Is It Spring Yet?

This year we have had the most perfect Texas winter.   Lots of short sleeves and jeans...cool in the morning...warm during the day and enough rain to count for something.  You'd think I'd spend more time in my garden...oh well.  Despite my chronic neglect, a few things are starting to act like it is Spring.  Case and point...this sweet little rose that I spotted...signaling to me that my garden is ready to awaken from a very short nap....

Sounds like there is compost and manure in my future!

{FREE} Clothespin Apron Pattern

I've been thinking...which can be dangerous...but not this time.  There may be one or two of you who are pondering the thought of purchasing one of my apron patterns...maybe you are hesitant for any number of reasons.  OR you wish you could do a trial run before purchasing.  OR you just want a cute new apron.  Well, worry no more, I'm setting you up with this traditional Clothespin Apron Tutorial.

Here's what ya' need...

Supplies {Can't sew without 'em}

1/2 yard for the Skirt
3/4 yard for the Pocket, Waistband, and Ties
1 Package Wright's 1/2" Bias Tape
1 Package Wright's Jumbo Rickrack {optional}
Thread in coordinating color

I'm going to assume you have a sewing machine, scissors, pins, an iron, and an ironing board.  

STEP 1:  Go to this Media Fire link:  Right click on each pattern piece, select download.  Print out the 8 pages of pattern tiles.  Match up the 'A's, 'B's, etc. until you have something that looks like this.

STEP 2:  Trim the pattern pieces and layout the Skirt and Pocket on fold of fabric.

 STEP 3:   From the same fabric cut 1 strip of fabric 4.25" x 25" for the Waistband and
                   2 strips of fabric 4" x 30" for the Waist Ties.

STEP 4:  Cut two 13" strips of the Wrights 1/2" bias tape.  Open one of the folded edges and press flat.  Leave the other edge folded.

STEP 5:  Pin the right side of the bias tape to the wrong side of Pocket edge.  Stitch on the fold line.

 

STEP 6:  Press the right side of the bias tape over the seam.  Make sure the folded edge stays folded under.  Wrap the bias tape over the seam, pin in place, and stitch down on the right side.

STEP 7:  Attach Pocket to Skirt by placing the wrong side of the Pocket on top of the right side of Skirt.  Pin in place and stitch together raw edges where Skirt and Pocket meet using a scant 1/4" seam.

STEP 8:  Cut  1.5 yards of bias tape.  Using the same methods in Steps 4-6, attach the bias tape to the outside edges of the apron.  Leave the top open.

STEP 9:  Prepare the Waist Ties.  Along one long edge, fold under twice 3/8” to create a double hem. Press and stitch.

To make a point at the end of the Tie, fold the end diagonally, right sides together, matching the raw edges.  Stitch a seam 3/8” from the edge.

Turn the point right side out. Turn under the raw edge twice, press and stitch. Top stitch the tie end.   Repeat for the second Tie.  Set the two ties aside while you prepare the Waistband.

 STEP 10:  Attaching the Waistband.  Find the center point of the Waistband and the center point of the Skirt.

With right sides together, pin the Waistband to the Skirt along the top edge, matching the center points. Stitch in place using a 1/2” seam.

Press seam flat, away from Skirt.  Turn top edge of Waistband under 1/2” and press with steam iron.

STEP 11:  Attaching Waist Ties (one at a time).  Trim Waistband so that it extends 1/2” beyond Skirt.  On right side, make a mark 1.5" from top.

Lay the Waistband flat with the right side up.  Pin the Waist Tie to the lower half of the right side of Waistband, matching raw edges.  Pin a pleat in the middle of Waist Tie.  Baste with scant 1/2" seam.

Fold Waistband down over the Waist Tie keeping Waistband halves right sides together. You should now have a sandwich with the Waist Tie in the middle. Pin in place.

Using a 1/2” seam allowance, stitch raw edges of Waistband even with finished end of Skirt.  Trim excess to 1/4”, turn inside out and press.  Repeat Step 11 on opposite side.

STEP 12:  Finishing touches.  Pin the folded edge of the Waistband to the Skirt. The folded edge should barely overlap the seam. Close the Waistband either by hand stitching the Waistband to the Skirt  OR take the freeway and use a fabric glue stick (my fave!) which allows you to top stitch immediately.

Topstitch around  the Waistband with a 1/8” seam.

And that, my friends, is all there is to it!

UPDATE:  I've fixed the broken Media Fire Link! 

The {Continuing} Living Room Saga

You may recall in a previous post that I had this Living Room Revelation.  Basically, I walked into the living room, took a look around, and realized that everything in there was from two and three houses ago.  It started with the drapery journey and that led to the great TV saga (which continues today).   It's like me and my living room were both aging at the same time, except one of us didn't notice.

