Apron a piece of clothing that you wear over the front of other clothes to keep them clean while you are doing something dirty, such as cooking or cleaning in the house
Yay, let’s do this! I’m so excited that people want to take part. So, what are the rules? They’re basic.
As I promised, the Apronalong will follow a similairly relaxed schedule to the Pyjama Party. Slow and steady is the name of the game. Even if we creep along, we’ll still have more than enough time to complete aprons in time for Christmas – possibly multiple versions!
My aim is to write regular blog posts following the construction process of View C of B4087. For someone relatively new to sewing, you’ll learn:
- Why and how to use tailor’s tacks.
- How to make and attach your own bias binding.
- Sewing with scalloped edges.
- The secrets of finishing seam edges neatly.
- And much more!
Of course, you aren’t obliged to use this pattern – I’ll blog separately about the myriad other options.
I’ll also feature guest posts from Sewists who specialise in adornment. Aprons are the perfect blank canvas for embellishment fun. If you want to indulge your eccentric side, the good news is that on an apron – anything goes! What happens in the kitchen, stays in the kitchen.
As we near the end of our sewalong, I’ll announce a date for celebrating our finished aprons – an Apronation, if you like.
If any of you are making aprons as Christmas gifts, and don’t want to spoil the surprise, I’m going to set up an online space where you can share your work without family or friends spotting creations. A secret space for aprons. (If you have any suggestions about how I might do this, let me know!)
Some of you suggested combining the Apronation with a baking fest! Fairy cakes, cookies, jelly and oranges, trifle – whatever you want to bake whilst wearing your new apron, you go for it! Just make sure you get a photograph! I, for one, look forward to discovering some new-to-me yummy recipes. (If you don’t want to bake, don’t you dare force yourself to. Nothing more horrid than enforced time in the kitchen.)
I have set up a Pinterest board for inspiration here, and I’ll be adding to it. And, of course, there’s your blog button, code below:
<div align=”center”><a href=”//didyoumakethat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/apron-blog-button.jpg”” target=”_blank”><img src=”https://didyoumakethat.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/apron-blog-button.jpg” alt=”Didyoumakethat” /></a></div>
<div align=”center”></div>
You can copy and paste this code into your blog sidebar and the button should appear.
Phew! So I think that’s everything for now. Let me know if I’ve missed anything. Otherwise, let’s get going! Just add a comment to let me know you’re joining in. I am very, very excited. Can you tell?
That sounds like a fun sew along! Count me in!
Yes, me too. I’ve got the button to work but had to replace the posh quote marks with the cheap and nasty shift+2 (“) ones.
Oh, yes – they need to be straight quotation marks.
Yay! I’ve gone for B5579! Thanks for doing this Karen!
This looks fun! Is it wrong that I like the one with the frilly shoulder bits? Perhaps it might encourage me to do housework…
There’s no right or wrong in Apronland!
I so hate that I didn’t get in on the on party, but I’m not missing this one. Please sign me up!
Ok, I really wish I had joined in on the pajama one, so I’m in on this one. I have had a pile of adorable 1930s inspired farmyard fabric to make an apron with for over three years now. Perhaps some accountability to a group will get it all sewn up, and get me back into blogging at the same time.
I’m so in. The timing of this Apronalong is perfect because I’ve just started a year long sabbatical and two things have become clear: (1) apparently when I don’t have to go to work, I turn to baking for amusement; and (2) I desperately need an apron. Bring it on!
I am so in! I love sewing aprons, and embellishment is what i want to do more of. Best idea ever.
I’m in! This is perfect timing for the upcoming “baking season!” I’m so excited that it’s almost getting cool enough to fire up the oven again, I just can’t bring myself to bake much in the summer.
Aww, heck. Count me in. I’ll start looking out appliques for gingerbread men and women.
Count me in. I’ve just ordered Butterick 5302, it’s got a cute scalloped hem too!
I’d love to join in. I chickened out of the pyjama party and regretted it so don’t want to miss this one. Could you recommend any websites where I can buy that pattern?
The clickable link sends you to Sew Direct, where you can buy it. If you subscribe to Sew Direct, you’ll receive a magazine and 50% off all Vogue, Butterick, McCall and Kwik patterns. Or you can buy direct from Butterick. You can also buy via Ebay or Etsy.
I’m in ! My wish is to make an apron as a Christmas gift for a male friend. I may skip the scalloped hem then !
Ooh, yes! I’m really keen to see some men-friendly aprons.
Does teaching a posh pinny class count as joining in? I am up to my armpits in gorgeous pinnies myself, as I wear them every day for work, so to continue to get a fix I have to spread the Apronlurve in person😉 Examples of my idea of an Apron of Win are here: http://www.amamus-amatis-amant.blogspot.co.nz/search/label/Aprons
PS I think Apronalong sounds like a town in Australia…
Oh wow – you really are the queen of aprons!
haha, MrsC, you’re right about the name having a distinctly Aussie-town ring to it. But which of the many?!
