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| A quick peek at some of the awesome projects in Mixed & Stitched! |
Give
Water Apron
by Jen
Osborn
My longtime friend, mentor, and constant source of inspiration,
Jenny Doh, is doing something wonderful this year with the help of my new
friend Cynthia Schaffer. She’s raising money by wearing a little black uniform
Cynthia made until Valentine’s Day 2013 to raise awareness to the world’s water
crisis. I think she’s doing it in an incredibly creative way, and got really
excited when I found out she’s also including those who donate in on the fun.
You see, with a minimum donation of $25, you can send Jenny an accessory to
wear with her little black uniform. In return, she’ll take a photo in your
accessory, and blog about it over on CrescenDOH.com. Philanthropy has long been
dear to my heart (as has Jenny), and my mind instantly started churning with
accessory ideas. I know that Jenny loves aprons, and since I have some really
cool fabrics right now in just the right colors, I decided to whip a new one up
for her! It’s super-duper simple, and you really only need basic sewing skills,
and a few decorative stitches on your sewing machine to create it. Here’s how:
supplies:
FABRIC
•
20 x 18 IN white muslin or thin cotton (backing)
•
43 x 3 IN black w/ white polka dot (sash)
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38 X 4 IN red pattern (sash)
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13 x 4 IN black & white pattern (selvage still on one long side)
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13 x 4 IN aqua solid (selvage still on one long side)
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3 pieces - each 5 x 10 IN
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2 pieces - each 17 x 5 IN
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1 yard 1/2 IN grey grossgrain ribbon
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1 yard aqua rik-rak
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grey thread
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scissors
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hot iron
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sewing machine
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heart button & chain
I like to start by making the sash and working down when making
aprons. So, start by taking your long strip of black & white polka dot
fabric, and press each long side under 1/2 inch with a super hot iron. Lay this
over the top of your red pattern strip, and sew down the middle and both long edge with four straight rows.
Set aside and "dry run" your apron body.
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| Step 1 |
STEP 2:
I always like to do a dry run with my projects so I have a vague
idea of what they will look like beforehand. This gives me a chance to move
things around if a certain fabric doesn’t look right next to another one. The
easiest way to do this is to lay your white backing fabric on a flat
surface, and arrange your fabric cuts on top of it. Once you have everything
where you want it, you just have to start piecing everything together patchwork
style (Just like in my book Mixed and Stitched).
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| Step 2 |
I chose to have two long panels on either side of my apron, and
kinda sash-in the center busy-ness. This also allows me to use the selvedge of
the left and right fabrics to be my apron edges. This means you don’t have to
hem either one, saving time; plus I think it looks kinda raw and wonderful.
All you have to do is:
- With right sides together, sew all three 5" x 10" fabric pieces together into a long strip, long side to long side.
- Press your seams toward the outside fabrics (the pin print & gray print here). Trim the panel down to measure 13 x 10 IN.
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| Step 3a: Sew together long sides |
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| Step 3B: Press toward the outside |
STEP 4:
Building the inner panel is ridiculously easy. Just take the 3-panel piece you just made, and sew your black & white print to the bottom
edge (right sides together). If you are using a one way print like I did here,
don’t forget to turn it upside down or you will be pulling out stitches. To
finish off the inside panel, all you have to do is sew the aqua
solid strip along the bottom edge. Basically, you’re doing the same thing you did in
STEP 3, just assembling from top to bottom instead of left to right. Press your seams toward the
middle this time, and you will end up with a 17 x 13 inch panel that should
look like this:
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| Step 4 |
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| Step 4 (from the back) |
STEP 5:
I have a thing for recurring patterns in my patterns, and this
apron is no exception. To create the body of the apron, simply sew one of your 17 x 5 inch panels on either side of the inner panel you
just created—just like in the previous two steps, but make
sure your selvedges are facing outwards. Press your seams toward the outside,
and lay your white backing fabric wrong sides together on your apron body.
You’re going to “quilt” these two layers together, and turn this patchworked
apron into something almost Japanese in style. Cynthia and I share a love of
zakka (everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance), and adding simple and
decorative stitches to your solids gives this apron a zakka flair.
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| Step 5 |
By adding straight stitches 1/2 inch apart down the grey panel on
the right, and alternating the same stitch with the baseball stitch (I think
they kind of look like vines), I was really able to alter the overall look and
style of my apron. It instantly changes from something raw into something
quilted, and almost orderly.
STEP 6:
The finishing touches are just as simple as everything else, but
continue working their magic as you sew them on. Grab that waistband you
stitched in STEP 1, and lay it over the top edge of your finished apron body. I
don’t ever pin anything, but you may want to pin these two pieces together
so they don’t shift while sewing. Using a zigzag stitch set to 2, sew halfway
between the polka dot part of your waistband and the bottom raw edge of the waistband. This will
“stick” your two pieces together, and you can take out all your pins now.
Straight stitch halfway between your zigzag and the bottom raw edge to secure your two
pieces together. Fold the top raw edge of the waistband under 1/2 inch and
press with your hot iron. Straight stitch your hem down, and you’re ready to
sew on your apron tie.
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| Step 6 |
STEP 7:
Take your yard of rik-rak, and straight sew it right down on top
of your grey grossgrain ribbon. Lay it over the middle-ish of your waistband,
and sew it down with your sewing machine, going back and forth down the full length a couple times.
This makes sure your tie is really secure, and hides anywhere you veered off
course.
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| Step 7 |
STEP 8:
Now, my friend Jenny is a bit sassy, so I wanted to hand stitch
on a little bit that would allow her to strut her stuff, and add a bit of
sparkle to her step. I’ve had this vintage chain laying around forever, and by
sewing it to right at the hip I’ve allowed it to swing with her every sashay.
The cute little bow at the bottom will swing back and forth, but shouldn’t get
caught on anything and snag her up. I just set my zigzag to 0, and went back
and forth over the chain until it was firmly attached. A heart sewn lovingly
over the top hides how you attached it, and gives it just that little extra
punch of love.
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| Step 8 |
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| Step 8 |
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| All finished! |
I want to thank everyone over at North Light & Stitch Craft
Create for giving me the chance to offer you guys this amazing pattern for
free, and to Jenny for always inspiring me to create more incredible things to
share with all of you. If you have any questions of want to show off YOUR apron
you can find me over on my blog: we’re all mad here!
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NOW GO MAKE ART!
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