tie one one: gingham

I finally got around to making an apron for tie one on! The latest challenge was to make an gingham apron, which was perfect since some of my cousins passed on their fabric stashes to me last year, and there were several large pieces of gingham. I ended up using two different ginghams--different sized checks of a pale minty green. One is 1/16, the other 1/4.



I used the Twirl, Girl! pattern from A is for Apron, and it worked out even better than I thought it would. I love the way this turned out, I might have to make it again in different colors, or alter it into a bib-style apron for my mother to use.


So far the only problem with it has been that it doesn't really like being photographed, especially while being worn. It's pale enough that the light keeps washing it out, so I finally just gave up and laid it out on a bed.

By the way, A is for Apron really is a great apron book--I've made three different aprons from it so far, and will be making more, different aprons whenever I get around to getting more of the patterns enlarged.

Finished Project: Simplicity 5036

I managed to update my website, but forgot to do the same here!

On a bit of a whim, I decided I needed a sailor jacket inspired swimsuit cover-up. But then I realized if I made the whole thing in blue it would look like an old fashioned bathing suit costume, so I pretty much had to go that route.



Long story short, I love how this turned out, even if I skipped the step that made installing a zipper possible. (Next time I know to actually do what the instructions say instead of laughing and thinking there's a mistake.) I'm even thinking about making a version in greens or browns or something to use as a light fall jacket.

The hooks and eyes work in this version since I still consider it a swimsuit cover-up, but a zipper would be much more useful. I'm also thinking about just having one line of ribbon on the collar next time, mainly because I fail horribly at keeping things like that lined up easy.

Really, this is one of my favorite things out of all the random stuff I've sewn over the years.

Happiness!

I decided to buy a Japanese sewing book on ebay recently, and it's turning out to have been a great decision, mainly because the patterns actually seem to fit with few alterations. Yay!

I am far from busty, so American patterns and I don't always get along. There's a reason I mainly make skirts and pajama pants. Anything fitted on top ends up needing so many alterations that it just ends up a headache. (There's a New Look pattern I've been fighting with for about 2 months now. I finally got the bust to fit only to have everything above that go all wrong.)

Anyways, I traced one of the bodices out of the book, and the muslin fit almost perfectly, so amazing. I'll have to trim a bit off of the center seam, but that's so easy compared to a SBA.

Anyways, if things go well I'll be making a dress from the book this week. I just have to decide between the '70s dress and one of the full-skirted dresses.

(Now I want to buy so many more books. I know what's going on my Christmas wishlist!)