Bonnie’s Aprons

My friend Bonnie was sweet enough to let me borrow two aprons that her mother made and wore so that I could make patterns of them.

I love the fabric she used!

After I made the patterns, I made a sample one out of this funky fabric that I got from a grange here in town. It always reminds me of a costume from a cheesy high school production of “Man of La Mancha”. :o)

Then I made another one out of a cute vintage-looking print. It’s a very comfy apron to wear and I love the flow-y style!

The second one I love in the black and white gingham! It’s perfect for those of us who wipe our floury hands on our behind while we bake… LOL I also like the two big pockets that make it a great work apron, too!

   front

back

Sewing Time

Today I decided to finish up a couple of aprons I started on Saturday and then I made a few new things, too… It was a fun to spend a little time sewing and creating today!

these two clothespin bags I made on Saturday out of a quilt I couldn’t motivate myself to finish

this clothespin bag I made out of a baby shirt I got from “the Bins”

I had barely started on these appliquéd tea towel aprons but finished them today (I love the way they turned out!)

I made this one today out of some hot pepper fabric I have had for YEARS…

 

I sewed up a few of these catch-all boxes and realized that it might be the perfect project for some retro hankies my sister-in-law gave me a couple of years ago…

it was!!!

the left-over box fabric got turned into a little pouch to put into my purse

More Jeans Aprons

I made a couple more jeans aprons today. They are really pretty quick and easy and are a great way to use up all those old jeans that often get holes in one knee!

this one has three pleated tomato pockets

I love the print on the pockets! I’m thinking about adding buttons…

Perfect Pocket Apron

I think I finally found the perfect apron pocket. As much as I love the pleated pockets on my last apron, they were a little more difficult and take quite a long piece of fabric.

My hope was to design a deep, squared pocket that was easy to do and didn’t take too much fabric. After some thought and experimenting, I think I found it…

The apron is make out of one leg from an old pair of jeans. A bit of cutting, some binding for the edges, a neckband and some ties… and it’s done.

One fat quarter and some trim fabric was all I needed for both lined pockets! 

 

Yup, I think this one is just right!!!

Laundry Apron

I used to have a wonderful apron that my mom gave me that had really deep pockets. It was for holding clothespins while hanging laundry. I used it so much that it fell apart. I made a replacement last year, but it just wasn’t the same. So this year I tried again, and was successful!

Again,a Dollar Tree kitchen towel and some scrap fabric came together to make a really great pleated, 3-pocket apron! I like it so much I am gonna try to make a full apron with two pockets at the bottom for working in the yard. I thought it would be perfect for wearing out to work in the garden (there’s always something to pick and bring in during the summer) or for gathering eggs. I can’t wait to get another one done!

Dish Towel Apron

Here are the steps on how to make a really quick and easy apron from a dish towel…

1. Iron the dish towel. Fold down the corners so that you have the top of your apron. Pin down the corners and hold it up to see if the size is right.

2. When you have it just the way you want it, press the corners down. Then sew them with a 1/4” seam allowance from the folded edge.

3. Cut off the excess material from the flaps about 1/4” from the seam. Use pinking shears if you have them.

4. Attach your straps (make sure they are the length you want before you sew them on) on the back of your apron right where the bottom of your corner was. Be sure to go over it a few times to make sure it is secure.

5. Now attach your neck strap. Pin it on and make sure you can get it over your head and that you like the length before you sew it on. You can do it to the back or to the front of the apron. Again, be sure to go back and forth a few times to secure it well.

   this one is fastened on the back

this one is fastened to the front and then accented with wooden buttons

6. Embellishments are next… If you want to, you can attach pockets, ribbon, ric-rack, buttons, whatever you would like. Or you can do nothing at all.

one pocket with ribbon accent

 

two pockets with ric-rack accents

7. Now you’re done! Enjoy your new apron and clean pants… :o)

My Winter Apron

I decided I couldn’t cook any more without an apron. Not only does it keep my pants clean (yes, I do wipe them off on my pants while cooking), but it looks so cute!

I had lots of cooking to do today and I stayed really clean!!! It was so easy to do and only took a Dollar Tree dish towel and about 30 minutes. Oh, and also a piece of ribbon from a Christmas present wrapping and a piece of flannel.

Now I have to make my summer apron with the other towel…

Clothespin Apron

When you hang laundry it's nice to have the clothespins handy. A few years ago my mom bought me this nifty clothespin apron. But after much use, it was beginning to look a little ragged.

Sonja sent me a link to a blog with a cute pattern for a clothespin apron. I was inspired! So I took a bit of scrap fabric and made my own. It's not exactly like the pattern, but it only took me an hour to throw together and it works! I hung an entire load of laundry just this morning in nothin' flat!

that's the very cute, but not so handy, clothespin bag I made while we lived in MN

hanging on the wall behind me

Now I am picking out fabrics for my next apron...