Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (12 page)

d.
Now, you will make 6 pleats on each side of the center crease at the top of the apron panel. Match up the first 2 marks with the
Right
sides together. Fold the pleat that forms on the
Wrong
side of the fabric toward the center of the apron, and pin the pleat in place. Repeat this step to pleat each set of 2 marks until you have made 6 pleats on each side of the center crease of the apron panel.
(
FIGURE 6D, E
)

e.
Press all the pleats toward the center crease and machine baste a
³
/
₈
″ seam across the top pleated raw edge to secure the pleats.
(
FIGURE 6D, E
)

Step 7. Attach the waistband to the apron panel.

a.
First, find the center of the waistband by folding it in half crosswise, matching the short raw ends. Gently press a crease to mark the center.

b.
Now, place one long raw edge of the waistband on the top raw edge of the pleated apron panel
Right
sides together, matching the center crease of the waistband with the center crease of the apron panel. (There will be
¹
/
₂
″ of the waistband left on each side of the apron panel. This is the seam allowance for attaching the ties.)

c.
Then, attach the waistband by stitching a
¹
/
₂
″ seam along the matched raw edges, backstitching at each end.

d.
Fold under
¹
/
₂
″ on the long raw edge of the waistband toward the
Wrong
side and press.

e.
Now, fold the waistband in half, matching the long folded edge to the stitching attaching the apron panel, and gently press a crease to mark the center.
(
FIGURE 7E
)

Step 8. Make and pleat the ties.

a.
Fold the first tie in half lengthwise with
Right
sides together, matching up the raw edges, and pin the sides in place. Stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam down the long side raw edges and along one end.

b.
Then, trim the 2 bottom corners
*
in the seam allowance, making sure not to clip the stitching.

*
See page 172
for an explanation of trimming corners.

c.
Turn the tie
Right
side out and press.

d.
At the open end of the tie, machine baste
*
a
¹
/
₄
″ seam across the matched raw edges. Then, find the center of the raw end of the tie by folding the tie in half lengthwise and pressing a crease. Measure
¹
/
₂
″ to the right of the center crease and make a mark. Measure
¹
/
₂
″ to the left of the center crease and make another mark.

*
See page 171
for an explanation of machine basting.

e.
Make a pleat in the center of the raw edge of the tie, matching the 2 marks you just made, and pin the pleat toward the folded edge. Machine baste the pleat in place.

f.
Repeat steps 8a through 8d to make and pleat the second tie.
(
FIGURE 8F
)

Step 9. Attach the ties and finish the waistband.

a.
With the
Right
side of the apron and attached waistband facing up, start on the left side of the waistband and line up the folded edge of the first tie, so that the folded edge is even with the center crease mark on the waistband. Match the raw edges and pin the tie in place.

b.
Then, machine baste the tie to the waistband with a
¹
/
₂
″ seam along the matched raw edges.

c.
Repeat steps 9a and 9b to attach the second tie to the other side of the waistband.
(
FIGURE 9C
)

d.
Now, fold the waistband in half over the ties, with the
Right
sides together and matching up the raw edges. Stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam across the matched raw edges on each end of the waistband.
(
FIGURE 9D
)

e.
Then, turn the waistband
Right
side out by pulling both of the ties out. Press the waistband flat.

f.
Turn the apron over, so that the
Wrong
side is facing up. Pin the folded edge of the waistband even with the seam that attached the waistband to the apron panel.

g.
Turn the apron so the
Right
side is facing up and topstitch
¹
/
₄
″ from the lower edge of the waistband, backstitching at each end to finish the waistband.
(
FIGURE 9G
)

Step 10. Make a point at the end of each tie.

a.
With the back of the ties facing up, take the top, finished end of the tie and fold it in a triangle, matching up the end with the seamed edge of the tie.

b.
Slip stitch
*
the matched seamed edges of the tie together by hand, leaving the folded edge unattached.
(
FIGURE 10B
)

*
See page 171
for an explanation of slip stitching.

SQUARE POT HOLDER

FINISHED SIZE: 9″ SQUARE

I’ll bet you’ve never thought pot holders could be cool. Well, think again. In this design, modern patchwork style dresses up the kitchen workhorse. The pot holder has protective hand-cover backs and a grommet for hanging—so convenient. And it’s just the thing to bring a whole lot of cool to your next sizzling dinner party.

FABRICS

•
¹
/
₄
yard (44″-wide) light- to mid-weight cotton print for 2 of the patchwork panels and the hand covers

•
¹
/
₈
yard (44″-wide) light- to mid-weight coordinating solid-color cotton for 2 of the patchwork panels

•
¹
/
₄
yard (44″-wide) light- to mid-weight coordinating solid-color cotton fabric for the back panel

•
¹
/
₂
yard (44″-wide) light- to mid-weight coordinating cotton print for the bias binding