Friday, April 13, 2012

Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders: Hot Pad Apron

Oh, how  I adore the One-Yard Wonders franchise.  I usually mix and match fabrics and I don't necessarily stick with the one-yard philosophy, but I really think they're fun projects.  Maybe because they're generally quick, easy and completely satisfying.  Ever since I got the new Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders book in December, I've had a long list of projects that I wanted to try, one of them being the fantastic Hot Pad Apron.  Lucky for me, this is the chosen pattern for the Sew Along this month!



Like many other One-Yard Wonders patterns that I've made in the past, I didn't use an exact yard of fabric.  Rather, I was given a bunch of fabrics that I had no idea what to do with, and this plaid happened to be among them.  Like I've said before, I like to think that I'm still embracing the One-Yard Wonder concept by being thrifty and using a fabric that I already had on hand.



Some notes on this pattern:

  • I didn't feel that there was quite enough fabric for the waist ties (because they were trying to get everything to fit in just one yard!), so I cut my waist ties a little more generously than you are supposed to.
  • The hot pads can be a bit tricky to sew, because they get so thick. I didn't hammer my edges flat, but it might be a good idea.
  • I felt that I needed an additional tack sewn in the hot pads, as they were still flopping out a bit with only one.  I added one more, about an inch from the first - this seems to work pretty well (see below):



I used white thread to put the tacks through the hot pads, and they are not very noticeable at all - I added red circles to the two photos above so that they are easier to find.

I think this may have to be my new go-to apron, at least for springtime.  No more searching for oven mitts!

6 comments:

  1. You sure have been a sewing fool! Love seeing these great projects. Keep em coming! Great job and love the owl fabric a few posts back.

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    1. Thank you! It's just such a joy to sew - so I do it constantly. I haven't decided exactly what the owl print should be yet. A skirt? Pajama bottoms? Only time will tell.

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  2. Constant sewing, I hear you! Except I also have this constant knitting habit that has to be fed too, so I am combining the two for a dress (knit top with sewn bodice) for my youngest. Can't wait to see what you decide for the owl fabric.

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    1. Oh, how fun! I'm re-learning how to knit, after a long hiatus. I'm sure the dress will be lovely.

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  3. I have appreciated looking at your good work on Africankelli's blog. I knew you would have an apron already made and pictures posted! Mine is nearly complete, but the perfectionist in me isn't very pleased, especially since I intend to give it as a gift. I do appreciate the review of your process in finishing this project - perhaps it should have been in a book called One-and-a-half Yard Wonders?

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    1. Good luck on your apron! There were definitely some tricky parts to this project. And it's true that some One-Yard Wonders patterns are kind of jammed into a single yard. I absolutely love the concept, but some of the patterns really lend themselves well to mixing and matching fabrics, or adding additional features. I can't wait to see your end result!

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