When the nice folks at FreeSpirit invited me to be participate in the True Colors blog tour, I wanted to freeze time and make a large quilt. Sadly, my crazy schedule didn’t allow time for a deadline sewing marathon. But it’s okay. My need for speed gave me the perfect opportunity to launch into one of my favorite fast sewing projects of all time. I made a new apron to wear around town. I haven’t made myself a new apron in far too and I happen to think aprons are fabulous accessories and wonderful for showcasing pretty fabrics.
Before I walk you through my apron project I’d like to give you a little background info. True Colors is what the folks at FreeSpirit describe as “a new, designer-driven program featuring fresh, modern prints” created by designers Joel Dewberry, Anna Maria Horner, Heather Bailey and Jenean Morrison.
Each designer created five distinctive prints in four color ways that can be used alone or as mixer prints in quilting and other sewing projects. The True Colors collection offers more creative options for fabric lovers and even look pretty in a pile. (I’d rather not disclose how many pictures I took of the fabric before I cut into it. : )
FreeSpirit sent me Heather Bailey’s True Colors fabric and sampling of her lovely Lottie Da collection and I got to work designing a new five-panel apron using 12 different prints. The great thing about this apron is that is showcases several prints at once and can be made out of a stack of fat quarters and one jelly roll, with plenty of fabric left over to make more aprons and happy scraps to do a English paper piecing project.
I’ve already whipped up a couple hexagon blooms. :)
To make my apron, I started by drawing out my pattern template on freezer paper. Then I selected five complimentary prints from Heather’s Lottie Da collection for each panel and then paired each panel print with a contrasting blender fabric from her True Colors line. The True Colors fabrics served as a chunky border trim at the bottom of each panel. To speed things along, I cut the trim pieces from a True Colors jelly roll.
When it came to mixing and matching, it was great to have an expanded selection of fabric designed by Heather. The prints work well together and left me with many design options. I have big plans to sew more projects using this collection and I’m excited about all the color and print combinations. I think there might be some patchwork skirts and quilts for my daughters on the horizon.
But let’s get back to the apron project. After pairing five Lottie Da prints with five True Colors mixers, I decided to add it two more Lottie Da prints. I used an olive print for the waistband and swapped in the gray colorway to create extra long ties that can be wrapped around and tied in a cute bow in front. Instead of hemming the bottom of the apron, I finished it off with solid gray bias tape. I had planned to sew on a polkadot pocket, but then decided to skip it. But I’m big on pockets and something tells me this apron will have at least one by the weekend. : )
I topstitched the apron with gray Coats & Clark Dual Duty thread, stitching on each side of the panel seams and along the ties. This added interest and stability to the apron design.
I’ve been a longtime fan of FreeSpirit fabrics and designers and was very pleased with the results I achieved working with these new fabric collections. High five, Heather! I have a very happy apron hanging up in my dining room thanks to you. : )
ENTER TO WIN! And because I want to share the wealth I’m inviting you, dear readers, to leave a comment about below and enter a random drawing to win some of Heather’s True Colors fabric. What do you want to make? Tell me all about it below. I’m especially interested in hearing about your favorite take a-long sewing project ideas. I’ll pick some fabric winners at random on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014. Good luck, everybody!!
If you want to go behind the scenes and find out more about True Colors, watch this fun video featuring the designers talking about the fabric line. I’d also like to invite you to check out the rest of the blog tour and see what my extremely talented fellow bloggers are making with True Colors fabrics. Click the links below and have a great day!
1/20
Sew4Home
1/21
Stitchery Dickory Dock
1/22
I’m A Ginger Monkey
1/23
The Sewing Loft
1/24
Ellison Lane
1/27
Dairy of A Quilter
1/28
Material Obsession
1/29
Craftsanity
1/30
Stitched in Color
1/31
Craft Buds
2/3
Jaybird Quilts
2/4
Melissa Peda