I’m so excited to finally be writing this post about a project from Ayumi’s new book, Patchwork Please. I’m just so tickled for her to have this book out and be part of the sew along. I remember when she announced she had a book coming and I was itching to get my hands on it right away. And it does not disappoint. Just one cute project after another, all in that adorable Zakka style that Ayumi has such a great grasp of.
If you don’t know about it yet, there is a sew along just starting for the whole book. Which means you can make each sweet project right along with a bunch of other people…and of course there are awesome prizes and giveaways along the way. (Keep reading for details about the giveaways!) Sigh. I love sew alongs! You can catch up on the details of the blog hop/sew along in the Flickr Group (where you can also add your pictures!)
As you can see, my project for the sew along is the uber cute Polka Dot Cafe Apron. The concept is fairly simple, a simple mid thigh apron with a patchwork pocket and ties. But of course, the apron is made in the details.By far, the most work is making the patchwork blocks for the pockets. I believe that these finish at 6″ square…so that is a LOT of tiny pieces in those blocks. And as is the case for most Zakka projects there is a lot of fussy cutting going on to make each and every piece unique.
The main base of my apron is made from Essex Linen in Leather (just the color name, not actual leather). I carefully copied the templates so that I would be able to fussy cut my pieces as necessary. One thing I did to try to make things easier was cut my triangles from a square rather than cutting each triangle separately. A small thing, but it saves time.
Learn from my mistakes. Since these pieces are essentially all fussy cut, you use a nice little template to get just the right piece of the fabric. However, you need to pay attention to the orientation of the templates. Doh. The two pieces above are cut from the same template. However, the left square does not work because the squares in the blocks are oriented on point. I needed the one on the right side to use correctly in the block and have the image turned the correct way.
As I said before, each of the three blocks is quite small when finished. Also, all these pieces are cut on the bias. All of that adds up to a block that is easy to distort out of shape. I think perhaps I might try paper piecing this block in sections for more stability and accuracy. I made the three blocks and two of them turned out the same size as each and the third was a bit larger. Ironically the larger one was the ONE that was the correct size. It’s not a huge deal in this particular project, but the perfectionist in me wants my blocks to be the same size for construction purposes. I think that they are all really pretty darn awesome though.
As with any binding these days, I used my trusty clover clips to hold the binding in place while I hand sewed it. I love these guys! I got mine on amazon at one point for a great deal. I use them all of the time since I bought them though so it’s one of those items I would actually pay full price for.
The apron construction was simple once those three blocks were made. Those blocks are definitely where the bulk of my time went in making this. I followed all of the directions as written with the exception that I sewed down the pocket and subdivided it into three small pockets instead of one large one. Just more practical for how I use it. I also added some hand stitching around the center of each block instead of machine sewing around the little blocks.
Definitely a fun project that has just the right balance of detail and simplicity. Go ahead and use those special fabrics for this. You will be glad you did. It doesn’t use up very much fabric for a small block and you get to really make a feature of them. Picking the fabrics was one of my favorite parts of this project!
A-FREAKING-DORABLE!!!!! I love this!!!!! I'm having fun gossiping with my girls this summer! 😉
Love your fussy cutting, Angela! For fun? I'm sewing, of course!
I'm just enjoying my husbands break from school and stealing extra sewing time when I can! Right now I'm working on a nice summery king size quilt for my bed.
Beautiful apron– for fun this summer, we're hitting up the pool!
whew – on to the next Zakka project! This is MOVING fast! LOVE your apron!!!
Super sweet apron!
That is such a cute apron! Great job!! I am doing anything to stay cool this summer… Might hit 110 degrees this week in my neck of the woods!
Love your apron, too cute!
What a gorgeous example. Love the tape measure te, I will have to search out my tape measure fabric.
Cutest fussy cutting! And I love the fabric you used for the ties – very appropriate. If I ever open a fabric store, I will definitely need an apron like this 😉
Very pretty. I'm always looking for ideas to showcase those special bits of fabric in ways that I can see and use them often. As for summer, if it ever gets warm enough, I'll be taking the littles to the beach for some sun, sand, water, and picnic fun. Thanks for the great giveaway.
Great job on that apron! I look forward to getting lots of sewing done this summer.
Very sweet. I finished mine too and will give it as a special gift.
Laurie
lhyink at mac dot com
This is such a cute project :). Hard to think about summer fun as my city (Calgary) has just been hit by serious flooding. It's all about helping each other out and getting friends and family back in their homes… And we will!
Beautiful apron!! I'm sewing for fun this summer.
That's gorgeous! Will bookmark that one to make.
It's really cute. Lovely fussy cuts! Hopefully I have some fun with my girls this summer.
I made my apron too and did the same thing with the wrongly cut squares!!!! Well, this summer we are having a staycation and will do short day trips to interesting pubs and garden centres. I hope to have a 75% homemade-handmade Christmas this year so Iw ill be busy sewing gifts for family in Canada.
