The Betsey Apron with a Ruffle

Looking for a quick and pretty sew for a hostess gift ? to pair with a cookie in a jar mix ? To pair with a kitchen gift ? For the annual 20$ gift exchange ? Work buddy gift ? 

Today the lovely Rachel is here and this one pattern, the Betsey Apron she is showing off goes from kids to plus sizes all in ONE pattern!!!!!!! Yep, ALL the sizes in one pattern!  

Please take a moment to leave Rachel a comment  at the end of the post telling her something you love about her post or pics!

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Hello, my name is Rachel, and I am currently a stay-at-home mom. Whenever I have a spare minute, I love to sew, work on my first (and hopefully not last) novel, and write in my blog, https://mrspodge.wordpress.com.

I’m a big fan of the Betsey apron, with its classic 1950s styling and easy to follow directions. Last Christmas, I followed the directions precisely and made matching aprons for a dear friend and her daughter. They were thrilled with their gifts and love to wear them when baking together.

This Christmas, I wanted to make a couple of aprons for myself and my own daughter, Zoë, age 3 1/2. Zoë loves all things pink and purple. The flouncier, the better. I had some Sis Boom, Caravelle Arcade fabric that I was dying to use, and had enough pink and purple to please even my discriminatory daughter.

I didn’t end up having time to make one for myself, but I made a very special one for my daughter, and added a ruffle.

How to add a ruffle :

I cut a 4” X 100” strip of fabric, folded it in half, pressed it, and gathered it. I did not use the bias tape trim. Instead, I sewed the ruffle between the two sides of the reversible apron in exactly the same way one would attach a ruffle to a pillow, except that I tapered the ruffle until it disappeared at the top of the apron. I turned it inside out, and finished the rest of the apron exactly according to directions.

Showing off her Rachel Reindeer using the FREE pattern!

Zoë, in a fit of stubbornness, admired the apron, but refused to try it on for several hours. She truly believes clothing is optional, even in December. I finally persuaded her to put on some clothes and the apron, and she was absolutely delighted with it. She wanted to start baking cookies then and there!

I love the way the ruffle makes the Betsey apron even more feminine, and look forward to making one for myself soon!

Looking to make this a full body apron ? Check out THIS post

Making the Leighanna a Drop Waist Dress

You know how some days you get an idea seeeeewwwwww awesome it just needs to happen - that was this outfit for Cheeks! 

Grab your Sisboom Leighanna pattern and sewalong for making it a drop waist skirt! 

Yep, THAT easy! and under 2yards so perfect for the August sewalong challenge!!

The Hug Life graphic is heat transfer vinyl ironed on (source prefers to remain unnamed). and the thug princess kitty is custom by StitchART free motion applique

Skirt fabric is Sisboom's Caravalle line and top fabric is from Fabricland, Canada.

Open (ish) Back with Lace Sisboom Angie. a Sort of Tutorial

Anyone else loving all the cut outs this summer? I am!

This tutorial is barely a tutorial.... Sorry about that. I meant to do a proper one....but then I had to redo 3 times to get it how I wanted and don;t have pics of the process.... So this is an Advanced tutorial for those comfortable with pattern hacking and making things work. 

You line the front and then leave the shoulder seams open for putting the back straps into the front shoulder seams.

You will do an elastic casing inside the back piece instead of sewing as per the pattern to the dress.

For the back you cut the back as shown below. I found the black lines I did below a bit wide and added in some extra white lace to cover in to the red lines.

and totally normal looking Angie in the front !

and don't forget the UFO challenge ends when July does! 

4 GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know I usually have a weekly tutorial for you - but I thought what is better than a tutorial - a giveaway! and what is better than a giveaway? FOUR giveaways!!!!

There is a dolly giveaway in the LAB group 

AND a pattern giveaway in the Dolls & Daydreams group!

and a Sisboom pattern giveaway in the Dolls & Daydreams group!

Also, be sure to check out the one pattern 3 ways link party and giveaway! 

And they blogged about the portrait peasant HERE! 

To help get you inspired I made a collage of some of the Tortola/Tobago's I've done :) but also be sure to check out our pinboards for the FULL wham of inspiration!

We really do love helping you stretch your pattern dollars!

So did this post brighten your day? Which giveaway excites you most?

