An Apron for a Cup – Kwik Sew 3886

Here’s a cool way to dress up your favorite cup and give it a dual purpose while  keeping yourself organized. Kwik Sew patterns are available at your favorite independent quilt and fabric retailer.

It’s All About Friendship

September is International Women’s Friendship Month along with National Sewing Month. It seems that friendship and sewing often go hand-in-hand, whether it is stitching alongside my friends or making some fabric gift or another.

This makes September a perfect time to get together with your lady friends, sew an apron and enjoy some delicious Amish Friendship Bread. Really, what better excuse could you need?

First, you’re going to need an apron, of course. If you’re anything like me, you have plenty but will take any excuse to stitch up a new one. I recently tried out Indygo Junction’s All-Day Apron and loved it. I want to try the modern linen apron in Modern Mix (Stash Books, 2011). The box pleats are a different method for me–I usually just gather the skirt–so I am intrigued. What apron patterns have you been wanting to make?
Once we have our aprons, we need to bake and what’s better for Friendship Month than Friendship Bread? Here’s a favorite of mine:

Amish Friendship Bread
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 (9×5 inch) loaf pans.
In a large bowl, combine the Amish bread starter with oil, eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well. Pour into prepared loaf pans.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

This recipe makes two loaves: one for you, one for a friend (of course!). We all have friends who need to know they are appreciated. September is a great time to show them. And you’ll have the chance again in November on National Tie One on Day. Get ready because that’s gonna be grand!

Pillow & Maxfield Apron Tutorial – Easy Peezy for Beginners!

Just learning to sew? Here’s an easy tutorial for a simple apron at Pillow & Maxfield. Explore their site for the simple tote and drawstring dress also pictured. Pillow & Maxfield are fabric designers for Michael Miller Fabrics, LLC. The apron is from their Gypsy Bandana collection.  Find these fabrics at your local independent quilt and fabric retailer. Enjoy!

AccuQuilt’s Let’s GO! Retreat Show and Tell

I found this picture on the Quiltscapes blog.  AccuQuilt’s Let’s GO! Retreat at Country Traditions,in Fremont, Nebraska in June was a hoot!  They held a Show & Tell and Dana Shawn Evans decided to model this really cute apron made with AccuQuilt dies. Find AccuQuilt GO! and fabrics to make your favorite aprons at your local independent quilt and fabric retailer. 

Rick Rack Apron by Amy Barackman- Indygo Junction

The Rick Rack apron is a vintage-styled apron in full and half apron versions. It features two beloved edge finishes – rick rack and topstitching. A simple application technique makes the rick rack open work insertion at each seam nearly foolproof. Two sizes are included teen/petite (XS) & adult (one size fits most).  Find this pattern at your local independent quilt and fabric retailer.

The Apron Lady featured on Shabby Fabrics blog

Meet Jan from Apron Lady Designs and Jen from Shabby Fabrics. Apron Lady Designs was recently featured on Shabby Fabrics blog. Jan has a background in fashion and has taught at a finishing/modeling school. Her classroom emphasis was on  fashion choices for varying body types. Jan appies her knowledge of fashion to the patterns she designs. Shabby Fabrics carries Apron Lady Designs patterns.

Learn easy smocking techniques with Apron Lady Designs ‘Honeycomb Smocked Apron’. Find Apron Lady Designs patterns at your local independent quilt and fabric retailer.