more than merely a apron

full apron with fancy necklaceAhh, an apron for women, that could very well be a summer dress because it wraps all the way around in the back, better than many wrap skirts in fact. But, from the looks of it on Linda (the dress form) it’s perhaps at it’s best advantage as kitchen lingerie. Let’s take a closer look.

McCalls vintage apron patternI love all the pictures, I always do on patterns. They’re always so promising with Barbie doll proportions portrayed in the drawings, how could you not purchase the dream of the impossibly tiny waist and ridiculously long legs- in any decade?

back McCalls apron patternThe year on the pattern is 1975- bell bottoms, feathered hair and wide collared shirts to remember a few treasured looks from that era. As you can see, it’s billed as “Misses’ Butcher Apron” whatever that means.  I knew it would sew up quickly… I had to try it for myself.

full front apronI altered the neckline a bit. I do not enjoy the feel and pull of a tie-behind-the-neck apron. I changed it to fit more like a collar and not be a nuisance on the back of the neck. There are two darts on either side of the bodice area, to fit the fabric better around the bosom.

full wrap apron backFull coverage across the bottom- from hip to hip in fact (hospital gown designers could take a page from this pattern). Much better suited as a wrap dress than apron, although with the semi-fitted bodice area, showing sexy back- why not consider the look for something sassy to wear in the kitchen? With as much (or as little) as you like underneath…  ”Misses’ Butcher Apron” I think not!

vintage wood grain fabricThis floral fabric is lawn cotton, a very lightweight, soft and semi-transparent fabric to add to the apron’s flirty appeal. A swatch of wood grain fabric for pockets, blends but doesn’t overwhelm, keeps it down to business, lest you be misunderstood in any way.  Oh and don’t forget the necklace… and heels.

Do I need to stock my etsy shop with this apron, perhaps for Father’s Day?

 

wacky summer skirt

Stand out in the crowd by making your very own simple skirt with a wacky combination of fabrics. Perfect with a white tee shirt, chunky necklace and colorful strappy sandals on a hot summer day. The step by step tutorial is posted here or under the ‘sewing projects’ header (drawstring summer skirt) above.
drawstring skirt

gathered skirt back viewThe back view, might help you decide if you’d like to add pockets or leave them off. They could always be a less obvious fabric (than the one I used on this skirt) or go ahead and leave off the pockets and stay trashy with your phone stuffed in your bra or knickers …wherever it fits best ladies! ;)

easy summer skirt

No need to be matchy-matchy, get bold and stand out in a crowd!

a drawstring summer skirt with pockets

These three fabrics happened to be dropped together on my sewing table, the unmatchiness was perfect. I had to sew them together into a garment and make the combo permanent. Just the right combination for a lightweight cotton summer skirt.
vintage cottons
The fabrics: 1. A cotton probably from the early 1970′s from my mother-in-law’s stash.  2. Another cotton from Jan’s stash, she passed on a whole tub full of fabrics from the 70′s- much to my delight.  3. A random, fantastic print from Hancock Fabrics (a very hit or miss fabric store, in my book), from a couple of years ago, this was definitely a hit. I was so excited to find it, I bought the rest of the bolt, only 3 yards or so and this is the very last of my 3 yards.

funky pocket skirtThe finished skirt, is basically what I had in my head. The pattern is very simple, a bit of gathering and hemming and that’s pretty much it.

I’ve decided, you’ve got to have pockets on a skirt to make it even worth wearing. I’ve been told it’s ‘trashy’ to put one’s phone in one’s bra when there isn’t a pocket available… oh really…

drawstring waist skirtA drawstring is a very easy way to finish a skirt. Due to the slippery texture of this particular black cording, and its inability to stay knotted, I will probably be changing it out for something that will not continually come untied- and you thought your phone in your bra was a problem?!

vintage fabrics and trimI added the butterfly ribbon on the bottom to tie it all together, it felt like it needed one more thing and why not give it that Anthropologie look and feel.

funky skirt

butterfly ribbonCheck out the full (some sewing skills necessary) tutorial on how to make an easy summer drawstring skirt here.