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!

My work area.

Welcome to my office/sewing room.

I still have a bit of work to do to get it just right. However to do that I need to invent more storage options for the closet! LOL what I have is obviously inadequate!

As we walk into the door we see the desk with most of my books. This is where I do my writing, bill paying, planning, and some designing. I also do my craft stuff that does not involve sewing here, like making the button magnets for my magnetic aprons. The loose buttons are in the antique sewing basket and the carded ones are in the plastic tote. I get buttons new and used, always looking for something cool or fun!

Yes I really do run 2 pcs at the same time. Sometimes one is helping me research while the other is a chat or searches or music and so forth. The laptop really lives in the living room so I can compute while Beloved and I watch Tv. For the 2 years we had the kids living here it was my only pc. The desktop is a recent thing, built from cast offs of the kids updated computers. It has most of my genealogy and such on it, though I guess I ought to put it on the lap top as well...

Above the books and laptop you can see my toy collection. Well part of it anyway. I LOVE raggedies! Some Barbies are cool too and the big doll is a Baby Crissy from the 70's. My goal some day (when time permits) is to get her new hair and make her a new outfit. I want one to match that sweet bonnet she has!

Behind the desk you can see the "black out" curtains I made to keep heat and light out of the room. I dislike the need for them but the lamps make less heat than the 103 days we often have here! My hope is they are also heavy enough to block cold winds out in winter!

Looking to the left you see my antique rocker. I LOVE this chair. It is old and comfy and the perfect place to read and pray. Please note the stack of "to be read" books on the top shelf! Below that are 1 set of my LHOP (I have 3, 2 are vintage and delicate so I got a newer set to actually read!) and my Anne Books, ones I reread quite often! Notice the quilted flag hanging up? My friend Kristi made that for me and I adore it!

Next we see the other ugly window. I do not have a curtain rod for it yet. So sadly the black out material and the curtain are just stapled up for now. This window is where the sun comes directly in. Some day there will be a trellis with roses outside it to help block that blazing sun! Under the window sits Elvis. Elvis is an albino orangutan Beloved got me one Christmas. I adore him.

Next we see Kenny, he is for now my staging area, where I iron small bits and pin things. Kenny is a 1967 Kenmore in a really nice table. In the corner is White, a 1940's cast iron machine. White has been I think rewired. He boasts a knee pedal instead of a foot pedal. I have never used White, he so far has intimidated me! Add to that his table is falling a part I do not want to do much with him until I can find a decent replacement table. 

 

Next we see my pattern/thread/ and other sewing needs shelf. On top is my "Mel" doll. My friend Ella made that doll as close to resembling me as she could! It really fits who I am too! Next up is Baby, my new Brother machine. She is covered to protect her from dust and kitties. She worked hard this morning finishing curtains! Beloved bought Baby for me last year as a surprise valentines gift. I LOVE sewing on her she is so smooth! 

 

Next we see the drawers where I keep more sewing needs and other craft items. The book shelf holds most of my favorite series of books. MY Grace Livingston Hill collection is here, as are my Leisha Kelly, Maggie Sefton and Jan Karon. I love to read, as you can tell! Many of the books on the bottom 2 shelves, are a set that I have not read. They are called inspirational romance. I need a good quick read now and then and these so far fit the bill! On top is one of the nativities I collect. Beloved bought this one for me 2 Christmases ago, it depicts small children. Next to it is the video picture frame Chris (youngest son) sent me for Christmas when he lived in Washington state. A much as I like it, I am happier with him home in Texas!

As we turn towards the door we see my disorganized closet! The shelves hold books for sale, craft items and I forget what else! The totes are fabric in the bottom 2 and ribbons and laces and trims in the top one. On top of it all are the materials ready to go to my cutter when she is ready for them.

Well thanks for visiting! As I said it is still a work in progress but at least it is finally set up enough where I can get to work! I hope you come back soon and often!

Keep on Sewing y'all!