{tutorial} Frill-tastic Apron

If you love ruffles and frills, you’ll adore this apron! Done up in Lolita fashion, you can get the tutorial here.

{join in} Facing an apron challenge

Have you taken part in any online groups that challenge one another to make something? There are apron challenges happening here and there around the web all the time, it seems.

Amy from Tie One On has issued a floral challenge to apron lovers everywhere, entries due March 1.

And Willow Homestead challenged herself to make an apron every month, encouraging her blog readers to participate, too. You can upload pictures to her Photobucket collection.

It’s always fun to see what other people are making, what inspires them and share our creations. So, come on, join in the fun.  Maybe it’s time to issue our own challenge?!

{tutorial} Ruffled Valentine Apron

Made with love-themed and red/white fabrics, this ruffled half apron is sweet enough for the upcoming St. Valentine’s holiday! Check out Morgan’s One More Moore blog for the tutorial.

It would adorable using some of Deb Strain’s Always & Forever collection from Moda Fabrics.

Or the new Heart Garden by Robin Zingone for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Check out your favorite independent quilt and fabric retailer to find these and other great fabrics for Valentine’s Day projects.

{free pattern} Run, Gingerbread Men, Run

What’s better for the Christmas holiday baking than a gingerbread man? Designed by Cathy Gaubert, this adorable apron is featured (on the cover, even!) in John Q. Adam’s book, Pretty in Patchwork:Holiday (Lark Crafts). If you want to give it a try before you buy the book, you can download the pattern for the gingerbread men embroidered apron as a pdf file. You’ll need to get this template, too, for the men and the writing. The half-apron style is made extra stylish with its nifty asymmetrical pocket, appliqued gingerbread men and embroidered writing.

Pretty in Patchwork: Holiday is available through Zinio as a download only (the book will be released next August). Adams includes more than 30 beginner to intermediate projects to celebrate the season. There are pillows, bunting, tree skirts, ornaments and includes several quilts (from full-size to lap-size to a baby quilt). It also includes a cute little gingerbread man apron.

Review: New Indygo Junction Apron Patterns

Indygo Junction patterns has been making all manner of apron patterns for several years now and continue to offer new styles. Two recent releases include the One-Yard Overlap Apron and the All-Day Apron. I tried out both patterns and then brought them into the office to show off. We all had our different opinions on the styles, but having been the one to sew them, I can tell you they both patterns worked out well.

The All-Day Apron ($11.99 retail) is a delightfully feminine style with full coverage in the front with coverage around the sides, tying in a big bow at the back. The fit was perfect on this style (size 10-12) and would work well for smaller and slightly larger sizes. I loved the accent fabric used along the arms and for the ruffle. I used the same fabric for the bias trim around the neck (rather than purchased bias tape).

It went together in about an hour and a half, including the cutting, and would be an appropriate pattern for someone with experience using commercial primers. The instructions are brief and there are only three images to help you along. I prefer images to words and struggled just slightly at figuring out how to get the trim to work–it’s sewn right to wrong side, turned then topstitched to the apron body.

I particularly liked the way the ties were made. I used a rolled hem foot for the raw edges, then it instructs you “finish one end of tie by stitching a 1/4″ seam RST.” Turn and press point. It gives a nice end to the tie and one I will use often.

The One-Yard Overlap Apron ($11.99) is their newest release and is a simple one piece style that ties from the front section and around to the back to secure it. I found the waist ties to be too low for me and had to move them northward. Where the ties land depends on your body shape, so be sure to try it on first and use an extra length of bias tape to experiment with tie location.

The apron came together quickly, less than a half-hour to sew it together, but another 30 minutes to make and sew on the bias tape. Be careful around the corner, stretching the bias tape to get it to lay nicely.

This apron offers ample front coverage with little side coverage.

For more information on these two aprons or to check out the dozen other styles, visit Indygo Junction. Patterns can be purchased at your local independent quilt and fabric retailer or online.

It’s Apron Day at Pink Chalk Studios

Pink Chalk Studio, the blog arm of Pink Chalk Fabrics has been doing a sew-along and not just any-ol’-sew-along. This is Week 34 in a months-long process to get readers to try out the patterns in their super cute One-Yard Wonders book.

This week is a double feature of aprons–the Mini Craft & Tool Apron and the Convertible Craft Apron. Both require only a yard of fabric each and they share some great tips on making the aprons extra functional (tape measure ribbon!) and how to use laminates. Check out their blog for more info and subscribe to keep up with their fantastic projects.