Gardener's Apron

What have I been up to lately?  Sewing.  Seam ripping.  Why, you ask?  I chose to make a gardener's apron for entry in the upcoming county fair for the extension group I'm in called "A-ha!"  I am not a wonderful seamstress, and I don't have a lot of patience when it comes to new techniques or materials.  Bias tape was new, and my patience was thin by late last night.

Bias tape--my conquered enemy

 

Waistbands--not a friend

Four huge pockets and more bias tape

But, I'm done.  It looks pretty good, and I won't embarrass myself by having my name on it now.  I used this pattern (altered somewhat in length and width) from a crafter's apron at Martha Stewart.com along with these sites and/or pictures:
Make It Do
Busty LaRue's Glitz and Glamour
GenevaDesigns on Etsy
GreatGoods on Etsy
All materials were purchased at my local Wal-Mart Supercenter.

1% inspiration + 99% perspiration = one gardener's apron

Now, back to getting the libraries ready for the new school year soon to begin...

Tee-Bags, T-shirt Totes, Recycled T-shirt Shopping Bags--Whatever You Call 'Em--They're GREAT!

After a quick trip to the local thrift shop (on $2 bag day, no less!), I was stocked up on t-shirts for this project.

To begin, choose your t-shirt.  This may be the most difficult part!  My son chose this one since it was from a preschool he went to a couple of years ago.

Next, turn your t-shirt inside out.  Lay it out flat (on the floor or a table) and line up the sides and bottom (if the bottom is not straight across, sew a straight seam on the shorter side).

Sew a straight seam (I used a zigzag stitch) all the way across the bottom of the shirt (be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of all seams on this project for added stability).

To make a box-pleat bottom (that's a bottom that is flat like a brown paper bag (remember those?), open up the corner of the bottom seam and form a triangle.  See photos for detail.  Sew (and backstitch!) a seam across about about 3-4" down from the point.  The further down you sew, the larger the dimensions on the bottom of the bag will be.

First put your hand inside the corner.

Lay out the corner and smooth it flat with your hand into a triangle.

Sew across in a straight line from side to side.

Repeat for the opposite corner--be sure to make both sides the same size.

Turn the shirt right-side out again.  Smooth out wrinkles. 

Using scissors or rotary cutter (recommended if you have one), cut off the sleeves.  I cut away the factory stitching, but some people save it for extra strength. 

This would be saving the factory stitching...

This would be cutting it off...

Cut around the collar (about 1/2" around the front).

Then fold the shirt in half and cut away extra down as far as you prefer.  I cut some deeper since their graphic was not disturbed.  Some will either have to have a higher cut or lose some of their picture.

Voila!  You are done!

If you'd like, add a piece of covered (cover with clear tape or contact paper for easy wiping) cardboard for extra stability in the bottom.

Bonus:
The extra pieces can be used for the following:

Headband
(Yes, this is a self-protrait; no, I couldn't see my headband before I took the picture; yes, I should have adjusted it; no, I don't like this photo--at all!)

Tiny Hiny Crack Cover
(I'm going to have to patent this  before someone else does--it will be the newest craze!)

Necklace
(such strange things thrill them)

Here's everything you'll cut away: both sleeves, the collar, and a bit more under the collar

Two New Orleans-themed Tee-Bags

The "box pleat" or "gusset" bottom

More Felt Food Fun!

I have added to the kids' felt food collection. They now have the sandwich, bag of potato chips, celery stalk, strawberries, hamburger patty and buns, fried eggs, and a half-done donut (100% calorie-free!). My next project is animal cookes with icing.

My friend Meridith over at Smitty Baby caught the Felt Food bug, and she's crafting away! Check out her book and gift items at her Smitty Baby store! Enjoy!

Felt food is fun! It's fun to make and fun to play with, too! After seeing an article in the Amarillo Globe News, my mom called to tell me about a stay-at-home mom who makes felt food for her daughter to play with instead of plastic food. I had recently got a grocery sack full of felt in various colors free from my uncle. When he bought a house it came with a load of old crafty stuff. Most of it was donated to the local thrift store, but for some reason, I kept the felt.

So far I've made a sandwich with 2 cheeses, lettuce, a tomato slice, pickle chips, and 2 slices of bread. I also made a sack of potato chips to go with it. I am currently working on some vegetables (celery, carrots, tomato) and fruits (strawberries, apples, grapes). Who knows when the felt crafting stage will pass, but for now it's fun and the kids like the end results!

I stumbled on the sandwich/potato chips template from the blog Keeper of the Cheerios. The pattern can be found here at Snazzle Craft.

The crafty urge hit, so I made these dolls from The Black Apple for the girls. The urge has finally left me, so I think this may be all there is for now.

Finally got the caterpillar costume done for Hunter (thank goodness, because he needs it Thursday!). He's going to be The Very Hungry Caterpillar for Storybook Character Day at school. He thought it was going to be a fun costume, but now he wishes I'd made a scarier, more macho character. Wish in one hand, spit in the other...

I forgot I took some pictures of the girls in their wrap dresses I made earlier this summer. The dresses were size 2, and I thought they looked small--until I put them on the girls! They are too big and will have to wait until next spring/summer to become a part of the daily wardrobe. I again discovered it's extremely difficult to make a 1 1/2 year-old hold still for a picture!

Finally finished the wrap dresses for Hadley and Harper (with help from my mom and her sewing machine on the buttonholes--thanks, Mom!). The one on the left is the back view, and the one of the right is the front view. They are a size 2, but I think the pattern runs a bit small. I hope they can wear them this summer and next summer, too. They turned out cute, but I'm not letting anyone inspect them too closely for flaws and my sewing technique! heehee

My mom brought over a huge stack of clothes (all but one item she made herself) that my sister and I wore when we were little (back in the early 1970s).

We tried them on Harper and Hadley and took pictures of their modeling efforts. I don't think they enjoyed all the wardrobe changes, but Mom and I had a good time looking at the clothes on little girls running all over the place! Well, okay, they WERE in the cage, but they ran all over the cage... .

I took a side-trip in my sewing to make three "tie-totes" that I found on Betz White's blog site. (This, by the way, is why NOTHING ever gets done on time when I'm working on a sewing project--distractions!) They turned out cute if I say so myself! I even remembered to take a picture for the blog post...I'm getting too organized, must be time for bed!

I have been working on a sewing project for a few days (well, weeks, but who's counting?). I am making the girls matching wrap-dresses with bloomer pants (they are green jumping frog print on a pink background with green lining inside).

I have decided I haven't sewed in a LONG time. I had forgotten how to pin correctly. I had forgotten how to thread the sewing machine...thanks, Mom, by the way!

I am 90% done with the outfits (pictures to follow, I promise!), and I am unsure if I'm going to keep up the sewing projects. I think the outfits have ended up costing more than just buying cute matching outfits at Kohl's or JC Penney. My time invested in them adds a whole other layer to the cost-analysis.

I wanted to make them those cute "pillowcase" dresses everyone is posting on Etsy...we'll see... .