Recently Emma had to play a farmer in a skit for our library. I looked everywhere for overalls in her size and couldn't find them. The lady directing the skit had a little apron that Emma could borrow. There was only one problem-it had John Deere fabric and there's no way Popie (my dad) could let his granddaughter wear John Deere. He's all about Farmall (It's a Southern thing-everybody has their own preference of tractors-kind of like picking a football team). What's a girl to do??? Make an apron in Farmall colors!
I went through the stash in my sewing room and found all the items I would need:
1 pair of old blue jeans(my size-or the size I wish I still wore)
about a 1/4 yard of red mini check fabric*
about a 1/4 yard of burlap*
Heat bond
*you may need more/less fabric. I'm terrible at estimating quantities of fabric.
I cut the jeans apart right around the side (hip) seams and about an inch below the back pockets. I used my Go! Baby (an amazing invention) to cut strips, 2 1/2 inches wide, of the red mini check fabric and also of the burlap. For Emma, I needed 2 pieces around 45 inches of the red for the belt and 50 inches of the burlap for the ruffle.
Place the 2 belt pieces right sides together and sew both long sides and one short side (1/4 in seams). Turn, iron and sew the one open side-tucking raw edges in. I slid it through the belt loops and got it centered. Then I sewed it to the jeans at both outside edges to keep it from slipping out.
I wanted the apron to look 'shabby chic' (more shabby than chic!) so I didn't finish the edges of the burlap ruffle. I just eyeballed where the gathers (pleats, tucks, whatever you may call them) should go. I sewed the raw edge of the burlap right to the top of the jeans. I did go back and zigzag the edge so it wouldn't fray too much. Gosh I love burlap!
For the hearts, I used my Go! Baby again, cutting 2 different sizes and applying Head Bond to all 4 hearts. After ironing those on the pockets the little apron was finished!
Emma proudly wore it with the Farmall t-shirt that Popie had given her which made everybody happy!
 |
| Here's a Farmall tractor like the ones my dad collects and restores. |
