Apron in a Jar...

Good morning!

I'm back from playing house in my trailer in the beautiful mountains of Utah.

Both the company and the weather

were perfect and my

long weekend was nice and relaxing.

And now it's time to get back to

good bloggy stuff:)

Last fall when I taught a 2 day workshop in St. George, Utah...I stayed 4 days with my good friend Nedra along with another 

good friend Jodi.

I always like to take a gift or two and on this occasion I put together all of the ingredients to make an apron...

and I put them in a jar:)

Ever since I posted about it last year I have continued to have several emails asking

 if my "1 Yard Apron" pattern

will fit in a jar...

and also...how I put the 

"apron in a jar" together...so...

I'm finally getting around to telling you!

Better late than never ...right?

This is my 1 yard apron pattern and yes...

the kit for the apron will fit in a

quart size canning jar:)

Each apron is made using 3 different fabrics that together total one yard of fabric.

All of the aprons are made with my

Sew Cherry fabric line and all of the trims are also from Riley Blake.

If you are interested...

you can find my pattern

HERE

These are just some of the aprons with different fabric combinations...

but there are 14 aprons total in the pattern...easy peasy to make and all 

have a  vintagey style.

My daughter Kassidy wore them for the photo shoot that took place in my backyard very early in the spring of this year.

Here are just a few of the pictures that

 Rae Ann took that day.

This is my favorite picture which is why I chose it for the center of the cover:)

In the background you can see signs of my garden just waking up from a long winter's sleep and now I can't believe it's almost time for it to go to sleep once again.

Basically what I did was lay out the fabric and trims for the apron...and folded them into a long rectangle the same height as the jar and rolled them up all snuggly and tight...

(just like rolling up a sleeping bag:)

and placed it in the jar.

I folded the pattern for the apron in half length wise and rolled it up like a scroll and placed it in the very center.

When the pattern doesn't fit in the jar...I place the pattern and the jar together in a cute little basket.

I made a tag using stamps and a little

bit of scrapbook paper.

The stamp that I used is from Crafty Secrets.

Click here 

if you want one of your own:)

I wanted it to look like a recipe card

to go along with a canning theme.

I cut a circle out of paper to

fit the lid and then tied the tag

around the neck along with a tulle bow.

I have made several of these aprons in a jar in the past and they're a really fun and easy gift to put together for friends on a

special occasion...which to me...

is a quilting retreat!

How about you?...do you have a

fun retreat planned?

I hope sew:)

xx

Lori

Grandma's Kitchen

Grandma's Kitchen
54" x 69"
I designed this quilt right after I finished teaching my "Apron Club" quilt. I had agreed to teach the aprons on a monthly basis over a years time, I was actually worried about filling the class because I didn't know if there were others out there who loved aprons as much as I did. (at that time, you couldn't find apron patterns or the apron theme anywhere!) I felt pretty alone in my love of aprons and all things vintage because back then there were no blogs either. You can imagine my delight and surprise to see so MANY women from all over sign up for my class.

It was so fun to meet once a month to applique and talk about our grandmas. I would bring many of the aprons from my collection and many of my students would bring show and tell which consisted of photos of their grandmas and an apron or two and some other things that once belonged to them. So many of the items and conversations were centered around memories of their grandmas which obviously led to the subject of their grandmas kitchens.
When the year was nearly over, my students expressed the desire to keep meeting (we had really bonded as a group and formed friendships- we called ourselves the apron club, which is how I named the quilt) They asked if I would design another quilt and continue teaching it on a monthly basis. That is when the idea of my "Applique Clubs" came about. I started a new club with a new quilt which of course was the obvious choice of "Grandma's Kitchen". I still design and teach that way. I only teach each of my quilts once and I design them as I go along throughout the club. Of course I know what the quilt will look like, but my students don't- they find out that day when they show up for class and pick up their kit. That's when they know which block they will be working on and what it looks like. I find that the element of surprise appeals to them and I really enjoy designing this way. My clubs last for about a year (give or take a few months) and when the class is over, the pattern for that quilt is available on the market.
I am so grateful to my students whom I consider friends. I love meeting new women when each applique club starts and continue to enjoy those who join every club that I offer and are "veterans" of my clubs. They could probably teach my designs better than I can and often help me when there are so many students that I can't get to at once.
When I designed this quilt, the first block I did was the old mixer just like my moms and grandma's. It's the kind that I learned to use as a girl. I added a green jade-ite bowl to the one on my block for an extra punch of color to go with the black and white.

