An Apron Story

I have become a little obsessed with aprons over the past few years. I've always loved them, especially retro or vintage ones, and it's so much fun that they are back in style now. I have been meaning to tell these apron stories for awhile now. 

Remember my best present ever....tons of vintage fabric from my grandma? 

Well in that stash was this start of a petal skirt, I imagine it was to go at the bottom of a long Gunne Sax type dress. I love the little teapot and teacup pattern. But what to do with it?

Turn it into an apron of course!

There was some bits and pieces and some yardage too of the same prints so I removed the two end "petals", devised a waistband and ties, and sewed it all together! The hard part of sewing those curved pieces was already done for me! Some of it was handsewn so I went over it with my machine to reinforce it.

While I was at it, I used the extra "petals" that I had removed and some of the yardage to create some decorated kitchen towels and a hot pad! I used the same pattern and techniques as the hotpad I'd made in the past. 

I think there's gotta be a law somewhere that when you photograph aprons, it has to be done on a clothesline. Has to.  

I love how it all turned out. 

I obeyed the law. ;)

Not long after, I used this half made shift dress from the vintage stash. It has the same print on both sides and was basically the same front and back except the front had bust darts. It was unfinished and no one I know is that small or needs a short giraffe dress so I unpicked it all and decided to use one side to make an apron!

I used McCalls M5720 apron pattern and some bright green gingham from the vintage stash and I loved how it turned out- so fun! I knew when I saw the giraffe print that it had to be for my dear friend Heather- she loves giraffes and I love butterflies, so to find them together in a funky print was great to represent "us". Best part is, I still have the other giraffe panel to make me a twin apron!

Here's another pic so you can see the gingham:

The bottom of the giraffe panel was not wide enough at the bottom so I had to do a little pattern drafting of my own and figure out some wedges to fill it out. Thankfully they're not very noticeable, shhh! 

Recently my other dear friend Stef got married and I knew she wanted red in her kitchen and she loves polka dots so I used this in my stash to try out Butterick's See & Sew B5125 to create this sweet apron for her. 

I was in a hurry and didn't get the greatest photos of it but I loved how it turned out. I love polka dots! It's a little more complicated of a pattern what with the facing at the neck and arms but I was glad to figure out the pattern so I can make one this style for me!  I was pretty proud of my tiny rolled hem at the bottom of the flounce. This pattern takes a lot of fabric, but it's so sweet. This pattern also offers a half apron option, that will be fun to do as well!

Last Christmas, my friends at church and I got together and made Christmas cookies...I love looking the part so I dug out my vintage Christmas apron (only a couple dollars at a garage sale, score!) and had some fun looking quite festive and domestic. 

Gee, which one am I? ;)

That's all my apron stories for now- but I'm sure there will be more soon!