Sewing Presents

I didn't really mean to take a little blog break there, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Speaking of cookies, my friend Danielle had a birthday. I made her an apron because she gave me one for my birthday that I love, love, love. This was made off the Magic Pattern from Stitch Magazine Spring 2010. It was easy peasy to make aside from the bias tape, which I made from scratch. It was an adventure, and I ended up with double of what I needed, easily. Note to self, 1/2 yard of fabric makes a ton of bias tape. It's not hard, but it was my first time. Just one seam at the back neck and lots of bias tape edging. I did have to look up instructions for how to make the inside corners on the neckline, but this, too, was not hard - just a Google search on "bias tape inside corner."

I took direct inspiration from the photo in the magazine which featured a red floral print and red and white gingham edging. I fell in love with the photo from the first moment I saw it, and I fell in love with the apron the moment I put it on. It is super flattering, both on me and Danielle who are vastly different sizes and body types. The only change I made was to use the bias tape as the ties instead of using the ties the pattern instructs you to cut. I was having a lot of trouble turning them right side out so instead I edged just the skirt portion in bias tape, then cut a length long enough to edge the top and neck plus ties. Start in the middle at the top of the neck and do one side, then the other. It's really a good thing I bought fabric to make myself one, because I can see this "pattern" getting a lot of use.

Note also the Punch Brothers t-shirt I am wearing. Their newest CD is out in stores today, and I highly, highly recommend it. I was the lucky recipient of a special package which included the special edition package (CD, bonus CD, DVD, t-shirt, and signed cocktail recipe guide) for being one of the first 200 to pre-order the new album, and I've been listening to it on repeat for the past few days. They make me remember that I am first a musician.

I will be signing off for a few weeks as I make the rounds of the eastern US. Friends, family, what could be better? Cheers!