I really love the "kitch" style which is very 1950's and is how I remember both of my grandmothers kitchens. It was fun to add some of the things that I remember and add the details with embroidery. I added the task and day of the week embroidery to represent the floursack dishtowels that were so popular back then. Neither of my grandmothers hands and eyes are steady enough any longer to make these, but my mother still does and in fact, she embroidered me a set for my birthday last year. They are days of the week (my favorite) with runaway dishes. She also made a set for each of her other daughters and each daughter-in-law along with grandaughters and grandaughters-in-law. WOW! My mother is amazing.
Of course I put an apron in the quilt- our grandmas couldn't do without one and neither could this quilt!! I added the hot pads along with the crochet one because they used to make hot pads with left over fabric in all different shapes and designs. Patterns for these hot-pads could be found in the paper, magazines or even in the embroidery pattern envelopes. They were often made for charity bazaars, gifts and of course- their own kitchens. I have a collection of these also in my kitchen and especially have several crochet ones. I really like the red & white, green & white, yellow & white, etc..
I added a few other things that I remember from their kitchens that we don't really use anymore. They are the depression glass hand juicer, floursifter, eggbeater and wire dishrack. And don't forget the jello mold- we used to use those all the time for Sunday dinner or church socials when I was a girl.
Do you remember the tins for flour, sugar? They had such cute floral patterns on them. Some were decorated by adding decals. Everything for the kitchen back then was all about bright and cheerful colors with a lot of black in floor patterns and small appliances.
Those were the days when the kitchen really was the heart of the home. Everyone would gather there to visit and of course-there was also a lot of cooking and baking going on in both of my grandma's kitchens! That's where I would always find them. I made a block that you can write your own grandmas recipe on the card next to the recipe file.
I also added a few scriptures here and there because I love scriptures and there are a few that remind me of my grandmas and kitchens.
You can put whatever you want in the quart canning jar- I chose fabric that reminded me of canned peaches! My grandmothers always canned everything! My mother canned whatever my Dad grew in his garden and fruit trees and that was A LOT! When we were old enough, we all helped and I still do it today and I am teaching my children to continue on the tradition. You can't buy anything that even comes close to that home-canned taste!The lemon-ade pitcher and cakestand remind me of all the fancy dishes they had in their cupboards and used for entertaining. They NEVER made a cake in a 9x12. That just would not be presentable!
I added the mixing bowls because they had so many different colors and styles back then that I love!! The yelloware bowl with the blue stripe is just like the one that my Mom learned to cook with and my grandma gave it to me!! I keep it on my kitchen shelf along with many other vintage finds. The pyrex bowl at the top of the stack is just like the one that my Mom got as a wedding gift. They came in a set of 3 and had lids on them. Yes- I love pyrex too!
Can you see the block with the tin cookie cutter? My grandma had a lot of these different shaped cutters with red or green handles. The one I drew is just like one my Mom had and my sisters and I used as girls when baking.

We used to gather a lot at my grandma's house's for dinner. I have lots of wonderful memories of Aunts, Uncles and cousins being there too. I also added a cookie jar because that was the first place my brothers, sisters, cousins and I would go when we went in the kitchen!What about your memories of your grandma or mother and her kitchen? Would you like to share? Please add your comments! I would love to hear from you.
I added scallops and ric-rac on the border of the quilt because it looked feminine and vintage. I hope that you enjoy making this quilt and it brings back a lot of good memories for you. I would love to see your blocks or your quilt when complete!

Let's Bake Sew Along - Week Three!!

Well hello there!

Are you ready to bake up a few more blocks this week?

Let's do this!!

Preheat your ovens...

Grab your kit...

Your supplies and 

Sew Simple Shapes...

And Let's Bake!!

After today...

and when you are finished

 with the blocks that I have

 given instructions for up to 

this point in the sew along...

you can sew section one together:)

YaY!!

With that being said..

sew at your own speed because

 it's more important to enjoy 

making each block...

 instead of rushing through 

and feeling like you are

 always trying to keep up.

We all have different schedules

 and different priorities 

depending on the week.

Just know that the tutorials

 are here for you 

when YOU are ready!

First up is the Rolling Pin Block.

I talked about this block

 in the cutting posts 

right before the sew along started.

If you have not done so...

you need to trace a

 1 1/2" x 8" rectangle 

onto the 

Sew In Interfacing 

for the rolling pin part:)

Pin it to your fabric as usual...

And sew. 

Turn and press:)

Run the green strip through the 1/2" bias tape maker and cut two pieces 2 1/4" long.

Press one end under 1/4". These are your handles.

Place the rolling pin 

in the center of 

your fabric and pin into place...

 Place the handle under 

the left end like this.

The raw edge is underneath the 

rolling pin and the folded edge 

is on the outside end of the handle.

Use the Sue Daley Glue and 

glue baste into place.

Repeat for the right side as well.

Run the nutmeg striped fabric strip

 through the 1/2" bias tape maker.

Cut two pieces 1 1/2" long and

 press under each end 1/4" like this.

