Cute Apron Alert! Joel Dewberry’s Sewn Spaces

I just checked out a copy of Joel Dewberry’s book, Sewn Spaces: Fresh & Modern Projects for Your Life & Home and it features all kinds of great-looking projects–including a unique and stylish apron pattern! The Barista Apron features an unusual scalloped edge and I love how Joel uses the woodgrain fabric in an unusual way.

Look for this book in your favorite independent quilt shop or fabric store.

New Arrivals for the New Year

New Arrivals for the New Year!

Be sure to check out Indygo Junction to kneed your creative spirit this New Year.

Look at these aprons featured in their New Arrival section.

Start the new year by treating yourself! These patterns are a must have for those who love aprons! Be sure to stop by your favorite independent quilt and fabric retailer for these patterns and more by Indygo Junction.

Author Interview – Meg McElwee

Meet Meg, author of the new book Sew Liberated, published by Interweave.

We’re delighted to be a stop on Meg McElwee’s blog tour promoting her wonderful new book, Sew Liberated: 20 Stylish Projects for the Modern Sewist.

1. First, our favorite question—why do you love aprons?

I must confess that aprons are a necessary accessory for me. You should see how I cook! If I end a baking session with flour in my hair, you can bet that the front of my shirt would be ruined if I didn’t wear an apron! So yes, aprons are useful and help to prolong the life of my clothes. But their appeal stretches way beyond that. I am a trained Montessori teacher, and we make special aprons for the children to wear when they are doing different activities – an apron for preparing snack, and apron for polishing silver, and apron for painting, etc.. Aprons make the activity feel important and special, and help the young child to enter into the task wholeheartedly. I feel the same way when I put on an apron and bake something from scratch. The apron makes me feel like a serious cook, even though I’m still a novice.

Meg's first apron pattern--The Lola Apron.

2. Do you have any special apron memories?

My mom used to tie her half aprons underneath my arms while I worked with her in the kitchen. Here’s a photo of me at two years old, helping mommy in the kitchen (and looking rather disheveled, I must say – perhaps not too much different than I look today as a new mother!)

Little Meg!

3. We know you got your start as a pattern designer with an apron pattern—tell us about your unique interpretations of apron style.

I think of aprons the same way I think about clothes: you have comfy loungewear and you have your out-and-about outfits that make you feel cute and put together. I have both kinds of aprons – the basic chef’s apron for Saturday morning pancakes (and for wearing over loungewear) and the flattering and flirty Emmeline apron for wearing over nicer clothes. I’ll admit, however – cooking just isn’t as interesting when I’m not wearing a fun apron! I design my womens’ aprons with elements of actual dresses to achieve that flattering look. Waist shaping, strategic gathers, and other such construction details go a long way in creating an apron that you feel great wearing.

4. In your new book, Sew Liberated, you feature many wonderful patterns for the home, including aprons for both adults and children, all very unique and personalized. Tell us about each of them.

The women’s Teacup Corset Apron is very unique in its construction, and its fit is super flattering for all body types (I mean this – it looked great on me even when I was quite pregnant!) The adjustable neck straps make the bodice very flexible. It looks equally nice on the busty and the not-so-busty due to subtle gathering of the lower bodice. My favorite detail is the grommet corset closure at the back waist, which makes me want to drop everything and bake some sassy muffins, if muffins can indeed be made in a sassy variety. [Editor's note: Muffins may not be sassy--but cupcakes definitely are!] The Corset Apron really lends itself to an eclectic fabric palette. In the book sample, I had fun mixing stripes, vintage florals, and a sweet Japanese floral.  The Little Chef Apron and Hat was borne out of much trial and error as a teacher. I was searching for the perfect apron for the students in my classroom – one that they could put on and take off independently, one that protected the bulk of their clothing, and one that was simple enough to sew that I could make up multiple versions without too much effort. The Little Chef Apron is the result of all of that testing. My students were so patient with me, trying on different designs until I landed on this one. It’s so easy for them to put on by themselves by pulling it over their heads and closing the Velcro tab waist straps in front.

Tea Cup Corset Apron from Sew Liberated.

Little Chef Apron & Hat.

5. One of the things that really stand out with your apron projects in Sew Liberated is that the designs feel very customizable and personal. We’d love to hear your tips for how home sewers can customize their projects to suit their personal style.

My design journal is one of my favorite tools in my studio. I find it so helpful to gather inspirational magazine clippings that highlight a particular element of style I’m interested in adopting in a certain project. I paste clippings, make sketches, and paste small swatches of possible fabric combinations directly to my journal’s blank pages. It really helps me to customize my projects based on style and utility – it’s always nice to use up the fabric I have in my stash!

An collage of inspiration in Meg's home studio.

Thanks for stopping by, Meg! Check out the other stops on Meg’s blog tour:

Friday, Dec. 11:                 TrueUp.net (interview)

Sunday, Dec. 13:              “In the Studio with Cate” (studio tour)

Thursday, Dec. 17:            Grosgrain Fabulous (book review and giveaway)

Friday, Dec. 18                 Living Life as Art (interview, review, and project)

Saturday, Dec. 19:           CraftyPod.com (book review)

Monday, Dec. 21:            Craftsanity (podcast interview)

Wednesday, Dec. 23:     maya*made (interview)

Thursday, Dec. 24:          Designer-to-Designer: Rashida (author of I heart Patchwork) and Meg interview each other on http://www.sewliberated.typepad.com and http://www.iheartlinen.typepad.com

Monday, Jan. 4, 2010:    Blog Tour Winners’ Posts – to be announced