Jessie Steele Apron Giveaway- CLOSED

One of you lucky readers is going to win an apron from Jessie Steele.  

Jessie Steele aprons were created by a mother and daughter after collecting vintage aprons for years. They combined the vintage charm and style with a 21st century fit and appeal. 

These aprons are not only beautiful and feminine, they are designed to make the woman who wears them look and feel good.

They have a huge selection of hostess, chef and children's aprons.

I especially love viewing them in collections with matching towels, pot holders and oven mitts.

I know you want one.

Here is your chance. 

Jessie Steele is giving away this fabulous Cream and Black Damask Chef Apron.


It's a durable sturdy apron with tons of style. You know how much that means to me.

Here's how to enter:


1) Leave a comment and tell me what you think is the  #1 quality in an apron. Make sure to leave your email address. 


2) For a second entry visit Jessie Steele on facebook and like them, then leave me a comment telling me you did it. 

Giveaway ends Sunday March 13th at 10pm MST.

Thanks for being part of our week of apron inspiration.

Enter the Imperfect Apron Giveaway HERE, and Jess's apron pattern giveaways HERE.

Imperfect Princess Apron Giveaway- Closed

Kaylee from the Imperfect Princess is giving away two of her dress-up aprons for two winners!

She had this to say about the awesome inspiration for these cute aprons:

Danita's Children is a non-profit organization with the intent of rescuing and caring for orphaned children, meeting their needs spiritually, physically, academically, emotionally. The organization in Ouanaminthe, Haiti currently  has 133 orphans living in two homes. A school provides an education to nearly 550 children and 18,000 meals are fed each month through the feeding program. A medical center and hospital for children are currently under construction.

My sister-in-law Heather cares for the few special needs children and has started their preschool program. The special needs children attend the preschool program with the other orphans to teach care and tolerance.  One special little girl caught some crafty inspiration string inside of me. She has a head size that makes it hard for clothing items to go over her head. I wanted her to play dress-up with the other preschoolers, so I designed dress-up aprons. 

The ease of taking the aprons on and off to change character is a big hit with my stay at home mom friends too. The sales of the aprons allow me to make and get more items that Heather needs that could not fit into our family budget.  

Well if that isn't a worthy crafting cause I don't know what is.

So to enter: Head over to her Etsy shop,  browse around a bit and come back and tell us which apron you'd like if you won! (don't worry you can always change your mind later if you win) Please leave your email address in the comment so we can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to international entries.
Giveaway ends Sunday March 13 at 10 pm MST.

Thanks for being part of our week of apron inspiration.

Enter the Jessie Steele Apron Giveaway HERE, and Jess's apron pattern giveaways HERE.

Tie One on Me link party

It's Day 4 of our week of apron inspiration and it's your turn to show us what you got.

We want you to link up any apron projects you have, It's okay if you used someone else's pattern or tutorial, just tell us about it.

The link party will be open through the weekend.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for some fabulous giveaways.

Here is what you do:

1) Link to a specific post and not your whole blog. (click on the title of your post, highlight it, copy it, and paste it into the link box)

2) Tell us in the title what kind of apron it is.

3) Check out what others have made. It's especially nice to leave a comment.

Tie One On Me Day 3: apron tutorial round-up

Welcome to day 3 of apron inspiration.

Just in case Jess and I haven't given you the tutorial of your dreams, we've each put together a Apron Tutorial Round-Up. 

Click on the links below the pictures for the tutorials.

I love almost everything about this apron, it's fully lined and has the cutest giant pocket. 

Fully Lined Ruffle Apron from Modest Maven

I love the bow at the neck of this one. 

Citrus Holiday Hostess Apron from Sew 4 Home

Although this would be too pretty for me to ever wear as an apron, I love the nautical theme of this one. 

Sail Away Apron from Sewing in No Mans Land

Ruffles, need I say more.

Ruffle Apron Tutorial from One More Moore. 

Another simple and stylish half apron.

Cottage Inspired Apron from Better Homes and Gardens

I love the high thick waistband on this one.

Pumps and Pearls Apron from Delia Creates

I love the size of this one and that it's a refashion. 

Table Runner Apron from While They Sleep

Click HERE to see what Jess has rounded up.

practically perfect -to me- apron tutorial

Welcome to day two of our week of apron inspiration.  

If you missed Jess's apron tutorial yesturday, you can check it out HERE. 

I love my new apron.   

I knew what I wanted in an apron and tried to create something that met my requirements. 

I wanted something sturdy with an adjustable neck strap. I have a few flimsy vintage aprons and although they are cute, I never use them. 

Once the practical side was satisfied, I knew I wanted something that matched my kitchen, had a ruffle and was high waisted with a tie in the front.

