February 2014

I haven't post many outdoor pictures this year. It has either been too gloomy or too frigid to be out more then a few moments. This picture was taken about ten days ago. Arctic looking, isn't?

Kerri dog walking in the park, wearing just as many layer as we are!

 I am glad to say the weather has gotten a bit better since these pictures where taken. The sun has come out, the temperature warmed and the snow has compressed. We can actually see bare sidewalks now!

The view from my bedroom window with lovely morning sunlight.

Dorothy Apron Tutorial

To make the Dorothy Apron you will need:

3/4 of a yard fabric or 3 fat quarters or 1/2 yard each of coordinating fabrics

1 package or 3 yards binding

Dorothy Pattern

When printing the pattern make sure you choose "Actual Size". You might also have to choose a borderless paper option under Page Setup.

If you are making a Dorothy Apron with the contrasting skirt, you will need to cut five skirt sections in your main fabric and four in your contrasting fabric. Cut waistband and ties in main fabric.

 Sew side seams of skirt pieces together matching notches.

 Hem back edge of apron skirt.

 Hem or bind bottom edge of skirt. 

I would recommend binding, hemming the scallops are a pain! If, like me, you think the apron would look better hemmed, here is a few pointers.

First I basted around the scallops 1/4 inch from the edge, then I turned up and ironed it. Working very carefully, ironing about half an inch at a time. Flip over occasionally to check hem shape, you don't want and points. After the ironing is done I stitched around the hem from the right side. That was my method. I was happy how it turned out, but would have been happier if I could have done it a different way. There are really only three ways to finish scallops off.

Binding; Hemming, like I did; or Facing, which I didn't have enough fabric for.

Now it is time to move on to the waistband and ties. Narrow hem around edges of tie leaving one short edge un-hemmed. Fold hemmed ends of ties diagonally to create points and sew down.

 Fold waistband in half long wise and iron. Pin ties to each end of waistband between fold and edge right sides togther. Remember to leave 1/4" seam allowance! Sew waistband side seams.

Pin and sew one long side of waistband along skirt top edge, easing to fit. Fold waistband right side out and fold 1/4" seam allowance under on raw edge pinning to seam allowance of skirt/waistband seam. Sew down. I stitched in the ditch on the right side, but you can also top stitch or hand stitch down.

You now have a Dorothy Apron!
Enjoy!

February Apron of the Month

I am so so excited to be introducing to you an Apron History Pattern and 

February Apron of the Month!

the

Dorothy Apron

She is a darling little waist apron based on a 1940's pattern with a scalloped hem. I think I had a bit of spring fever when I started planning this project. The minute I decided on the pattern I knew this was the fabric to use!  

Dorothy is actually made up of three fat quarters. Of course I had to do a little old fashioned make-doing to get all the pieces to fit! If you look very closely right behind the bow in the above picture, you can see where I had to piece the waistband.

Here you can clearly see there are actually three different fabrics in the apron. One for the ties and waistband, and two contrasting for the skirt.

 Tomorrow I will post pictorial  directions for making up Dorothy. I have included simple directions in the pattern too.

Enjoy! 

A Quilted Apron Collection

I absolutely fell in love with all the quilted aprons in Erika Mulvenna's (Miss-Sews-It-All) collection. Very inspiring! 

Are you getting excited about the February Apron of the Month coming soon?! I am!

How about a bit of Pink?

In honor of Valentine's Day I thought I would share a few of my favorite pink sewing patterns. Aren't they beautiful?

Happy Valentine's Day!

We loved our Christmas Poinsettia wreath so much, that I removed the flowers (held on with straight pins) and made hearts so we could leave it up longer.

I love how it looks in the dinning room window. And I finally figured out the best way to photograph it, at night. 

Pssst...... pass the word

 For those of you who are knitters I thought you would like to know I have published a free mitten pattern on Ravelry. It is very exciting, we have had so much fun watching the statistics!

I named them North Woods Mittens as they are double layer and very warm and cozy! They have been our favorite mittens this year! To find the pattern and more details visit Ravelry.

Here you can see one mitten inside out, with a scrappy sock yarn inside layer.

Cheese and Ways to serve it

Being a good Wisconsin girl, this little booklet drew me like a magnet! Plus there are aprons on the cover and inside. A treasure! 

This little cookbook is five and a half inches by 3 inches, tiny and cute!

 The back cover, with a better look at all the aprons!

 Put out by Kraft Cheese in 1931. Don't you love how all the big food companies came out with cookbooks to promote their products? You don't see that much anymore. 

 I love the little sketches in the corners!  Not only are the ladies cooking, but shopping, chopping, stirring and serving.

 How much more vintage can you get then bridge sandwiches!

 I didn't realize until I was scanning these, but each page is perforated for removal and easy filing in the recipe box.

New Rug

One of the things on our to-do list has been a new living room rug. I knew with the house and new curtains a lighter larger one would look better. The curtains I had picked out since last March, but the rug, that was a little harder. We finally decided to just buy one we liked and bring it home. If it was not right we could always take it back.

I think it is a winner!  It opens, brightens and defines the space very nicely.

I snapped a few quick pictures to see how it would look. Still trying to decided whether the pillows are okay or should be a different pattern........

At first I wasn't sure if it was going to be too matchy-matchy with the curtains, but it seems to tie it all together. (Kerri is at her favorite watching post!) I love the color tones in the rug, just perfect.

 A better view of the design.......and Kerri!

Knitted Tights

With all of the frigid weather this year, I have been knitting like crazy! And my favorite knitting project so far are my Tights! 

Yes, I knitted tights. And they were so worth it! It actually didn't take me very long to knit, about three weeks, but I had extra motivation, the weather forecast!
The pattern is Mel Clark's Tangerine Tights from Knitting Everyday Finery.

I love wearing them! So cozy and comfy with no pinching like spandex tights. The yarn is Cascade Heritage Sock, a very soft wool/nylon blend. I had three skeins in my stash and I used just about every inch.

 The tights are knit in a knit two, purl two ribbing at the foot and up the calf, then it changes to a knit three, purl three ribbing after increasing for the thigh. I added short row shaping for more room in the seat. The waist is simply turned over and sewn down with elastic run through. My ravlery page is here.

The nice thing about the pattern is you can try the tights on as you go as they are knit from the toe up. I knit most of the pantie up before trying on and realized I had accidentally put all the short row shaping in the front instead of the back! Opps! 

I hope everyone is staying warm!