Healing Time

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY.
DR visit to remove the stitches and
get the go ahead to quilt again.
My arm is definitely on the mend.
I can feel & see daily improvements.
Luckily, I still have movement in my elbow,
wrist and fingers.Which was a concern after surgery.
But hey, when a girl can pull up her own undies
it's a score!

I want to share this super QUICK and EASY
tea towel apron pattern with you.
I found both written instructions and a fabulous video at
Missouri Quilt Company

Love my vintage blue towel.

This is a stack of 19 aprons made at our
Friendship Stars Quilt Guild Saturday Sew Day.
Each sewer made an apron in support of
National Tie one On Day
November 24,2010

While I couldn't actually sew, I made a great supervisor!

On Sunday our latest addition was baptized.
Isn't she just the cutest baby!
And so good natured, just like her grandma....

This is my favorite photo at the church.
Little Piper smiling and cooing for the Priest.
She's the best baby!

I hope your enjoying the fall weather.
Love the sunny days and crisp nights!

Apple Butter House sale this weekend!!!

Get Hoppin!

Ohhhhh, you just HAVE TO check this out!
It is going to be so much fun!
A group of wonderful designers offering free pattern
downloads and loads of prizes.
The timing is perfect with you now what just around the corner.
Click on the logo and get hoppin......

Look at this darling FREE witch pattern.
How cute is she!

I discovered Bird Brain Designs.
They have so many cute patterns
it's hard to choose what to do next.

I want to introduce you to my new BBF.
Notice her small waist.
Maybe she'll tell me her secrets. LOL
Here she is modeling the apron Mz Shirley made for me.
I love the ruffled edge.
Way to cute to wear and get dirty.

BBF was a real find.

This tea towel was a great deal also.
Mr Tomato head is a cutey I couldn't pass up.
Apple Butter House had their Fall Open House this weekend.
Caroline had the barn so festive.
I love it out there!

Hope your enjoying the Fall weather.
Pumpkin, apples and cinnamon....
A PERFECT COMBINATION.

See you on the hop.
Hugs,

Chicken Scratch....without chickens

I love gingham almost as much as I love polka dots!

Have you seen the latest issue of Apron-ology?

There is a fabulous article on gingham embroidery.

Gingham embroidery is a form of cross stitch

that is stitched on gingham fabric using the edges

of the squares instead of counting threads.

It's usually done with white thread

so the end results looks like lace.

Better known as chicken scratch

depression lace, or snow flake embroidery.

I'm not sure I like the black gingham but the pattern is cute.

The directions are in the magazine.

Here are 3 chicken scratch aprons from my collection.

Aren't they the definition of COUNTRY!

This pink beauty was made by my Grandma Cottrell.

Probably in the 1950's.

This is how my love of sewing and needlework started.

Aprons and gingham.

And Grandma.

She had the patience of a saint.

The pink floss on pink gingham is called

reverse chicken scratch.

Ohhh.......

look at this red gingham with black and white floss!

The black really draws your eye,

don't you think?

Notice the excellent workmanship.

And the pocket and waistband detail.

This blue cutie has cut out squares.

Something I had never seen before.

Have you?

Both the red and blue aprons were given to me

by a dear friend, Maretta.

She said she thought of me as soon as she saw them!

Notice the waistbands are the same?

Wonder if both were made by the same lady?

And here is a beautiful cherry tablecloth!

In excellent condition.

No holes, tears, or rips.

50 x 64

With 4 matching napkins.

Colors Bright

For Sale.
$50.00 includes shipping.
Payment thru Paypal.


My latest pillowcase creations.
I've found a book with more edging patterns.
They're addicting.
And quick to do while watching TV.




Hugs,

Valentine Kisses

Cookies that just SCREAM
Happy Valentine's Day!

Macaroon Kisses

Made these for our "Sew Day" at the Quilt Shop.
They were a BIG-BIG hit,
if you love coconut.
I can't believe how many ladies don't care for it.