It's practical, pretty and perfect for me.

what you'll need:

-1 yard of body fabric

-1/2 to 1 yard of accent fabric depending on the width of the fabric.

-2 - 1" D rings

-matching thread

Let's talk about fabric for a moment.

My favorite kind of fabric for aprons is a medium weight canvas fabric. 

It's sturdy and doesn't need a lining. 

It's also super affordable. I found these great canvas prints for under $6 a yard. Although this canvas fabric is made for home decor, it also works well for tote bags and aprons. The fabric I used was on clearance for $2 a yard. SCORE!

Fabric.com has a great selection of canvas prints for just under $7 a yard, look HERE. 

Step 1: cutting out body of apron

First I cut main fabric to a 30 x 30 square.

Then I used an old apron to draw my slope at the sides. 

Since I wanted it to be umpire waist I had to adjust wear the slope started and stopped.

With the fabric fold in half I started my slope 4.25" in and it ended 8.5" down from the top.

After drawing your slope, cut it out. 

I used the scrap to cut a 2" x 8.5" strip.  Set the strip aside to be used later. *Sorry I forgot to put it in the picture.

Then I serged all the edges and hemmed the sides. A zig-zag or double folding the edges will work as well. The top and bottom will be finished later.

Step 2: cutting accent fabric pieces.

I cut several strips of fabric.

4 strips - 3" X 46"- for the ties

2 strips - 3" x 30"-for the waistband

1 strip - 3" x 4"-for the strap

1 strip - 3" x 24"- for the strap

1 strip - 4" X 60" - for ruffle at the bottom

(you may have to combine a couple peices to get the 60"length)

Step 3: Sewing the waistband and ties. 

First I placed two of the 4" x 46" strips right sides together and cut the end at an angle. I sewed them together, turned them right sides out and top-stitched around the edges. I repeated with the other 46"strips. These were my ties. 

Then, I sewed the 3" x 30" strips right sides together and flipped them right side out. This was my waistband.
If you need a good tutorial on turning a fabric tube right side out HERE is a good one. 

Next, I sewed the ties to each end of the waistband to make a really long strip. I serged the raw edges. 

I took the waistband with the ties attached at the sides and centered it on the apron body. I pinned it down. 

The waistband should line up with the top of the sides. 

Next, I sewed it down going across the top and bottom and along the sides. 

Make sure when you sew down the sides you catch the raw edges of the seams between the waistband and ties.

Step 4: sewing the ruffle. 

 For the ruffle, I serged around all the edges and hemmed the bottom and sides of my 4" x 60" strip. 

I gathered the ruffle till it was an equal length to the bottom of the apron (a little less than 30")

If you need a tutorial for gathering or making ruffles you can find one HERE and HERE. 

Next, I pinned the ruffle to the bottom of the apron, right sides together.  

Then, I topstitched the ruffle to hold my seam up.  

Step 5: sewing and attaching the neck straps

I Folded the 3" x 24" strap in half lengthwise sewed down the side, turned it right side out and top stitched. 

Then I Repeated with the 3"x4" strap. I double folded and sewed one end of the 24" strap, for a finished look. 

I grabbed the 2" x 8.5"piece of main fabric, and serged all four sides. Next, I folded in and sewed the sides. Then I ironed a 1/2" fold on the bottom. 

I folded the 4" strap piece around the two D rings and...

pinned it on one side of the apron top and the 24" strap piece to the other side of the apron top. 

I sewed over the straps with a 1/4" seam

Then I centered the extra main fabric piece over the straps, right sides together, and pinned it in place. 

I sewed over the top with a 1/2"seam.

Now I  flipped over the flap so the wrong sides would be touching and the straps were straight up. 

You can iron the seam open and the flap down on the back. 

The last thing I did was topstitch the top and bottom of the flap to hold it in place. 

See, that wasn't bad. 

I'm ready to bake my baby's birthday cake. Her birthday is this week. You'll have to check back next week to see what kind I make.  

Tie One on Me- day 1

I am so excited for this week and hope you all are too.

We're kicking things off with a tutorial for this amazing apron by Jess.

Go HERE for the tutorial. 

Seriously isn't it the cutest. 

Come on, Check it out HERE. 

Tie one on Me- a week of apron inspiration

I have a little announcement:

Next week my friend Jess of Craftiness is Not Optional and I are teaming up to bring you a week of apron inspiration. 

Although I've made lots of aprons as gifts, I never made one for myself and I've always wanted to. Jess was in the same boat and I know there are others out there.  

We hope to inspire all of you to take time to create something for yourself.

We're both doing tutorials, an apron round-up, a few giveaways and a blog hop link party on Thursday where we would love to see all your apron making inspiration.   

Here's a little sneak peak.

I'm sure you dying to see more...you'll just have to wait until next week.