...because making something makes you feel like you've really done something.

So I've been home for almost a week. Somehow there always seems to be twice as much to do when I get home from a trip than I ever had before the trip.

One of the things I've been doing is sewing. Sewing an apron to be specific. I mentioned in my last (brief) post that my sister and I have been learning how to draft our own skirt patterns. (That went really well by the way, I just have to complete a few finishing touches to the skirt and then I'll post about it.) Learning how to do that gave me the confidence to make an apron by making a pattern from an apron I already have. I basically gave the old apron a good ironing, folded it in half, layed it out on some freezer paper and traced around it.

Anyway here are the results...
A front view....
A back view....hopefully it gives you an idea of how it ties in the back...
Here is a close up of the tie.....
And what it looks like not tied, layed out flat. The ties go through loops at the side and that is what "cinches" it in at the waste. I love this apron because, believe it or not, it is very flattering to the figure. I also love the scalloped bottom.

Here is a detail of the pocket and the fabric.

And the story behind the fabric is this. It's vintage fabric. I bought it at a yard sale some years ago and there is about five yards of it. (Or at least there was until I made the apron.) It was (until I washed it) a highly polished cotton and only 36" wide. I think the person who originally purchased the fabric must have passed away because there were a lot of household items at this sale. You know, kitchen utensils, linens, table clothes, cloth napkins, serving dishes, that sort of thing. I bought another five yards of material along with this that is of the same vintage. I wish I knew what that vintage was. And I've always wondered what the original owner of the fabric had intended to make with it. A dress perhaps? For herself? For a child?

Well anyway, I made an apron with it. This particular apron is intended for a door prize at a homeschooling mom's retreat I'm going to this weekend. I like it so much though that I think I'm going to make myself one out of the same fabric.