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| Dan wearing my freshly made apron and helping me cook |
He was making "franks in pastry"
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| the finished product |
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| up close detail of the tree and small leaf pattern |
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| up close of the waistband and medium leaf pattern (i love this fabric) |
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| my first ever button...and the ends are done with bias strips----what a big pain in my behind |
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| top half |
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| bottom half |
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| next to my Judith Crawl apron workshop hostess apron....can you tell I'm obsessed with them? |
I made it from the book Seams To Me....It's the Full Contact Apron.
Now this book is very fun but I'd give it a 3.5/5 rating for new sewers. Many things she leaves out of the directions, and for me a non-experienced sewer it leaves me deflated. But I am a puzzle person so I tumbled on. I figured out most things by trial and error, knowing just by common sense certain things didn't feel or look right. I found myself struggling with directions that she gave like "clip corners" where she doesn't explain anywhere in the book what this means. I figured it out, but for a new sewer figuring it out could lead to a disaster. All and all its an easy read with a lot of good information and helpful hints. I attempted a second project in there "Smashing Smock" well, accidentally cut out my fabric wrong, so that is put on hold for now. But again this pattern was quite complex for a beginner sewer. I decided that since I have the fabric that is now cut and can't be used for this dress I will use it for a different project. I purchased a few more books. Sewing 101 which is great as a reference tool, most of the things I didn't understand in seams to me I looked up in there. It has some basic patterns, but for me a 26 year old some of the patterns are just not me. But none-the-less they are very well written and are truly meant for beginners. The apron had me cut and sew bias strips, adjust measurements, make ruffles, sew buttons. It had a lot but it was a lot to learn all at once when I am just getting down to business on straight seam lines!
I have also finally started to get all my books in the mail. I got Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts,
Sew fast, sew easy and Sew Everything Workshop. I also got Sew Retro which is AWESOME! But I would like to use a pattern in that book after I have done 1 or 2 more projects. But the book is a beautiful tutorial blended with fun facts and history. You feel like you are learning to sew while sitting at her kitchen table.
I have decided to go through each book by doing one project from each and see what I can learn from various people's techniques. I started off with Sew Fast, Sew Easy and I love it. I devoured the first chapter yesterday and can't wait to make the basic pillow from my accidental much smaller fabric.
Well I found my local sewing store and I was embraced by the warmest of the three women who worked there. They showed me everything I needed, we true teachers, I asked at least 50 questions. They helped me picked supplies based on the patterns I wanted. They even informed me I was missing batting from my list, since I was planning on making a placemat. She was right, I just never wrote it down on my list! They told me how freezer paper works just as good as craft paper. Told me why I was going to do great, because I was starting with very nice fabric (I couldn't help t the prints they had were just adorable). The best part is they offer classes and I am going to take quilting 101. When I go this weekend to rebuy my oppsy fabric, I am enrolling! I am very excited to have found a place to go to that is so supportive of the craft. They even offered for me to bring in my project if I was having any trouble and they would help me to figure it out.
If you are down in the Northern VA area the shop is
Quilt and Sew at 3940 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
540-548-2377
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