Suzy Homemaker Apron - Tutorial

[AnnaReilly]

I made an apron embroidered with "Suzy Homemaker" on it and just finished it up today.

[Lia]

Thats awesome! Did you use a pattern?
Also, that embroidery is done by a machine right? I wish I had one of those.

[AnnaReilly]

And here is a simplified sketch of the apron (I didn't use a pattern.)



A - Neck and Waist ties - Finished size* 1" x 18" - Two layers each: Cut 8 (Light Pink)
B - Top Ruffle - Finished size 18" x 1.5" - Two layers: Cut 2 (Light Pink)
C - Top - Finished size 12" x 10" - Two layers: Cut 2 (Bright Pink)
D - Waist - Finished size 18" x 2" - Two layers: Cut 2 (Light Pink)
E - Skirt - 28" x 21" - Single layer: Cut 1 (Bright Pink)
F - Skirt trim - Finished size 28" x 1.5" - Two layers: Cut 2 (Light Pink)
*Add at least 1/2 inch seam allowance to the finished measurements for the size you'll need to cut out.

1. I sewed A and B up, right sides together (leaving a small opening) like a pillow and then turned them out and topstitched them.
2. I sandwiched the top ruffle (B) and neck ties (A) between the right sides together of the top and stitched it up like a pillow.
3. I sewed the trim on the bottom of the skirt (not visible in my picture.)
4. I ironed down the edges for a back and front piece of the waist and then made a little sandwich with the back of the waist band on the bottom, then the skirt, top, and waist ties and then the front of the waistband. Then I topstitched around the entire waistband-sandwich. (There are easier ways to do this, I'm sure, but I was winging it.)

[AnnaReilly]

Thanks, Lia!

I did the embroidery by hand. (I *wish* I had a machine! I'd embroider everything! LOL)

I drew out the design on paper, layed it under the fabric and traced it with a fabric marking pen. Then I embroidered it with synthetic embroidery floss (the shiny stuff.) The embroidery isn't that great up close, but from a distance I think it turned out pretty nice.

[Goddess]

wow your embroidery is really impressive....what a fun apron!

[firehead4]

Anna, you are very talented, you domestic goddess, you!

[divasteph]

that is so cute - and so are you!!! (i hate comparing people to other people but lol - you look like katie holmes and julia stiles and yourself all rolled up into one) - your things are so cute but geocities sucked as i was trying to look at it all and said you used up all your bandwidth for the day - you should probably try to get your own site and choose a real hosting company so that never ever happens again.... your talent is supreme!

[TinySoapyBubbles]

Very cute!!

[carrievision]

That is SO cute.  Reminds me of "I Love Lucy" for some reason.  

Did you hand draw the letters?  I was thinking you could also find a funky font to trace and embroider  

There are all sorts of 50s-style fonts here: http://www.anzwers.org/free/tackorama/fonts.htm

[AnnaReilly]

Thanks for the compliments!

Sorry if my site doesn't always load up - I really need to get a "real" site but sadly it's not in the budget for awhile.  My darn craft habit takes all my extra  money!