The Emmeline Apron

Well I'd read reviews, I'd listened to podcasts and I'd gazed at the photos. I'd also bought the pattern and left it sitting in my sewing box for far too long.

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But earlier this week I finally dug out some fabric to make Sew Liberated's Emmeline Apron. I then spent one evening pinning and cutting out, one evening basting gathers and finally, today, a happy morning sewing (all this whilst watching Wimbledon - either live or the day's highlights. I get so much done when there is good sport on the tv - I may even finish a whole quilt during the Olympics next month...).

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The pattern was great - straightforward to follow, and it seemed to come together remarkably quickly. It does use an incredible amount of thread, however. I used an entire 100m reel of Guttermans - so if you are going to make it, don't start with half a reel!

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I found it hard to choose the fabrics. You need three: front, back and the contrasting fabric for the ties and binding. It was this third fabric I found tricky as it has to look good with both the front and back fabrics. In the end I settled for some lusciously bright Michael Miller Water Lily fabric that had been a late night impulse buy from Repro Depot, Kaffe Fassett's paperweight in brown and orange, and some yellow cotton with polka dots that I had left over from the binding for my quilt.

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Next time I wouldn't bother with top stitching the edge of the apron or the waist ties - maybe its the temperamental tension on my sewing machine, but I think that just pressing often looks flatter than topstitching. That's the only thing I'd change though. It's such a wonderful apron.

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I finished it about 5 minutes before I had to go and pick up C & O from school. I couldn't bear to take it off, so wore it to pick them up. C was mortified and O was enchanted at their Mum wearing an apron in the playground. Fortunately, C forgave me enough to agree to take these photos of me wearing my apron this evening.

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I may never take it off now.

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