Today I have a fun recycling project to share with you inspired by the wonderful book Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle. I also have the pleasure of being included in the book! (Well, a little story from my childhood about a fun apron experience in my grandmother's kitchen.) If you like aprons, good stories and recipes then I bet you will love Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle. And since it's Wednesday, that means it's today's giveaway book!
Leave a fun apron, cooking, or kitchen comment in today's post by Midnight Wednesday September 7th, 2011 and you are in the running for a copy of Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle.
This is the full apron I made from a shirt and a half apron.
I had scored 2 half aprons hand made by an older lady that were donated to a clothing swap. I don't wear half aprons so I flipped through Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle and it occurred to me that I had a few shirts that I could repurpose into the top half of an apron, one of which had already been cut and altered into a halter style top. Perfect!
All I had to do was stitch the shirt to the waistband of the apron and trim off the excess shirt.
One other alteration I made was I felt that the apron was a tad too long but I didn't want to lose the cool ric rack hem so I hemmed it above the ric rack trim.
Here is a close up of how I used my cutting board grid to fold the hem up. I could see the grid through the fabric so it was so easy to keep the hem the right length!
I'll keep you posted on how the other apron gets a top half when I figure that one out! But in the meantime, check out:
Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle
by
Denise Clason
For decades, smart stylish women have worn different aprons to suit their various needs. They are a must-have in the kitchen and elsewhere. This book brings new life to vintage styled aprons that women of today will find irresistible.
Denise Clason has been an artist/designer for over 35 years. Her designs have been published and licensed in the craft, decorative painting, sewing, and quilting industries. She is the author of 8 books.
i love the altered apron you made! My mother in law is not overly crafty but wants to be. She has a great apron pattern she made up years ago that uses exactly one yard fabric. She loves it when i hand her a yard and ask her to make me a new one, it makes her feel needed. (and i do love her aprons!) I wear one daily it seems! Right now one is waiting to be washed from the three salsas i was canning yesterday. One today will need to be washed i am sure after the major blueberry and blackberry picking that must be done! :)
Posted by: turtle | September 02, 2011 at 09:57 AM
I love the few aprons I have that my Grandmother, who I never knew, made. They are my only material connection to her. I make aprons as gifts for friends and they are aleays appreciated.
Posted by: Anne Louise Mizoguchi | September 04, 2011 at 04:54 AM
My grandmother was never without an apron. I have one of her patterns that she used repeatedly. When my two granddaughters were playing house one day, they came running to me and asked if I had any of those "kitchen things". I asked what they meant and they informed me about those kitchen things that you wear when you are working in the kitchen. And indeed I did.
Posted by: Diane Offerman | September 04, 2011 at 05:38 AM
That's really great. I wouldn't have thought of using a shirt like that. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Lori Bradley | September 04, 2011 at 06:12 AM
In grammar school I was in a play for the holidays, and my mother had to make my costume, which was an apron made with Christmas fabric and a little ribbon with jingle bells handing form the waist. I still have the apron.
Posted by: Joanna | September 04, 2011 at 01:49 PM
I teach crafts at a senior retirement community. We make Senior Crumb Catchers (bibs) for various holidays and seasons. Also make aprons from a hand towel with a reversible top. Great for wiping your hands as well as serving as a full-length apron. Really cute when made with two color-coordinated fabrics fr Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Posted by: Jean Ceithaml | September 04, 2011 at 04:30 PM
I wear an apron for crafting (cause I'm messy) for cooking (cause I'm messy) and for cleaning out the fish filters- cause IT"S messy! But not all the same apron, of course! : ) -Jenny from www.CraftTestDummies.com
Posted by: Jenny | September 07, 2011 at 01:54 PM
Love the way this turned out! I would love to feature this on Reduce, Reuse, Upcycle. Feel free to stop by and grab a featured button. Thanks!
http://reuseandupcycle.blogspot.com
Posted by: Rachel Sue | September 09, 2011 at 01:02 PM