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.
That's a great idea! I wear aprons all the time and have been lucky to have friends that have given me several over the years-like you tho, I don't wear half aprons. I'm rather short and seem to get more on the top part of me than the bottom! I can't wait to dig my stash out now and give this a whirl!
Thanks!
Posted by: melissa | August 31, 2011 at 05:55 AM
I still have the little red polka dot apron my mom made me to help her in the kitchen when I was two or three. She used white rick rack to edge the apron and added three off center rick rack stripes. It is tiny! I wish I had a full-size version.
Posted by: Aimee | August 31, 2011 at 07:01 AM
Great looking apron Stefanie! Love how you altered the shirt to make the top so cute! Thanks for the book review, too!
I found a great looking summer dress to convert into an apron, just by opening up the back, it already has the ties and the front really looks like an apron already!
hugs,
Denise
Posted by: Denise | August 31, 2011 at 09:08 AM
Hooray for aprons!
Posted by: Carah Kristel | August 31, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I remember the first thing we ever made in sewing class.
A gingham apron.
Mine was yellow with ric rac trim.
We also had to embroider our names on them!
I should wear an apron more often, I quite often spill on me but usually the top half.lol.
Posted by: Lynda Taylor | August 31, 2011 at 08:58 PM
A great example of an Eco garment, keeping two thinks our of the landfill and inspiring us all. Old shirts have such a wonderful amount of fabric. I have a stash,as yet unused.
Posted by: Suella | August 31, 2011 at 10:10 PM
What a great idea. I have aprons hanging all over my kitchen. Can never have too many as far as I am concerned.
Posted by: Sandi | September 01, 2011 at 05:14 AM
I love vintage aprons, cute idea with the shirt for the top of the apron. Just made aprons for the crew at my church that cooks for Wed nite meals, we are so cute in our matching aprons
Posted by: Debbie Boswell | September 01, 2011 at 05:32 AM
I still have the first apron I made in school. It was made out of gingham with cross stitch added.
Posted by: Loraine | September 01, 2011 at 05:34 AM
I love aprons and how popular they have become. I really like the idea of using a blouse for the top of a half apron! I make denim aprons from recycled jeans and handpaint them with animals and kitchen designs.
Posted by: Linda Harbin (MidwestieLady) | September 01, 2011 at 06:59 AM