A Cute Denim Apron

I pinned this neat apron tutorial about a month ago, but I got sidetracked and kinda forgot about it until today. I wanted a project that would be quick and fun, and wasn’t doll-sized. This turned out to be the perfect project.

I followed the instructions pretty closely, although I did find a couple changes to be necessary. I’m obviously a bit more generously-proportioned than the lady pictured in the tutorial, so I cut two 4-inch strips instead of cutting one and cutting that in half for the ties. If I had made them a little longer I could have wrapped them around and tied in front, but it worked to have 18” (or so) ties.

When I got the pieces all together I also found that the top was too wide…

…so I put some pleats in, and it’s perfect.

I decided I did not want the pocket on the upper portion. I pinned it on, got ready to stitch it down, and decided I didn’t like the way it looked on my apron. The jean pockets are perfect anyway – I made sure the pockets were intact when I stitched the ruffle on.

This was my first attempt at making my own bias tape with my new (non) bias tape maker. It’s a pain to get the fabric started through the device, but once that’s done, it’s a snap to make the non-bias tape (I did not cut mine on the bias – I followed the instructions in the tutorial and they were for non-bias tape). I made mine 1/2” double fold because that’s the size of my bias tape maker. I love how it came out, and it was much easier than I thought it would be.

So, there you go. I made a cute denim apron, and I love it! I might just start on some Christmas gifts a little (big) bit early…

Uhoh - My Daughter Got a Baby Doll

I think I may need an intervention. I've made clothes for my daughter (fun - but she doesn't appreciate them the way I would like), I've made clothes for my boys, and I've made clothes for me. I've even made clothes for stuffed hamsters. But until yesterday I'd never made clothes for a baby doll.

My daughter had never been really "into" baby dolls until Nana bought her one last week, so it never really came up. Nana bought her a bath time baby that only had a little diaper and a hooded towel. It's winter in Montana - it's COLD! Baby Rosa needed some clothes!

So I pinned some fun stuff and played with some ideas. But when I finally got around to starting to make them I was done for. Not in the "uhoh - I'm in big trouble" sorta way, but in the "sorry family, I hope you can fend for yourself for the next forever" sorta way.

First I tried this cute sundress...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sweet dress is reversible, and will soon have some cute buttons or something that attach to the exposed Velcro just for cuteness. (Here it is with the new diaper shown below – I love mixy-matchy!)
 

But it’s too cold to go without pants!

Better. But those bare arms…it’s –15F raw temperature. What kind of person lets a baby doll freeze in these temperatures?!
 

I used an old sundress of Kristi’s and an old shirt of mine to make this little dress from this tutorial over at ruth plus two. Since my Kristi’s doll is only 13” I decreased the pattern to 80% when I printed it. It probably could have gone down to 75% as long as the dress was made with something stretchy like the knit I used.

I decided not to bother with seam binding or elastic – I cut my pieces from the bottoms of the garments so the edges were finished already, and I used the sleeve hem for the neckline instead of putting in elastic. When I was one with the dress I decided Rosa needed a matching diaper from this tutorial at Blueberry Moon.
 

Maybe it’s time to quit playing with the doll and start making dinner for my family?

but I think she might need some booties…