt like afterwards:

There you have it, how I make this particular style of apron.

I will take pics of each apron I make, both for sale and for my own personal collection!

Keep on Sewin' y'all!