Having some fun.

For the last couple weeks I have been in the dumps. I have no idea why just nothing appealed to me. I really dislike it when I get like that but hey, it happens so what do you do? Well if you are me you read... a LOT. Especially pioneer style books or Grace Livingston Hill books. You also listen to up beat hymns over and over and over again. Then one day, like today you wake up with a song on your lips and a bounce in your step and the urge to once again be creative.

I looked over the aprons I have made and decided to go for a bit of frill on this next one. This one became an experiment. I had a bland purple pattern cut already. So I dug into my stash of rick rack and laces and goodness knows what :

This is a 7 drawer chest. 6 of which are stuffed with rick rack and laces and who knows what all. There is more in the closet in a basket and in a box under the sewing table and... you get the idea.

This pile is what I began with:

Since this was an experiment and not up for sale I did it free hand and did not do all the ironing I do on ones for sale. I made a few mistakes in it too, probably because I did not preiron the seams.

Sew Sew Sew:

Tada:

This apron has the ties at the top, they cross over in the back and go through loops to tie at the waist. I have an apron in this style made for me by a sweet lady I have lost touch with. I love it but for 1 thing. It has no pockets. I need pockets. However I can never decide if I want deep or wide ones. (Great now that hymn is going through my head but I only know part of it! )

So on this apron I put one of each so I can see which I use most often.

I also used a combination of stitches, #1 and #3 on this.

For an extra bit of frill I added the vintage lace along the bottom. I know it is not real fancy but it satisfied my urge for a pretty apron. I got to sew and sing hymns and have a really happy morning!

What do you think?

Keep on sewin' y'all!

A very pretty finish!

I made this apron for my friend Roxy. She has 3 of the most adorable girls... so now I am thinking of doing a few trials in child sizes... 

I really loved the roses on this fabric. The color is just what a rose should be! As usual the seams are double folded for no fraying and the pockets are reinforced. 

Roxy told me yesterday that this apron has already stood a trial as she washed a stray kitty they found in their yard while wearing it!  

The beginning with an audience:

Iron Iron Iron...

                             

Sew Sew Sew...

Picking buttons...

Tada...

I am part of an apron group on yahoo. There are so many cool apron patterns out there! I want to make them all!

I am working on a schedule now that will give me a day each week to cut patterns, and then 3 days of sewing...

I also must begin planning and executing Christmas projects!

Keep on Sewin' y'all!

I am back.

I had another health scare with my Beloved but he is back on track now.

I have several aprons cut that I need to sew. Today however I decided to work on an idea that has been on my mind the last few days.

I read... a lot... and I enjoy fancy book marks. Some books like my Bibles have many places marked. You know certain scriptures just fill a need at any moment. Instead of turning pages to find them when needed I like to just open up to them.

I have a lot of scraps of this and that. I also have a ton of lace, binding and rick rack to find uses for.

So I began with this one fabric scrap in particular and decided I wanted a book mark out of it. I found a cool color to back it with and a lace I felt worked with the very busy pattern and away I went.

I began with this:

A Bit of fabric, some vintage feeling lace and a jean leg. 

Ironed:

Sewed:

And came up with this:

What do you think?

I have decided the jean material for the backing is too thick I think. It was hard to hold still going around the corners... I have 1 more bit of the busy fabric to use up and I have a different type of blue fabric I may try it with... 

Keep on sewin' ya'll!

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!