What a cute apron! We're going to Sisters, Oregon for 10 days this summer and will be there for the Outdoor Quilt Show.
Such a cute apron… The fussy cutting is to die for! Don't you just hate when you spend so much time getting it just perfectly *sigh* wrong for this particular project! This summer I'm having fun just being with my 19-year old, whom I missed so much during his freshman year off at University.
So o cute. My summer is going to be spent mostly working, but I am aiming to get a couple of quilt ops done.
I can't wait to get started on this tomorrow! Your apron turned out so cute! My summer plans are pretty simple for a southern california girl….go to the beach! I need to work on getting a nice tan!
Love how your apron came out! (Okay, I snuck a peek at the flickr group too!) Fab idea to use it in the sewing room 😀 My summer is for sewing, gardening, and the Fat Quarterly Retreat in July!
Your apron turned out so lovely – definitely worth all the fussy cutting.
I don't have definite plans for summer yet, but I'd like to go somewhere we could hike a bit. And maybe start an EPP project so I can enjoy both summer weather and sewing.
Cute! I really need some new aprons. lia.vandenbrand@live.nl
It is now winter in Sydney but my sister is visiting from the Uk soon – the first time for 8 years! It is along way! xxxxx
Your apron is so cute. This one is on my list to make, but after I get back from a holiday at the beach 🙂
Fabulous!
We have two family weddings and a graduation this summer!!
It's winter over here and we're getting a new floor laid in our dining/kitchen area and building a new garage (I hope), busy times but will mean next summer should be much less stressful than this winter has been
Cute! This is one of the projects from the book that I really want to make! Maybe that will be this week's project… My (hopefully) most exciting event this summer will be to attend the Fat Quarterly Retreat in London. Yay!
Superb – thanks for the tips too, will try and ensure I get things the right way up!!
Hopefully this summer our building work will finish and I will have a kitchen again – fun? yes it's been a long time (3 months and counting!)
we're hoping to move house, which will probably be both fun and incredibly stressful! Thanks for the give away!
That is SOOOO cute! I love the fussy cut squares. Fun things this summer… I'm at a loss… Does getting my twins' rooms sorted and ready for them to go to college count? 😉
Gorgeous apron and fussy cutting! I made one this weekend and it's a great book 🙂
You do beautiful work!!! I cut out my main apron piece last night and started looking for fabric squares last night 🙂 I am enjoying the sew-along and Ayumi's book 🙂
Cindy
I love your apron! I haven't started mine yet so thank you for the tips. For fun this summer I am going to the beach with my kids and continuing to make stuff when I can.
Love your apron – pretty and functional. I'll be working on our Sisters Mystery Quilt this summer & visiting family. Thanks.
I love your fussy cutting, the blocks are just perfect and the apron is too cute! We're in winter at the moment, but one of my favourite summer activities is teaching my kids to snorkel, I love their excitement when they see a rock or their toe for the first time lol
What I do for fun? Sewing of course. I have several birthdays to sew for in the summer. And weddings and baby showers and stuff just for fun.
contentncm at yahoo dot com
Love this apron…thinking of doing it during my vacations in July!
cute apron. I am sewing like mad to finish a bunch of quilts. And yes, that is my fun. Sewing is my "me" thing.
My fun this summer has been expanding my crafting experiences. I'm piecing a quilt, crocheting a blanket, crocheting a bag and EPP smaller projects…all at the same time! Keeps me "outa trouble", lol.
Your apronis very cute. Love the tape measure looking fabric tie belt. I'm nothaveing a lot of fun this summer. Dealing with breast cancer diagnosis and surgeries and the like..But when I can I am working on a Brest cancer Awareness Mug rug project for The breast Care Centers entire staff their.
What a cute apron, you did a great job! I have a 14month old, so my summer days are filled with walking around the property with him, he LOVES being outside with the big kids. My poor sewing machine is not getting much use 🙁
This is such a sweet apron!! Love all the attention to detail!!
Angela – completely love this – fabric choices and stitching details.
Very cute! I really like the measuring tape fabric for straps – fun use, although I'd hate to have a ruler wrapped around my waist where just anyone could see it ;D
I've not got any plans for this summer – I was supposed to go back to where I'm from and visit with my Grandma and other family, but I think it's going to fall through until winter – but I take a lot of walks and enjoy the sunshine.
(clumsy.chord(@)gmail.com)
I am going to the beach and as many greenhouses as possible this summer.
Love it, Love it, Love it! The fussy cutting makes this apron! Don't you just love the book – so many fun projects. This summer, my daughter and I are planning to do several sewing projects together. This sure would be a fun one to do. Top priority on the "to-do" list for the summer is to organize the house and have a huge garage sale.
Great job on your take Angela! I have to get thinking about my project soon!