Super Simple Fall Projects!

I never know when I make my daughter a shirt for an upcoming holiday if it's going to be the time she acts like she is way to old to wear something that mom made. But, luckily for me she still seems to like the stuff I make her. I give it another year before she's had enough. I thought I'd do a quick tutorial for this stuff. At church we are having a service auction so I decided to make an apron and hot pad out of some of my left over Gobble Gobble fabric from Moda.

Here are the templates for the pumpkin. You should be able to just click on it and then print it out. You don't need to cut them out just trace them. If you have any problems let me know and I can always e-mail it to you.

You will need 4 scraps of fabric. One for pumpkin outside, another coordinating piece for inside of pumpkin. One for the stem and one for the leaf.

Start out by tracing pattern onto the textured side of Wonder Under or Heat and Bond. I made two of each since I was doing a shirt and apron. Cut around patterns and iron onto your choice of fabric.

Cut out all pieces.

Layer the pieces on apron or shirt and then iron. First layer on outer pumpkin piece, then the inside piece, stem and then leaf. Now using your favorite sewing machine stitch around each piece. On the apron you could also stitch around pumpkin by hand since the fabric is stiffer.

For the apron I just used a tea towel from the local craft store. The usually are around $3.00.

I folded the apron in half lengthwise and placed pattern on the edge and then cut.

Here is how it should look opened up.

I didn't take pictures on how to finish the edges........sorry! I'll do my best to explain it.

You will first need a 1/4 yard of fabric, cut into 4 - 2" x 45" pieces. First sew 3 of the strips together end to end (this will be used for the neck, sides and tie). I pretty much made my own bias tape out of the 2" strips. You do this by ironing the pieces in half length wise opening it back up. and then ironing the outer edges into the middle crease you just made. Then iron the entire piece in half. If you need pictures click on my tote bag tutorial, I used the same process for the handles of the bag.

Now that you've made your bias tape first sew the single 2" strip onto the top of apron. Do this by opening the bias tape and with half on the front of apron and half on the back, sew on using about a 3/8" seam allowance. Cut off the excess from the edges (yes there is a lot of excess). Now fold your long bias tape in half, where the fold is will be the the top of the apron that goes around your neck. Decide how big you want the neck to be and the, pin the rest where you want it start on apron. Do the same thing as you did on the top, open bias tape and sew on with half of the front and half on the back. Sew bias tape on the side of the apron that you cut, then sew the rest of the tape closed until you are about two inches from the end. Finish of the end by folding the bottom up about a half inch then fold bias tape back up and sew to the end. If you don't want to do this you could always just tie a knot. Ok, last step I promise. Now just sew up the bias tape at the top where it goes around the neck. And YOUR DONE!!!

This hot pad is way easy I promise. Here is what you will need. Two pieces of Warm and Natural that are 8 1/2 inches square. 5 - 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" pieces of coordinating fabric. Four will be used for the top of the hot pad and one on the back. Decide what pieces you want to use on the front and then iron them in half.


Layer pieces together with the Warm and Natural on the bottom and then the piece of fabric you choose for the bottom next.

Now pick two of your folded piece and place them on top of the fabric your using for the back. Make sure the folds are in the center.

The other two pieces your pretty much weave in like a basket with half the fabric on top and half on the bottom, still making sure the fold is on the inside.

Now pin in the middle of all four pieces. Sew around the entire outside of hotpad using a 1/4" seam allowance. Trim edges and then turn by opening up the four fabrics in the middle and turning them onto the back.

Iron hot pad so it looks nice and pretty and ta da your done!

Hopefully this all made sense. It your have questions or I've totally confused you, please feel free to ask any questions. If you don't have a blog just leave me your e-mail address!