This is how it looked 10 years ago in my 1950's ranch (apologizing for horrible photos done with our ancient point and shoot).  Casually formal and well suited for this home.

The rooms were rectangular separate spaces...you know, walled off living room, walled off dining room, walled off kitchen, etc.   Then we moved into another 1950's ranch and my living room still looked like it belonged.  Here it is 5 years ago...the furniture still works in this room.

But, now we live in a 1998 Ryland home with the much coveted open floor plan which doesn't go so well with the sits in front of a picture window 50s ranch look.  And then there's the whole thing with the new tv not fitting into the old tv cabinet which completely throws the whole room off.

So, when I look out into my living room, the space never feels right because the furniture is the wrong scale, the wrong color, and even the wrong style.   Say goodbye...

And, I've been having new thoughts about that fireplace.  I really hate it and wish it wasn't there so I mentioned this to Mr. Seasoned Homemaker.  Since I cannot remove an entire fireplace without having to rebuild my house, I mentioned something about changing out the mantle. Hubby's response was get rid of it and start over.

 

 Hopefully, in a few weeks new furniture and rugs will arrive...a new mantle (or maybe no mantle) will be installed and some new accessories will be added to make this room finally come together.  In the meantime, I'm open to all suggestions!  You know, once the living room is finally finished, I think the kitchen will really look shabby...

Ruffle Fabric Scarf Tutorial

Have you seen this new fabric called Ruffle Fabric?  I saw it about a month ago in a local store and my first thought was, "As cute as it gets!"  And, it is $17.99 per yard.  And it is now on the back burner.  

So, yesterday, I snagged me a piece of cute-as-it-gets ruffle fabric in steel orchid (kind of grayish-purple-ish) for $6.  It's a mini ruffle.  See how tiny these cute little ruffles are.

         These are about 1/2" each.  Dainty but sturdy, like me.
  

My remnant is 15" x 36" which is too short for a scarf.  I need 2 pieces that are 7.5" x 36" so,  I'm going to cut it down the middle...

                         ...with a rotary cutter; scissors work, too.

Trim away the top ruffle of one piece.  MAKE SURE TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR RUFFLES RUNNING IN THE SAME DIRECTION!

Trim away the bottom ruffle of the other piece.  See how the RUFFLES ALL GO IN THE SAME DIRECTION!

Match up two of the ends right sides together, then stitch them down.  That's all there is to it.  The only catch:  MAKE SURE ALL OF YOUR RUFFLES ARE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION!!!!!!!

 
A couple of sewing hints:  I used a Schmetz Stretch needle in size 75/11.  My first seam was a 5mm stitch length to make sure that the ruffles lined up nicely - easy to undo.  Then, I went back and used a securing stitch - the one they suggest you use for swimwear.  That's all there is to it.

I think I want to get some ruffle fabric in black and add it to the bottom of a t-shirt...I'll keep you posted!

{FREE} Fearless Poster Download

One of my daughters made this poster as a result of my most recent blog post.  It's a freebie which can be framed as a 5 x 7 (trimmed, of course) or an 8 x 10 with borders.  I've set it up at Media Fire just click and it is yours!

I'm printing mine on some card stock and framing just the gray center...

Leslie, the Fearless (fill in the blank)

I was recently reading the New Year post from Deepika at Pattern Review and she talked about how she wants to be fearless with her sewing in 2012.  You know how a word can just resonate with you, but it will roll right off the next person.  Fearless really struck a chord with me and got me thinking about how I could apply this word to my life...

What if I am fearless with my sewing?  Would I have lots of great (and some really awful) experiences to share here?  Would I stretch my sewing and fitting skills to a new level?  Would you (my reader(s) gain sewing knowledge. 

What if I am fearless in my garden?  Would I plant different varieties of tomatoes?  Would there be such abundance that I would be giving away half of my garden?  How would plants respond to my new attitude?  Would there be blooms year round in my yard?

What if I am fearless with my photography?  Would I be getting up early on Saturday mornings and going out to shoot really cool Hill Country scenes (and possibly peeing in the woods-yikes!)?  Would my blog and tutorial pictures be clearer and more creative?  Would there be hundreds of pictures of my grandsons in different settings?

What if I am fearless in decorating my house?  Would I step out and buy unusual used furniture and use it in new ways?   Would I make changes that reflect my personality and not worry about 'resale value'?  Would I choose paint colors because I love them and not settle for the latest fad? 

What if I am fearless with cooking?  Would I ditch some of the tasteless offerings from gluten-free land and find ways to have delicious food that won't kill me?  Would I develop a love for new flavors?  Would I conquer new cuisines?

WHAT if I am fearless with people?  Would I share more, love, more, give more...




UPDATE: Link here for a {FREE} poster...