the blue blog archives: making time for making aprons

The boys signed up for a little after-school baking class on Mondays. I thought they'd go for the outdoor after-school gym class, but baking is what they wanted to do. Okay. I casually checked the sign-up sheet Saturday night to see when and where the class was exactly and it says, "bring an apron!". Aaaaack! Where do I find a non-frilly boy apron in one day? (I, myself, don't really bake and so I have no idea where to find anything apron-y or bake-y anyway.) Guess I'll have to make one. Er, two.

I knew I had some cool "boy" fabric from Ikea ($7 for several meters), but could I whip up two aprons - with no pattern! - by Monday? I had to pre-wash the fabric Saturday night after the boys went to bed. Then I snuck into wee one's room to borrow a girly apron her aunt gave her when we were in Germany to use as a pattern model. I cut out pieces Saturday night and put off all the sewing until Sunday. No problem, except Sunday is hubby and my usual play day, where each of us gets to go out for a few hours and do our own thing (I go to knitsmiths of course), so there was actually very little sewing time during the day. And then at night there was the Red Sox game!

Awww, no biggie, the Sox are playing at home; the game starts at a reasonable time; it'll be over by 10:30; there'll be time to sew after. Nuh-uh. That game lasted forever. I was up until 1:00am, watching the game and running upstairs to sew between innings! The Sox ended up losing, but I think I came out a champ.

The aprons came out totally looking like aprons. I really wasn't sure of that outcome until pretty close to the end. All the early sewing was on fiddly straps and stuff, so it was a while before I had anything apron-y at all. After I cut the armhole curves, I had two pieces left over that, when I held them together, looked just like a pocket and so I had to add the pockets.

S told me his favorite part is how the stripes on the pocket line up with a couple of stripes on the apron. Thank you very much. I'm quite proud of that myself. (I was inspired by Amy Swenson's Rosedale sweater.) My own favorite part is the strap around the back. The boys still can't tie their shoes, so I wasn't sure about the practicality of putting ties in the back to close the apron. Then I just happened to find this apron on a wonderful sewing blog that had a velcro closure on the side to secure the apron. Brilliant! And I just LOVE how the stripes look on the boys' strap.

It was a little hectic for a day and a half there, but all's well that ends well. Well, that game didn't end so well. But the aprons came out very well and the boys are well prepared for baking class. I can't wait to see what they'll smear and spill on them first.

posted by alison at 1:15 pm | in sewn

Comments

Might I suggest a coating of spray-on scotch guarding? Super cute and functional, love 'em!

Posted by: Lauren S at October 6, 2008 1:33 PM

I LOVE the stripes. Super neat fabric. You are such a good crafty mom. To bad about the soxs though. My husband isn't going to be happy as he taped the game and probably didn't get the end of it.

Posted by: Stephanie B at October 6, 2008 1:39 PM

Bravo to your boys for learning cooking! And those aprons are fantastic! You were pretty productive despite the game that went on forever. I was at the game lastnight and can barely speak in sentences today.

Posted by: Kathode Ray Tube at October 6, 2008 1:47 PM

Great aprons! Your boys will be the envy of all the bakers.

Posted by: Sallie at October 6, 2008 2:27 PM

Too bad the sign-up sheet didn't mention pants...

Those are very cool aprons -- I'd love one myself!

Posted by: Mary de B at October 6, 2008 2:37 PM

woah, cool! the matching-up stripes is very rockin'!

Posted by: ruth at October 6, 2008 3:11 PM

I love them. I like the fact that you used IKEA fabric especially since I have two very non-frilly aprons from IKEA (one of them is striped and very similar to the one you made!).

Posted by: KERaven at October 6, 2008 3:21 PM

Cute aprons. In a pinch, you might have been able to get canvas aprons at Michaels or Hobby Lobby in a plain color the boys could have painted designs on.

Posted by: Charlotte at October 6, 2008 3:30 PM

Those are the best "boy" aprons I've ever seen. Perfect!

Posted by: Anne at October 6, 2008 3:35 PM

Those aprons are great. If I had one, I could possibly be inspired to go into the kitchen. At least I would look the part.

Posted by: Allison at October 6, 2008 3:45 PM

Coming out of lurk-dom to say those aprons are awesome!

Posted by: Michele at October 6, 2008 3:52 PM

Super cute aprons - nice for boys but they'd look great on anyone, male or female. At least the Sox didn't blow 3 in a row in an abysmally inept fashion like the Cubs. Glad I'm a fair weather fan!

Posted by: Donna at October 6, 2008 3:53 PM

Very cute! Awesome improvisation - and I was quite impressed with the lining up of the stripes with the pocket.

Posted by: Leann at October 6, 2008 4:20 PM

GREAT aprons!! Love them, love the fabric!!

Posted by: Cynthia at October 6, 2008 4:35 PM

The boys should have their own cooking show: Pants Optional!

Posted by: Two Silver Cats at October 6, 2008 5:12 PM

They look great! How did the first class go?

Posted by: Jane at October 6, 2008 8:23 PM

Spot on! They have nice ones at Sur Le Table, too. Heavy canvas in prices from about $12 to 35. (and no, I'm not an employee!)

Posted by: PainterWoman at October 6, 2008 8:34 PM

Those are awesome. Very cute but still boyish. Nice work! The velcro makes them a little more boyish too. I love that the kidlet noticed the detail of the stripe. Great eye!

Posted by: Laurie at October 6, 2008 9:45 PM

They're great! I'm hoping to make one for my nine year old for Christmas, as she's really got into baking and is forever pinching my apron. Shop-bought aprons for little ones are just so hideously expensive!

Posted by: Cybèle at October 7, 2008 5:15 AM

Great looking aprons for young 'daring' bakers! An idea for next time you want to sew & watch TV, set the sewing machine up on a table downstairs if possible.

Posted by: Pene at October 7, 2008 5:27 AM

SO impressive! I love the stripes.

Posted by: Ellen L. at October 7, 2008 7:17 AM

They look great!

Posted by: Kat with a K at October 7, 2008 9:39 AM

Those are absolutely perfect!

Posted by: Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at October 7, 2008 1:33 PM

Love those aprons!

I just saw this and thought of your boys.

Posted by: OzKnitter at October 7, 2008 10:16 PM

Those are great aprons for both boys and girls! Heck, I'd use an apron like that in an instant.

Posted by: Seanna Lea at October 9, 2008 12:42 PM

Those are about the coolest aprons I've seen! Like a sucker, I paid the high prices at Sur la Table for James' apron....

Posted by: Allison at October 10, 2008 1:00 PM

Amazing! Agreed, the match-up pocket stripes are the bestest.

Posted by: Meem at October 12, 2008 2:00 AM