apron

adult's clothing, apron, aprons, craft, sewing

Rachael’s Apron

Happy 40th Birthday Rachael (even though it was about two weeks ago).  Your apron is finally finished.  Because I altered the pattern to make it reversible, there are two fronts.  Here’s one:

and the other:

The purple fabric was bought last year some time from GJs Discount Fabrics in Brunswick, and the green from Spotlight a couple of years ago.  Once again, thank goodness for the stash!  The pattern is McCalls 2811, view A.

It’s an interesting design – there are no ties to fasten it; it simply wraps around and the weight of the fabric combined with the three armholes (one arm goes through two armholes) seems to keep it in place.  Here’s a view of the back.

Rachael put it on when she received it; because she is tall the design works really nicely on her!  Yay, success!

by thornberry
apron, aprons, bags, craft, planned projects, sewing

A whole lot of planning and not much doing

Three of my close friends have just had their birthday.  All of them are still waiting on their gifts.  At least I have thought about what I’ll make, even if I haven’t started yet!  For Belinda:

A bag in Amy Butler “Nigella” fabric, using Jodie at Ric-Rac’s excellent one hour bag tutorial (although I do suspect that it is going to take me a little longer than one hour to make).  For Rachael:

A reversible apron (I’m doing view A).  I asked Rachael what she’d like me to make her, and she really, really wanted an apron!  It’s so sweet to see someone so excited about an apron.  And for Di:

Um, a bag.  No pattern or fabric to show you yet.  I’m about to test sew a pattern of Nikki’s,  but haven’t chosen the fabric.  It shouldn’t be too hard with my stash!  And finally:

A messenger bag, for, um, me.  Once I finish sewing all the gifts.  The fabrics (other than the denim) are vintage. 

by thornberry
apron, aprons, bags, craft, patterns, planned projects, sewing, tutorials

More patterns

I won another bag pattern!  This one is from the lovely Tania at Jet Designs.  She also runs Jet Music & Books, which is where I’ve bought my Melly & Me patterns.

Thanks so much Tania!  She is running another bag pattern giveaway on her blog at the moment, so head over and leave a comment to be in the running.

These patterns arrived last week from Montessori by hand.

I have read through the bag instructions, and they appear to be comprehensive and easy to follow, with plenty of photo to help.  It includes full sized pattern pieces (I prefer this when I buy a pattern) and seems to have been well tested – the bag materials list includes good interfacings and structure.  I’m really looking forward to making both patterns.  Have you gathered that I have a bit of a pattern obsession/collection?  And at the moment many of them are bag patterns!

I did make this doorstop the other day, using the tutorial from Oh, Fransson!

This is the quick and easy version – no nine-patch, no quilting – mainly because I really needed a doorstop!  I love these ones filled with beans/rice/wheat, because they don’t hurt if you stub your toe on them and because Stella can’t hurt herself playing with them.  And they look good!  The feature fabric is a bit of Amy Butler Nigella fabric.

by thornberry
apron, aprons, baby, children's clothing, craft, kids clothing, sewing

Bevy of bibs

More Christmas presents completed.  Yay!  A bevy of bibs!  Warning: there are lots of photos in this blog post!  From the front:

And the back:

These are all from a fantastic free pattern and tutorial from Nicole Mallalieu Design – the Fabulous Fifties bib.  I used fabric from my stash, backed with either flannelette or towelling (both also from my stash from when I made fitted nappies for Clare).  They’re all bound in bias binding, some bought and some I made myself.  (Don’t look too closely though – I ran out of bias for one of the bibs so it isn’t quite finished yet – on my to-do list for tomorrow).  The pattern also has the option for a front pocket.  I like this style because of the coverage it provides – and because it’s cute!

And for some close-ups of the front and back:

Four are for gifts; the others will be for Miss Stella.  We asked her to choose which she’d like.

Wow, look at all these bibs!  Which would I like?  Hmmmm

I think that this one looks good!

Yes, I’ll have this one please!

by thornberry
adult's clothing, apron, craft, sewing

Tie one on – Local Pride

Here is my submission to the July/August Tie One On apron collection – the theme is Local Pride!

And in close-up:

Local pride?  Although it may at first seem a little obscure – remember, I’m from Melbourne, Australia.  Where the predominate choice of colour for clothing is black.  Therefore, a black apron!  Made from stretch suede with cornelli fabric edging.  No proper pattern used, but guidance obtained from Amy Butler’s book In Stitches.  

by thornberry
apron, books, craft, miscellaneous, planned projects, sewing

Sewing inspiration

How could I possibly have forgotten to post about my newly arrived sewing inspiration?

Thank goodness for Amazon!  Even with the cost of postage, these were WAY cheaper to buy via Amazon and have shipped to Australia than to buy here (I’ve seen some of these books here for about double what I paid, even including the postage).

I am very excited and pleased with all of them!  Some are quite simple, which is nice when wanting a quick project, with others more challenging.  There are some particularly lovely patterns in the Amy Butler book In Stitches.   Sewing with Fabulous Vintage Fabrics is highly inspirational, and a great way of getting ideas for a person like me who is technically creative but bereft of imagination! 

My main problem now is one of overwhelming options!  So many projects, which to choose?  And which am I likely to have time for?  Maybe I can incorporate one with the latest Tie one on apron theme – Local Pride.

by thornberry
adult's clothing, apron, aprons, craft, patterns, sewing

Seamstress aprons

While waiting for Miss Stella to arrive, I completed a couple of seamstress aprons.  They are from a terrific pattern bought from Craftapple.  I sewed one for Mum (modelled here by hubby):

and one for me:

Both are in Ikea fabric from the stash.  They should come in handy for those little projects that don’t need to keep me at the sewing machine, but where I need to keep my tools nearby.

by thornberry