I HEART APRONS

Made a valance for a kitchen window and a good piece of fabric left over...what to make?
Who doesn't love a new apron?  I have some aprons on hand...imagine that...so I grabbed one of my favorites to be a guide.






The leftover fabric was 2 yards long and around 20 inches wide. I cut 3 inches the length of the fabric to make the waistband. Mark the center of the band and 9 inches in each direction for later reference, mark with chalk or use a pin. Press down 1/4 inch around perimeter. For the ends, fold to make a triangle and press. I carefully cut some of the bulk out to make it easier to go through the machine.

















On the short sides of the fabric, fold 1/2 inch, press.
Then fold 3 inches and press.
Take to the machine and edgestitch for the sides.





Run a long gathering stitch across the top of the apron. Stitch up to but not over the 3 inch portion on each side that was just sewn. Pull one of the threads to gather the center portion of the apron, working with material until gathers looks even and fits in the pre-marked area on the waistband.
Fold waistband over gathers.
Sew one long seam from one end of tie, thru                                               
                      gather, to the other end of the tie.

Finished product looks a little something like this!

A pocket can be added to the front if you prefer...I ran out of time and didn't get one on this time. I do like a pocket for my phone though :)  Maybe I have a small coordinating remnant and will go back and add one later.


Hope this tutorial was helpful and that you too can make a beautiful AND useful apron.

SEWING SUNDAY

With some time on my hands, the fact that my mother-in-law is waiting on a valance for her kitchen window, and the husband and daughter are busy building on the new green house, I decided to sew!

A valance is really a beginner project and all of the measurements I will list can be altered.
The window I was working with was 36 inches wide. Wanting to make a really full valance I purchased 4 yards of fabric.

Start by washing, drying, and ironing your fabric.
For a 16 inch valance, cut a 23 inch strip the length of the fabric.

On the 23 inch sides, fold and press at 3/4 inches. This will make a crease that you will then fold in half again to make a double folded seam. This just tucks the raw edge in the seam so that you don't see the raveling that will occur when and if you have to wash the valance.



Along the edge that you determine to be "the top", fold down 1/2 inch and press. Then fold down 4 inches of fabric and press again. Make an edgeseam to form a the rod pocket.  This is one of the areas that can be altered depending on the width of your curtain rod. I wanted to have a ruffle above the curtain rod, hence the 4 inch space.



Mark 1 1/2 inches down from the top for a seam if you would like to have a ruffle above the rod. Then stitch down your line!

Time to make the hem. Again, fold down 1/2 inch and press. Then fold down an additional 2 inches and edgestitch.  As a reminder, you always want to press after you make a seam to set the stitches.

This is the finished product...in my kitchen window....maybe I'll keep this one and make hers later :)

Matching napkins with the left over fabric will be nice or maybe an apron?

Would love to pictures of your projects if you have found this tutorial helpful!!