Asymmetrical Collar VIDEO tutorial for the Tobago/Tortola

This video tutorial is done in 2 parts (for rural internet uploading speed convenience...)  I hope you enjoy!

and as always we LOOOOVE to read your comments and thoughts and would love to see pics! 

Join us in the LAB

cute as a button(up tank romper) can be!!! TUTORIAL

I love rompers on my kids! So cute and easy, no finding a matching (or not matching...) top and bottom for them to wear. and very sun friendly.

Today I mashed 2 patterns together to get this tank button up romper! The bow was a last minute addition and not in the tutorial.... but I'm sure you guys can figure it out if you want it, or ask in the LAB group on Facebook! 

To complete this look you will need the Sisboom Tobago (or Tortola if you want a ladies version) and the Easy fits for kids (or adult  if doing a lady version)

CUTTING:

Cut your easy fits to the pattern. I did a 4 inch is inseam length. Really just eyeball it and better safe than sorry, easier to cut off a bit than add to it.

The tank you will cut the back and back facing as per the pattern. The front you will cut a mirror image pair - with an extra inch added to the front of each piece and the facing pieces.

SEWING:

First I want you to take your front pieces and iron the edge over for your placket - do not sew. fold 1/4 inch and then fold 3/4 inch so you have a 3/4 placket - for small buttons this is perfect. If you want big buttons you will want to add extra room to the front in the cutting so you can increase the placket width.

Now sew your facings to the front along both sides as per the tank directions. just make sure you unfold your placket to sew the facings on. and sew the back and facings as well.

Now you will follow the directions in the pattern for the straps and putting the front to the back.

Then Refold the placket area and then stitch it down. Remember for girls the left goes over the right 

pin the tank fronts together overlapping and stitch. I left my pin in there to help the placket area stay together as I sewed - less fabric wiggling about.

**At this point I really feel the need to apologize for these pictures .... This is what happens when you sew and do tutorial pics at nighttime. sorry for the quality.**

Now sew up the sides of the tank as per the pattern. and the easy fits - but don't do the waist elastic. Finish the bottom edges of the tank and the top edge of the shorts.

Next, if the tank width is a bit more than the easy fits width - like mine was, add a little elastic to the tank sides and stretch while sewing. This brought mine in the inch ish that was needed to make it the same width. Yes there will be gathers when you sew to the shorts and it won;t be flat... but we are doing elastic casing in the waistband so you won;t even notice.

mark the sides of the shorts with a pin and place the tank inside - right sides together. pin sides and then pin about.

Sew along the top edge

and then sew another line 1/2 inch ish below that all around

Now flip the fabric flap up, and sew along the top edge - remember to leave an inch open to thread the elastic through. I used the elastic measures from the easy fits for the waistband.

Now do your buttons and holes or just do buttons for the top half and faux for the bottom half (like I did) The buttons do help with ease of getting it on and off so I don;t recommend faux all the way.

TA DA!!!! All done and cute as a button(up tank romper) can be!

and don't forget to be linking up your June sewing !!!! You could WIN!

Add a top! Betsey Apron Tutorial

Today we have a special guest poster!!!! Brianne made a fab apron last December using the Angie pattern and I begged her for a tutorial! Today she is sharing that tutorial with us!!!!!

So grab your Angie pattern and your Betsey pattern and be sure to leave Brianne a nice comment so she'll guest post again - I hear she has another amazing idea for the Betsey up her sleeve.... 

Last December, I made this apron for Pattern Revolution (scroll to the bottom).

I used the SisBoom/Scientific Seamstress Angie bodice with a sweetheart neck and added a 3/4 circle skirt.  Isn't my model handsome?

Do you want to make this sexy little apron? I've sewn up a new bigger and better version still using the Angie bodice but added the Betsey skirt.  The apron is 100% reversible.  NO visible seams and NO serger needed!

This is unbelievably simple; a beginner can have it competed during nap time (unless of course you're the one napping). 

You will need:

• Angie Pattern
• Betsey Pattern
•  1 to 1.5 yards of each fabric (front and back) depending on size.  Maybe a bit more if the fabric is directional.  Honestly, I don't know here. Totally guessing.  Buy a bunch of pretty fabrics
• Tracing paper
• All other sewing paraphernalia  
• Do NOT need binding as indicated in apron pattern.

Take your Angie bodice and lay a piece of tracing paper over it.  I love Swedish tracing paper.  

