Aprons are back in a big way! Not only are they practical when it comes to staying clean and dry in the kitchen, doing housework, even giving your kids a bath, they’re hot! I mean have you seen all the flirty aprons out there?
This is my favorite apron because it’s the only one I have.
(Hey, this picture isn’t bad when you consider my four yr. old took it.) I love my apron because it’s pink, it’s pretty and it’s made out of oil cloth. The oil cloth wipes clean, and water and splatters don’t soak through.
I wouldn’t mind having a sexy apron like this from Carolyn’s Kitchen though.
Comfort Joy Designs is giving one away. Head on over to enter and win.
David has been bugging me to make an apron for him ever since I started my apron project back in – well – September and it’s – ahem- still not quite finished yet.
Anyway, I found this sew easy (pun intended) kid’s apron tutorial online last night after he asked me again for an apron.
It took me less than 2 hours to make the apron. And at least 30 minutes of that was spent trying to remember how to wind the bobbin on my infrequently used sewing machine. I also had a lot of interruptions, like having to explain to David about a million times why he shouldn’t put his fingers near the rapidly moving needle. So someone who knew what they were doing, and didn’t have a curious child to fend off, could make this in less than an hour easily.
Granted it’s completely imperfect and would not win any big purple ribbons at the 4-H fair, but David thinks it’s fantastic. And he thinks I’m fantastic because I made it for him. That’s all the really counts!
Well, the project sat on the corner of my kitchen table for several days, but I finally got out my sewing machine and started putting it together.
No, I’m not sewing my own bikini. It’s the beginnings of an apron. There are all these great blogs dedicated to the pursuit of cute and flirty aprons, The Apronista, Confessions of an Apron Queen, The Secret Stitch Club and many more. It looked so fun, and I wanted in on it.
Now, I read somewhere that an apron is a good, simple project for the beginner. But I think I went out and bought the most difficult apron pattern ever devised by man. I envisioned cutting out one large piece of fabric and maybe adding some ties and few embellishments.
As usual my lack of attention to detail (The reason there are so many typos in my posts. To think I once was an editor.) got the best of me. I didn’t study the pattern very well before I purchased it. I just thought the pictures on the front were pretty. When I got the pattern home I discovered that these aprons were rather complex with all sorts of bands, and trims, and a myriad of other little pieces. They’re more like dresses with out backs.
As you can see, I’ve managed to get something together that resembles the top. The trim on one side is wider than the other, because I didn’t fully understand the directions when I began the execution. Hmm, it looks better in the photo than up close.
I also forgot to change the thread in my sewing machine from white to black initially. I know, amateur mistake. Look, I still have to read the diagram on the machine every time to remember how to thread it.
Well, do you know how I took care of that white thread?
Black Sharpie.
Yep.
I colored over the white stitching with a permanent marker.
Oh, yeah!
I am so resourceful.
The ties were my next dilemma. I sewed two inside out, then I was supposed to turn them so the seams were on the inside. The stinkin’ things are so narrow, it was almost impossible to turn them. After 10 minutes of trying, I found some polka dot ribbon scraps I had, and used those. I just just have no patience for things like that.
I have to say as bad as I am at sewing, I’m having fun, and already thinking about what to make next.
After I finish this.
Next year sometime.
I found this apron at a thrift store. I’m not sure how vintage this is. The tag said it was old and collectible, and it only cost $3, so I figured why not? I thought at first it was homemade on a sewing machine, but taking a closer look I think it was factory made. I thought one of you might have an idea of how old it really is. Anybody have an idea?
Visit Confessions of an Apron Queen for more Vintage Thingies!
