Sewing day

The other day I had a request from Littlest Miss to make her aprons from the tea towels I had purchased. I also had a request from my friend to test another pattern.
So Tuesday became a sewing day.

I knocked out the aprons in no time. I love the strawberry one! Target Dollar Spot my friends! I wish it was big enough for me! 

I mis-cut the rainbow one so the ties are a little high. I think I can just put a new ribbon on the neck to drop it  down to her waist.

 

No, I will not be letting her carry my rotary cutter in the apron pocket. I just grabbed the nearest object to stick in there.

 

I added a pocket to the rainbow one with the part cut off the top. I just put the pieces right sides together with the hems and sides lined up, stitched a 1/4" seam across the raw edge, folded it up on the seam and pressed it then stitched up the sides and center. Easy!

Next came the Garden Clutch pattern for Schlosser Designs.

Cherry Chocolate Garden Clutch

As usual the pattern was awesome. I only had some trouble when my lining pieces were smaller than the outside pieces thanks to shrinkage from the fleece. It left no room at the ends for the zipper tabs. I fudged and seam ripped and fudged some more and made it work, but If you look closely you can see the problem spots and it makes the top band collapse on itself a bit. :P
I probably would have been fine had I used the recommended supplies. But I have no money, and also did not want to travel to Joann's to get the right fleece. I actually used pieces of fleece, puzzled together.
I really love that cherry fabric and I will still be using my clutch even though it is a little off. :)

When she gets the pattern listed in her shop I will update to post the link here. In the meantime, you can peruse her current patterns here: http://store.schlosserdesigns.com/

March Along: Week 3

This week was hit and miss more than last week. And I have done 0-nada-zilch work on UFOs. I technically made my minutes goal, but did not sew or do something sewing related every day. It was  a busy week. Friday was my only appointment free day.

Sunday 17th - No sewing time
Monday 18th - 45 min Sketching quilt blocks, 2 hours testing quilt blocks

One of my testers. It is very pretty in person. Phone photo coloring is not fabulous!

Tuesday 19th - Made Easter Basket

http://sewlux.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-basket-tutorial.html

Wednesday 20th - No sewing time. Time? What time?

Thursday 21st - No sewing time.

Friday 22nd - Toddler Tea Towel Apron gift for a party Saturday morning. I would have liked to fancy it up a little but I was stumped. No fabric I had on hand went with it. I did have a brainstorm after I gave it to her, to use the top that gets cut off for a pocket. Next time!

http://harriethomemakerstrikesagain.blogspot.com/2013/03/toddler-tea-towel-apron-tutorial.html

 
Saturday 23rd - Cleaned and organized sewing area. Ahhhh. So much better!


March Along Podcast link: http://scientificquilter.com/2013/03/23/30-3-sneak-attack-marching-in-the-march-a-long/

Toddler Tea Towel Apron Tutorial

 Toddler Tea Towel Apron Tutorial. Say that 5 times fast! :) Here are basic instructions on how to make the toddler apron with a tea towel.

**It should be noted that my first apron shrank in the wash. It lost probably 2 inches in length and width, so take that into account for 100% cotton towels when doing your measuring.

Supplies:
1 tea/hand towel at least 20"x15" or long and wide enough to cover your toddler.
36 inches of 3/8 inch grosgrain ribbon for ties
14 inches of  5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon for neck strap
1 1/2 inches hook and loop sew-on tape

Tools:
Rotary cutter
Clear rotary ruler
Rotary cutting mat
Coordinating thread
Sewing machine
Iron
Ironing board
Straight pins
Safety pins

Begin by taking your toddler's measurements or you use an appropriately sized apron to use as a template.

Measure from where you want the apron to hit their chest, down to where you want it to cover to.





Measure how wide you want the top.




Measure from the top down to the side as far down/around you want it.


  
If you do not have an apron or toddler handy, my measurements were:
Length: 16 inches
Top: 6 inches
Sides: 5 inches

Press your towel to remove wrinkles.





Lay the towel out on your cutting mat with the bottom (short side) at the zero inch mark.

Measure where you will cut the towel to the desired length by adding 1 inch to the length you measured on your toddler (mine would be 16" +1" = 17 inches).

Cut the top off and discard.

Fold the towel in half lengthwise (my towel is now 15 x 17 so I would fold to make it 7.5" x 17")

Along the top of the towel, measure where you will cut the towel sides by adding 1 inch to your top measurements then divide that number by 2. Measure in from the fold that amount and make a mark.
(My numbers would be 6" +1"=7", divided by 2 = 3.5")
 

With your ruler, measure from the mark on the top, angled down to the side, at your side measurement +1 inch. (My side measurement was 5" so I measure 6" from the mark)
 Make a mark,



then keeping the ruler on both marks, cut the angled piece off.

Your towel should now be apron shaped.

 

Fold your apron top down 1/2 inch and press. (Use starch if your fabric is stretching too much.)

Fold one side down 1/2 inch and press. Repeat with the other side.

All the raw edges should now have a 1/2 inch hem.

Now fold one side down another 1/2 inch and press then repeat with the other side.

Then fold the top down, 1/2 inch and press.

Pin to secure for stitching.

Starting at the edge of one side, on the back of the apron, back-stitching at the start, stitch all the way around the outside edges, back-stitching at the end as well.

Turn the apron and edge stitch using 1/8 inch seam allowance all the way around closing the open edge.

 Using the 5/8" ribbon, seal one end of the ribbon using a match or lighter to keep from fraying.

Safety pin to one side of the apron top at the corner. (You could also just go ahead and stitch it down to one side, just fold 1" under for a secure fit and only add 1 inch to the cut size. See *following instructions for placement.)

Try the apron on your toddler to get a good fit. Mark with a pen or a pin, adding a 2" extra to fold down.(Mine is 11" + 2" = 13" cut of ribbon.)

 Fold one end of the ribbon 1" down and *with the end of the ribbon facing the apron, with the fold pointed towards the bottom hem, pin to the apron top back at the corner and stitch around in a square, back-stitching at start and finish.

 

For the other end of the neck ribbon, heat seal the ribbon as before, then fold down 1 inch and stitch to secure.





Cut the Hook and Loop tape to desired size and pin the hook side to the folded end of the ribbon.

 Line up the ribbon with the corner of the apron, making sure the Hook and Loop tape is facing the correct direction.
If it's correct, stitch down the Hook and Loop tape, going all the way around the edges, back-stitching at start and finish.

 

If desired, you can stitch an X through it, for extra strength.

On the back of the apron, pin the Loop side of the tape to the corner opposite the secured ribbon, then stitch it down going all the way around the edges, back-stitching at start and finish.

 

Again, if desired, you can stitch an X through it as well, for extra strength.





Cut your 3/8" ribbon in half to make 2- 18" pieces. Heat seal all the ends.

 

Fold the end under on one ribbon and pin it to the back of the side corner.

Stitch going all the way around the edges, back-stitching at start and finish.

Repeat with the second ribbon on the opposite side.

Your apron is complete!