Press, press, stitch, and press.
In sewing, pressing is just as important as stitching. This is something that I teach my sewing students. One of the first projects that we make is an apron.
An apron gives students repeated opportunities to practice pressing and straight stitching, essential to developing good basic sewing skills. I like teaching these skills using a basic apron like McCall's m2233.
This apron project was at the bottom of the UFO box that I decided to tackle at the beginning of the year. Two aprons were cut almost ten years ago! Last week I decided to finish them. One I will give to one of my sewing students and the other I'll keep for myself.
The instructions included were antiquated. To form the strap they instruct to sew with right sides together to form a tube, then turn to the right.
Instead, I decided to press by folding it in half lengthwise, then turning the raw edges in. The same way that you would form belt carriers. See below.
The entire apron: hems, pockets, and straps are all completed by a series of folded edges, presses, and stitches.
Benefits to student:
- Ample practice with pressing
- Ample practice with straight stitching
- Ample practice with measuring and forming hems and seam allowance
- Opportunity to use needle positioning to create double rows of stitching for a hem
- Attaching straps and "D" rings
Very cute apron with some useful pockets. The bib is wide enough to protect that area, which some similar patterns are not.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carol. I forgot to add to my review that I added 2 inches to the center front on the fold because I thought the entire apron was too narrow. Thanks again, C
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