Week 19 Project

My Aunt Lois (who happens to also be my godmother) saw the apron I made for my mom, here, and commissioned me to make one for her daughter Mary.  I was more than happy to do this and really excited too. When I lived in Columbus, Mary, Jon, Maria, Mario, Maggie and I would meet up, at least once a week, for a meal... and like two or three times a week for ice cream! I had my own apartment, but Mary's house was my home in Columbus.
Making her an apron was fun. It was fun because I love her. It was fun because I can imagine her daughter Maria pretending in it...maybe I should make Ri one. It was fun because so many of our memories together involve laughs over a meal. Most importantly it was fun because not many of those memories involve her cooking! I love Mar, but she is a crazy busy active mom. She would much rather mow the grass, run the kids to the library in the stroller, bike to Giant Eagle for popsicles and wrestle in the living room, (seriously, like all of those things) than spend the night in the kitchen. At least that's what I saw. Her kids are never bored and I love her for it.

Anyway, back to the apron. I still haven't bought a pattern for anything I sew. I took a bit of what I did for my mom's apron and threw in some different ideas. My use of bias tape has gotten better and for whatever reason I was scared of cutting/sewing curved lines on my mom's apron so I did that this time and it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it might be.












For the life of me, I can't get this pic to save when I rotate it. I've tried like 8763ways and every time I upload it, its rotated. Do me a favor, tilt your head to the right. Thanks.

Mar's apron for Aunt Lo, Done.

Week 7 Project

            A few weeks before Christmas my mom hands me a newspaper clipping. Its a picture of the Obamas sitting around a table. Barak, Sasha, Malia and Grandma are sitting and Michelle is serving a turkey. My mom says "You know Laura, if you wanted to you could make me an apron for Christmas like the one Michelle is wearing in this picture." You know, if I wanted to.

  Now, this says nothing about my mother's political views, but it does say two things about her personality. 1. I wouldn't say my mom is trendy, but she is very much always on trend, if that makes any sense. Aprons are very much on trend these days. 2. For as long as I can remember (probably since grade school when I had to bring in a weekly newspaper clipping to school) mom has been notorious for clipping articles. She sent them to me in college and every time I go to her house she has some waiting for me.

                  So, I set out to make her an apron. I wanted a fabric that had a vintage feel. I was even thinking something with a very tiny pattern, maybe of strawberries. I thought and I planned. I schemed of things to try on the apron I haven't done. I started shopping. My vision of the fabric I wanted never came to fruition. I regrouped.  (Side note, my dad has always liked his girls (mom, my sister and I) in bright colors)  I found two different fabrics at a non chain fabric store that I love! The store and the fabrics.

 

The belt I made by lightly gathering the fabric and attaching to the body of the apron.

I added a ruffle to the bottom and trimmed almost the entire apron an moss green double bias tape. I have never used bias tape for anything. I think i did fairly well, except for the ends.

I watched YouTube videos of this and still didn't quite get it right.

 

                        I liked the way the apron turned out even though I didn't use a pattern. I'll change a few things with the next apron I make. Honestly the hardest part of the whole project was the neck ties. When I sewed the fabric good sides together in long narrow strips, I didn't even think about the process of turning them right side out. Poor planning.

Mom on Christmas morning and at my brother's birthday party this past weekend.

Newspaper clipping inspired apron for mom "if I want to" Done.