Tuck it under the rolling pin 

and on top of the handle...

 and glue baste.

Repeat for the other side 

and now you are all basted

 and prepared for appliqué!

For this quilt I have chosen to

 hand appliqué using the 

traditional appliqué stitch.

When I appliqué by machine...

 I just use a tiny zigzag stitch.

With either method...

I always match my thread to 

each appliqué piece.

With machine appliqué...

I only change the top thread 

and leave the bobbin white.

You can use your favorite method!

Your rolling Pin Block should measure

 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" 

BEFORE sewing into the quilt.

Now let's beat some eggs!

Use the embroidery pattern 

on page 11 of your 

Sew Along Guide and trace it 

onto your background fabric

 using a 

Light Box

Grab a 1/2" green button from the

 #3 Cute Little Buttons Jar

Run the widest strip through the

 3/4" bias tape maker for the handle.

Run the medium strip through the 

1/2" bias tape maker 

for the bottom bracket.

Run the smallest strip through

 the 1/4" bias tape maker

 for the center bracket.

Prepare the large strip for handle by

 cutting and pressing the ends under 

so that it measures

 2 1/4" long when finished.

The medium strip should measure

 1 1/2" long after cutting and 

pressing the ends under.

The smallest strip should measure

 1" long after cutting and pressing.

Glue baste the strips either

 before or after embroidery:)

I used a backstitch and 

all 6 strands of my gray 

Aurifloss

Your Eggbeater Block should measure 

4 1/2" x 8 1/2"

BEFORE sewing it into the quilt.

Okay...

now let's do the 

Large Apron Block...

or what I like to call 

Mama's Apron:)

You will need the 

E-1  E-2  E-3

Sew Simple Shapes

Run the 3 bias cut strips

 through the 3/8" bias tape maker.

Run the yellow graph paper print strip through the 1/2" bias tape maker.

Sew... trim...and turn your shapes.

There are no inner curves or

 cleavage areas in the 

seam allowance to clip...yay!

Use the turning tool to shape them

 and press to prepare for basting 

onto the background.

Start by placing the bottom edge

 of the skirt in the center 

and  3/4" up

 from the bottom edge 

of your background.

The top of the apron goes 

right above the bottom skirt...

just touching but not overlapping.

Finish up the pieces by basting 

the yellow top apron and 

red pocket into place.

I glue basted mine...

but not all the way to the edge

 because I wanted to leave 

plenty of space to tuck under 

the ties and the vintage trim.

***IMPORTANT***

At this point ...

grab your design boards!

When you are glue basting blocks

 that have vintage trim like this one...

you will want to do it

 on a design board so that you can

 pin straight down into it.

It makes this process SOOO much easier!

This is what the block looks like

 all basted and ready for appliqué.

You can glue baste your apron strings 

and neck down first before 

the vintage trim.

All raw ends are tucked underneath

 appliques and the ends showing 

are pressed under...

just like in the rolling pin block.

If you have NOT participated 

in my previous appliqué sew alongs...

 or if you need a refresher on making straight and curved bas tape...

CLICK HERE

to watch my video where I 

show you how in detail.

I do all of the bias tape 

in all of my quilts the exact same way:)

The video is from week one of my 

Bee Happy Sew Along.

So after placing drops of glue down...

I place the vintage trim on top

 of the glue and tucked underneath the appliqué piece like this.

I do about 2 inches at a time

 and pin straight down through 

all of the layers and into the 

design board to hold 

into place as I go along.

When doing the bottom edge of apron...

Trim the raw ends of the vintage trim

 even with the apron bottom sides and put fray check on them after appliqué:)

These are the pins I use when doing this.

They are the 

 Pretty Pins- Applique

They are longer than my

 Mini-Applique Pins 

because I often need the extra length...

 especially for this step.

The heads are easy to grasp and 

they are strong enough to pin into

 the design boards without bending.

They work perfectly!

I continue working my way around ...

pinning and glueing as I go:)

I keep all of the pins in until

 the glue is completely dry...

about 10 minutes:)

Now you can appliqué! 

In the photo above you can sew 

the neck strap appliqué is completed.

 I'll bet you are wondering how 

to appliqué the edges where there

 is vintage trim...right?

I do one stitch right in-between

 each scallop of the trim 

and going into the background..  

 taking a bite into the 

appliqué edge at the same time.

This is what the back looks like.

I tried to take side views 

very close up so that you can see...

although the stitches are 

so tiny that it's hard to!

And that's the way it should be...

but no worries...they are secure!

Large Apron Block completed!!

It should measure

 8 1/2" x 12 1/2" BEFORE 

sewing into your quilt.

Now you can sew the 

first section together...

I'm sew happy!!

We will start on section two 

during next weeks tutorials:)

Have fun baking!!

xx

Lori