Apron swap -- Halloween edition

This has been quite the domestic week here on the blog. Baking, gardening and today, sewing. I'm participating in a fall-themed apron swap over at Sassy Apron Swap. And you know how I've mentioned that the fabric selection in Vienna is not so grand? Have I mentioned this? I think so. There's just not a lot of selection. Or, if there is, I haven't found it. Maybe that's why no one my age sews. Every time I mention sewing to someone my age they're all like, Sewing? Oh yeah, my grandmother does that. But I'm starting the revolution, baby. Sewing is going to sweep across the city like... like something that sweeps across something else.

Uh, where was I? That's right -- fabric selection. I wasn't able to find anything remotely fall-ish. I bought something I thought was fall colors, but when I started sewing it up it turned out to look not fall-like at all. So I went back and in the three or four days since my previous visit, they (meaning the Ikea fabric folks) had added some orange and black solids. My partner said she was up for a Halloween themed apron, so the ideas started churning. And this is what happened.


It's a rather simple design, but I really like it. I probably tried the applique two or three different ways before I settled on this method. I wasn't working from a pattern, so it took a lot longer than it should have.

The swap also included a potholder. I had originally planned on making a pumpkin applique for the potholder, but then I decided to cut strips from my three fabrics and piece them together. I think it turned out way cuter than a pumpkin applique.


I don't know what I'm doing with that ridiculous look on my face. The sun was really shiny and even though it was behind me there was some major glare coming off the window in front of me. Plus, I didn't think my head was actually in the shot. I guess I could have cropped the photo.

The potholder, by the way, nearly sent me over the edge. The actual potholder part was easy to make and my sewing machine handled the layers quite nicely. But when I tried to add the binding, my machine wasn't cutting it. I tried several methods and while I was able to get the binding on, it never looked good on the back side. And since there really isn't a back side to a potholder, that just wouldn't do. I finally decided to hand sew the binding in place and it turned out great.

I think this will be my last apron swap for a while. I enjoy it, but I'm ready to get started on Christmas sewing. I'm determined to make something other than coasters this year.