The green depression glass cake stand was
given to me by my Grandma Cottrell.
I get my love for pretty dishes from her.

Give them a try. Sweets for your Sweetheart.
The recipe makes about 4 dozen.

Here's the last apron in my give away.
Just leave a comment to enter.
I've had a few emails asking where I find my cute apron fabrics.
The fabric above, both the print and polka dots, is from Hobby Lobby.
The cupcake fabrics were from JoAnn's.
And the Michael Miller "Fifties Kitchen" was from the quilt shop.
The line came out, I guess, 5 years ago?
Available now on EBay.

And for this week's winner...

YEAH PAM!!

On the quilting front....
I'm having machine (longarm) trouble.
Can you believe it?
I had to replace the "mother board"
and a few other electronics.
Of course the warranty ran out last summer.
Just my luck.

I hope the weather is being kinder to you where you're at.
We had a million inches of snow fall the past two days.
As my Grandson says:
"Snow, snow
Go away
Aiden wants to go out to play!"

Have a great Sweethearts Day.
It's the Olive Garden and a girly movie for us.

Hugs,

Soft Pleated Apron Tutorial

Happy Valentine's Day Sweet Readers.

My gift to you.
My first tutorial.
This pleated style body is based on a vintage apron I found when out treasure hunting. The waistband and ties are pieced using the technique from
Jona Giammalva's Apron in an Hour.

Fabric Required
Body 1/2 yard
Waistband Ties & Trim 1/2 yard
Thread to match fabric

Supplies
Basic sewing supplies
"Quick Turn" fabric tube turners by Dritz
Iron

Cutting Your Fabric:
First, remove all selvage edges from fabric.
For apron body cut 1 piece of fabric 39" wide by 18" long
For waistband, ties & trim cut 4 strips 4 1/2" by width of fabric

Adding the bottom trim piece.
Take one of the 4 1/2" strips and iron in half.
Place this strip on the bottom raw edge of apron
right sides together.

Stitch, using a 1/4" seam. I like to zigzag the seam allowance.
You could also use pinking shears.

Trim strip even to match apron edges.
Iron seam upward.
Top stitch on front of apron.

Side Hems

Turn and press under 1/4" on each side edge.
Fold and press again.
Stitch.

I like to top stitch a second line of stitching.

Adding the pleats.

On the wrong side of the body apron piece
measure in 5" from the side edge.
From this mark measure every 2 inches.
Number your marks 1-2-3-4-5-6

Working on the wrong side of the fabric
bring line 1 to line 2 and pin.
Bring line 3 to 4 and pin.
Bring line 5 to 6 and pin.
Repeat for second side of apron.
Baste the pleats in place, keeping the top edge straight.

The folds of the fabric will be facing
toward the middle of the apron.

On the right side of your apron, the pleats
should be laying towards the outside edge
going away from the middle.

Adding Waistband and Ties

Take one 4 1/2" strip and lay on the top edge of apron.

Cut strip to fit adding 1/2" for seams.

Take one 4 1/2" x 44 strip and sew to one end of waistband.
Take 2nd 4 1/2" strip x 44 strip and sew to the other end of waistband.
Press seams open.
Smaller strip piece should now be in the middle.

Fold the waist tie strips right sides together matching raw edges.
Pin and stitch leaving the center above the main apron piece open.
Turn ties right side out.
Press, making sure the seam edge is flat.

Fold under 1/4' and press unfinished edge of your waistband strip
directly above the main apron body.

Fold the unsewn part of the waistband over so that
the folded edge covers the stitch line.
Pin in place.
Stitch close to edge.

Top stitch waist band and ties.

YOUR FINISHED!!!
Now try it on and take a picture.
I'd love to see what you've done!

If you have any questions please email me.
The link is at the top of the page.

Now let's hear the hummmmm of those
sewing machines.

*P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment on the Vintage Inspiration post
to be entered into the drawing for the pink apron.