 

  Trace starting a little bit up the neckline, down the fold, across the bottom, up the side and slightly into the arm cycle.  Something like this.

A few things to remember.  The Angie bodice side goes to your side, obviously.  We don't want the apron to go all the way to the side, but stay on the front of your torso.  So, draw a curve up starting on the fold line.  Make the curve as big or little as your sexy self desires.  When bringing the curve down,  make sure to angle the straight edge out ending before the side seam.  Like below.

Don't worry about it being perfect.  The way we put the apron together, there is room for lots of error.  You could definitely bring it in more narrow!

All three compared to each other.

Mark the dart on your tracing paper.  Cut out your new pattern piece.

Trace and cut your new bodice pattern on both of your fabrics (Side A and Side B)

Punch little holes into your pattern piece for the three dart points.

Using a marking tool of choice, mark the dart points on both sides of both bodice

Cut out all pieces indicated in the the Betsey apron tutorial. 

You need 2 apron skirts (Side A and Side B)

Two Bow pieces (optional Side A and Side B)

Bow center (only if sewing the bow)

2 waistbands (Side A and Side B)

4 side ties (2 Side A and 2 Side B)

2 Neck ties 5"x22" (or longer) (Pick any fabric)

1/4" seam allowance used for tutorial.

Grab your neck ties and fold hot dog style right sides together. Sew down a long side, down one short side and up the other long side; leaving the last short side open.

 Clip corners and turn right side out.  Press well.  Repeat for other neck tie and set them aside for now.

Sew all 4 darts on the two bodice pieces as indicated in the Angie pattern.  Side the bodices aside.

 Grab a waistband and two of the same side ties.  Lay the waistband down.  One each side side, lay a side tie down right sides together. Sew each short end to create a really long strip of fabric.  Press your seams apart.  Repeat for other waistband and the other two side ties.

Fold a waistband in half, matching the seams connecting the ties.  Mark the middle of the waist band (mark to and bottom).  Repeat for other waistband/tie strip.

Grab one of your bodices.  Find the bottom middle and mark.

Take the coordinating waistband piece and match up middle markers.  Lay the waistband on top of the bottom of the bodice, right sides together.  Pin entire bottom of the bodice to the waistband. 

Sew waistband on and press seam towards bodice.  Repeat for other bodice and waistband/tie strip.

Take the coordinating skirt.  Fold in half to find the middle.  Mark the middle.

Remember we also marked the bottom middle of the waistband?  Match up middle markers on the skirt and waistband.  Pin the entire skirt on the waistband.  Sew it on.  Press the seam towards the skirt.

What side A will look like.

Repeat sewing the skirt on Side B.  Lookin' awesome!

Take the neck ties.  Raw edges matching, place the short side at the top of the bodice.  Slightly angle the strap up in the middle.  Pin

 Baste the strap on, following the curve of the bodice.  Repeat for other strap.

 

Now we are going to sew the two sides together.  Pin the straps down so they don't get caught up in the sewing.

Lay one side on top of the other, right sides together.

Pin around ENTIRE, and I mean ENTIRE apron, including the side ties.  Make sure to match seams.

Along the skirt bottom, mark a 6 inch gap.  That might be hard to see here.  I have to big purple lines.

Starting at the first marker, sewing towards the second marker, sew a long basting stitch. 

When you get to marker two, change stitch length to normal, back stitch and sew around entire apron, including the ties back to marker one, back stitch at the beginning of the basting stitch.

Clip tie corners.

Clip bodice curves.  Snip open valleys where the bodice/skirt meet the ties.

Clip or use pinking sheers along the curve of the skirt.  DO NOT CLIP SEAM ALLOWANCE ALONG 6" BASTING LINE. We want to keep the full seam allowance here.

Pop open the 6" basting stitches.  (there is a reason for my madness)

Birth your apron.  Push out corners.  Put your hand in and smooth out the curves.  Press the apron along the seam. Don't iron your hand.

Now fold the bottom opening along the now perforated basting line.  This makes it easier to fold the seam along a curve.  Press each side of the skirt in along the line.  Pin the hole closed and top stitch around entire apron. 

If you are making the bow, and you should be, sew it together as described in the Betsey pattern.  I did not use bias tape to bind it.  I simply sewed the two bow pieces right sides together, leaving an opening to turn then top stitched.

and...you're done!  Wear it with pride!