My mother has been eyeing this blue and yellow floral fabric in my studio. She also made a comment or two about the apron I made for Annabel a couple of weeks ago. For Mother's Day, I thought she might like a modern apron in a fabric she'd 'chosen'. I've been wanting to make this café apron with contrasting pocket from Lotta Jansdotter's book Simple Sewing. It's a fun little book with an envelope pocket in the front filled with 24 patterns to unfold and cut!
The apron is basically a rectangular piece of fabric cut to 19 x 38" with ties and a funky pocket in the shape of an oven mitt. I picked out Michael Miller's Stitch Floral Square to go with the bold print. I wasn't having a good time trying to follow the pattern when it came to applying the pocket. Instead of cutting one pocket piece I cut two, sewed them together wrong sides facing, turned, clipped curves and pressed. This made a far better curve than I was able to do with a single piece of fabric. And now, the pocket is lined! I've convinced myself that my lack of ability and patience turned into a happy 'accident'.
We gave her the apron, a drawing from Annabel, flowers, and my beloved recipe for Guinness Beef Stew from Cook's Illustrated magazine. My first job out of college was at Cook's, as Assistant Managing Editor. I can't say enough good things about that place and their well-tested recipes.
Speaking of food, a friend of mine made lemon curd from scratch for Mother's Day, and packaged it in cute little jars topped with fabric and individual messages. LOVE lemon. You can see how she did it here.
I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!
xo Karin
