Thursday, April 2, 2009

Sneak Peek!

Hi,
I'm Kebi and this is my first time posting on this blog. This will be my second apron swap, I just finished one with Lucy at the Sassy Apron Blog. It was so much fun and my partner in that swap Dayna W did a fantastic job! I'll post the goodies that I received on my own blog if you'd like to check it out. I'm so so excited for this swap.

I've been looking through the antiques shops in my home town and scored this fabulous large dresser scarf.




I just love the bright colors. It appears to me that this scarf was probably used by the original seamstress for practicing. The patterns include birds, butterflies, flowers, and an adorable tea pot. I was really drawn to the array of bright colors when I saw it.

I'm shopping this weekend for the complimentary fabric.

I don't own a serger, so I'd like to use bias tape to finish the edges of this apron. It looks like some of you ladies are more experienced than I am at sewing. Do you have any instructions or advice for using bias tape? I'd greatly appreciate any help or advice.

To thank you for sharing your words of wisdom, I'd like to host a giveaway for one of Mary Mulari's apron patterns. If you enter Shawnee's Mary Mulari giveaway here and mine you can have double the chance to win! I absolutely love giveaways and love to give back by hosting my own.

To enter, please leave your tips and advice for me. If you, like me, have never worked with bias tape, just leave a comment letting us all know how your apron is going. The winner will have their choice of the Clothespin Apron pattern, the Chatterbox Apron pattern, or the Hot Dish Apron pattern.

Please include your email address if it's not on your blog profile so I can contact you if you win :) Entries will be accepted until Wednesday April 8th at Midnight Central time. I'll announce the winner Thursday morning.


Good luck!

9 comments:

  1. Bias tape is pretty easy but I will tell you whats easier. I line everything.It may seem like its harder but actually its easier. Because then you dont have to mess with fitting bias tape on.

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  2. I had to use biais tape for my project and I found those 2 links extremely useful
    http://pir8.freeservers.com/quilting/CBT/

    http://prettyjanebackstage.blogspot.com/2008/10/continuous-bias-tape-tutorial.html

    Good luck to you

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  3. Your embroidery is so sweet! I think the folks in my area are hording theirs; I haven't seen anything like this in the shops...

    Happy shopping for the complimentary material.

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  4. Such a sweet scarf. I agree that it is easier to line something. It just depends on how "finished" you want it to look. I would be tempted to skip the bias tape and make a straight tape as I do for quilting in a coordinating fabric. Look at crazymomquilts.blogspot.com. She has a binding tutorial listed on the left hand side that should help. Can't wait to see what you do!

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  5. Kebi,
    Your IRON is your best tool!
    I press my fabric before I sew. I also iron seams,hems, folds etc before stitching, for 2 reasons, it makes it easier for me to stitch the fabric together but also helps me visually as I pin the pieces together to sort of see what the end result will look like...so my iron is my best buddy when sewing.
    Since you don't have a Serger you could iron in your seam seams then stitch them down. This will give a really clean edge that won't unravel.
    You could also do French Seams,,,but then it would be like sewing the apron twice. I usually do French seams on sheer or very delicate fabric like silk.
    Thanx for your sweet giveaway and have fun sewing your secrete swap partner's apron.
    >^..^<

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  6. Everyone gave you such good advice and since your fabric is vintage and more fragile I have to agree with Katmom; fold your material in and stitch it down.
    I use bias tape all the time but my aprons are industrial and take a beating. I have a feeling whom ever receives your gift will not be throwing it in the washing machine with the towels -LOL.

    Kathy in Florida

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  7. I love that little scarf...so cute and delicate. I use bias tape but the sizing in it makes my machine run loud so I've started making my own...and I love the way things turn out. OR...I line my it, I like the weight of an apron when it is lined.

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  8. This is my all-time favorite bias tape tutorial:

    http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2008/03/bias-tape-tutor.html

    Good luck!

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  9. I was going to mention the angry chicken tutorial too, but I'm like several of the girls out there; I line my aprons (or make them reversible) because I tend to need the extra layer when I spill. Whatever you do with that scarf will be beautiful, though!

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Welcome Apronistas -- I appreciate your lovely comments!!