While I Was Away (1) ...

Happy to be posting again and hope I can do more as we come into the new year. After my daughter's wedding, I had to quickly get into gear for Christmas. After I got over my fear of changing the needle in my sewing machine (which turned out to be very easy), I got to work to whittle down my considerable fabric stash and make aprons, which all the ladies in my family--the young and the older--seem to get a kick out off. I used McCalls M5358, which produces an apron without having to work with pesky bias binding. In the middle you can relax in front of the tv and do hand basting, if you like, to take a break from the whirr of the machine. Aside from these in the photos, I made a dotted red Swiss one with red rick-rack, but in the last-minute rush, forgot to take a photo.

I think this is my personal favorite, as I love orange and yellow cheer.

 

Signature colors for my sweet aunt.

 

 

 

The lacing at the bottom and on the pocket came from old curtains I had saved. I keep fabric like a miser, so was glad I could find a place for the lacing. This apron, for my cousin, was my daughter's favorite.

 

Gray with hot-pink accents for a sophisticated bride-to-be.

I bought fabric for this one for a cousin and luckily guessed right for her colors. Very vibrant fabric and I love this apron--she's a great cook.

Although I stuck to same pattern, I didn't make the aprons in an assembly line, because I was afraid I would get confused and had never used the pattern before. I think it was best to finish one and then go on to the next. A real sewing whiz could probably make gift aprons in an assembly line without a hitch. One by one, from getting the fabric ready, cutting, and sewing the apron, it took on average of 8 hours apiece, perhaps 6 to 7 hours at the end. It would be faster for a seamstress.
I hope the ladies enjoy them as much as I did making them!