I’d like to join in but do you have to have a blog? I’m just in the very early stages of setting one up
Not at all! At the Pyjama Party, I invited people to email me photos of their makes if they didn’t have a blog.
Count me in. I have some of my Grandma’s aprons. They are so fragile, but the workmanship is great. A little piece of leftover ric rac, lace, you name it. Nothing was wasted in the depression. I’m going to make an apron that will make her proud.
That sounds like a fantastic heritage, Pat. My Mum was a young woman during the Depression and that, combined with some Scottish ancestry, certainly saw everything used as well as possible. One of my very favourite things she made for me was a curtain. She had a dress that had worn out, but there was enough of the chiffon overlay to make a small curtain for the toilet window in my new house (helped to brighten things up enormously). It was entirely handsewn and no doubt a purist would have found lots of faults with it but it did the job and once it was hanging on the window, nobody was looking to see whether Mum’s hemming stitches were tiny!
I’m in. I have lots of aprons planned. I may even bake. I’ve already copied the button. However, I’m presently eye deep in maps and local histories, trying to nut out catchy names for a 1000-Km Audax SA ride that my other half is organising, so the aprons will be somewhat back burnered for a day or two.
ooh I am so in! I might jump ahead to try and finish my apron before bubs is due. I think this is the perfect project for me to do during my maternity leave. Hopefully I will have time to bake and take photos too before she arrives.
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I grinned as I read this post. My very first sewing project was an apron, and I gave it to my beloved grandmother. She wore it regularly and, when she died, she still had the apron – bearing the marks of years of use but clearly well loved. 🙂
I’m in too…it’s about time my struggling domesticity got a new stylish lease of life!!
Count me in. I have a pattern, Vogue 8643 (a 1952 reprint), but there are also plenty of free patterns available to try.
I’m in! I made a Christmas apron last year…. erm, this year – I didn’t finish it until quite a while after Christmas! I think I may make one or two as gifts; I doubt either of the possible recipients would notice if I posted about them. As for secrecy, I don’t know if this would work, but I know you can create a private Flickr group – it requires an invitation to join and doesn’t show up to anyone else.
I’m so keen for this! No idea how to do bias binding or a scalloped hem. Shall be educational. 🙂
How fun – I’m in! 🙂
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Im in
no blog
chrissie
I have some cute food embroidery designs which could look great on an apron pocket. If I can find time with all my other projects, I’m in!
okay – i hve ordered the pttern and count me in. I have never done anything like this so fingers crossed!
I’m in! I have a HUGE pile of apron patterns just waiting for me. I am going to be completeing (hopefully) enough of them for my daughters for Christmas!
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Count me in. I have been thinking of making something other than tote-bags or mini-quilts for ages, and I think an apron would be the perfect place to start. I will need help with all the steps so this sounds great that we can do it all together.
Can I double check – to get ready I presumably need to get the pattern and some fabric. Do I need anything else (I already have a sewing machine obviously).
Thanks, Jen
You can use the pattern I’m using, or one you already have – or even draft your own pattern. (I’ll be writing a blog post on all of this.) If you follow the pattern I’m using, the only other thing you’ll need is some bias tape. Hurrah, glad you’re joining us!
Thanks so much. Just got my pattern. Can’t wait to get started.
Jen
Sign me up! I am planning on making a combination adult bib and apron 8-D. Perfect for when I eat in front of the TV instead of at the table like a grown up. So, obviously I will have to draft my own pattern. Looking forward to starting.
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What a great idea! Aprons are already part of my Autumn and Winter sewing…so yes, I’ll join you for this one🙂
Maria
I loved your Pyjama Party and I’d really like to join the Apronalong too. I have lots of great apron patterns and I’m sure I’ll be able to dig out some suitable apron-y fabric from the stash.
I’m in! Great xmas pressie idea!
I’m in, I really enjoyed the Pyjama Party. I’m just compiling gift ideas now so this is perfect timing, my SiL loves baking so this is ideal. I’m going to use another pattern though, I’m being firm with myself about pattern purchases as they’re getting out of hand!🙂
Count me in, I have had the Simplicity apron pattern for a while now and needs the push to make it! Also, I love the idea of making it for a Xmas present too!
Most certainly not the first and hopefully not the last to join in the Apronalong.
Px
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I’m in! I’m having trouble getting the button to work on my site, but I’m still in!
You may need to change the quotation marks from curly to straight up and down.
I’m in too! Got my pattern, and have bought some fabric for the main section of the apron. Hoping to be able to get the rest from my stash. Looking forward to this – I really enjoyed the Pyjama Party!
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Joining! I’m a little tardy to the party, but I’ve already got a pattern and fabric that’s prewashed, just waiting! Now if I could just get that button to work…
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