October 28, 2009

my first apron

Apron second side

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned completing a first-ever sewn creation that I managed to "pull-off". An apron it is! 

While I have sewn off and on my whole life, an expert sewer I am not. And never before have I even come close to sewing something I could wear. So THIS apron is a very exciting accomplishment for me. I bought most of the fabric I used, and the gold super size ric rac, at a great little fabric store on main street in Ashland on my trip there earlier this month. I practiced and learned more of the 100 or so stitches available on my sewing machine. I tried different threads and ways of sewing on pockets. Crazy fun, I tell you.  And I also have to credit Liz Elaynefor the inspiration on this one. She makes the most beautiful aprons. She sold them last year at Squam and this year everyone had their aprons in tow. Every chance I could I tried to borrow/steal someone’s apron because they are especially great for teaching and keeping your supplies at hand. Plus they are just so pretty~  a fashion statement all on their own. 

Turns out aprons are also great for wearing to the farmer’s market. Many pockets equal keeping your cash organized and easy to get to. I don’t know about you but by the time I leave the Farmer’s Market what’s left of my cash is always rolled into a ball.

Apron pocket

So I love, love, love my apron and wear it every chance I get. In fact I usually have it on at home. OK, I wear it every day. I wore it to Trader Joe’s and the checker complimented me on it, then proceeded to make fun of my intense enthusiasm when I practically shouted "I MADE it myself!"

My apron also makes me want to SEW MORE. How did I miss the joy of sewing my whole life? I think sewing has always felt like one of those skills "that other people have", but the truth is that it is much like any other form of creating. You just sit down and start making something.

Apron

*Edit* October 29. Jen over at Indie Fixx invited me share a peek inside my home, something I’ve been meaning to do for ages, invite you all in for a little tour, and the post is up today! And you should totally check out all of the homes in Jen’s blog feature, A Peek Inside: Indie Home Tours. SO inspiring.

Comments (18)

Congratz on sewing your own wearable! Sounds like so much fun! Love the fabric and the colors. :D Very very pretty and cute! I'm also making something wearable for myself...altho it looks scary and i worry if i could do it but i must admit it's alot of fun and it keeps you wanting to work more! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Great job! Aprons are totally in fashion...it's no longer simply utilitarian...now it's fashion! Have you seen the apron•ology magazine by Stampington?
Oh this is so beautiful and charged with sunshine! Love your story about expressing yourself in forms you thought were for others too!
So so so pretty!! I love it!
jumbo ric rac makes me happy!!!
marisa,

i love the fact that you were out and share your creation with others. i am just about to purchase my first sewing machine; can't wait to make an apron. i would love to see an apron with your charaters on it.
I'm definitely in the Beginner category of sewing (pretty good at the straight lines!), but my way is to just forge ahead when I'm inspired by a project, and assume it'll work out, or at least I'll learn something from it. I'm soooo proud of a garment I made (without a proper pattern!!) for this year's halloween costume. Your apron looks wonderfully cheerful!
Marisa, what a fantastic job on the apron, it's so cute. I love sewing and to be honest prefer to wing things than use a pattern, I need to make a few more aprons. Great job and you should be proud of yourself and your new apron.
Love it. When will you start selling them? I want to get a sewing machine, but we have no space. That's the price for little in So Cal. No storage.
I LOVE it - the red pocket and the jumbo ric rak is the best.
I love,love,love your apron. So delightful!! I have a couple of aprons I've made, but nothing this fantastic. Now I'll have to try making one with lots of different fabrics, pockets and HUGE ric-rac. Love that!!
It's fabulous! I'm so excited you've discovered the JOY of sewing! That ric rac is incredible. It's all over now...
i laughed out loud about the checker at trader joes. instead, there should have been clapping all around for your beautiful creation! and i thought of another bonus with aprons, they can hide what happens when one goes off the diet wagon :)
i'm pulling out my singer featherweight!
I love that you wore it out in public. I wear mine almost all the time when I'm at home, but I don't wear it out. Brava!
yay! it's SO cute!
Oh, I totally relate to so many parts of this post! I've always wished I could sew, and have been dreaming of plunging in by making an apron. Also, I have a very similar experience at the farmer's market---what do you do with the money so that you don't keep having to dig into your wallet every other minute? I love wearing aprons too---I just might have to actually give apron-making a try!
Great apron Marisa! Well done you!
That is a very nice sewing experience, I love the clors. Nice post