Tessuti linen apron

Where did April go? I've been making things alright, but my motivation for updating the blog has hit a wall. - I think that's to do with a pattern test I did in January that kinda sucked as an experience. I want to write about the sewing and pattern reviewing experience because I document everything here, but it won't be an altogether pleasant write up, so I keep putting it off.

Meanwhile I make stuff.... Easter sees us travel out to my parents place for the long weekend and I always like to take along a little non-machine project. I decided to make an apron for a client of mine.

I bought 1.5m of lovely natural linen from Fabric Deluxe and then downloaded and printed off the free Tessuti Apron pattern while I was at my folks place.

That always sounds like an easy thing to do but it never is. I should have been able to download to my phone and print from there via the wireless connection at my parent's house. But inevitably the printer settings need tweaking and the test square is never right. It took about 4 tries and using the main pc not a phone to get the printer to not scale or adjust the pattern. I have a nice crossover back apron pattern in Sanae Ishida's book Sewing Happiness that is based on rectangles, but I was keen on the curved armholes of this pattern. So often PDF pattern's are more trouble than their worth, even when they're free! I'm glad I persevered as the apron turned out beautifully.

All I sewed on that weekend away was the handstitching on the pocket anyway, and I adjusted the pocket size to suit my stitching, so the pattern could have waited until I was home.

I didn't want the threads on the back of the pocket to be exposed so I made it a lined pocket, turned through an opening at the bottom. 

Otherwise I mostly followed the pattern, although I turned a 5/8" hem rather than 1/2" and followed Liesl's technique of basting along the fold line, pressing up, then tucking under the raw edge. As opposed to Tessuti's suggested technique of trying to baste the 1/4" line and turning twice.

I wouldn't normally sew something for a client, but this lady is especially nice. She's the Japanese-Australian grandmother whose adult son is technically the dog' owner, but she's very involved in the dog's care. During our long lockdown last winter she took up baking and would regularly come to visit the clinic and bring me biscuits or cakes. (vet clinics were one of the few open businesses and I think we got  a lot of visitors who just needed an outing more than anything else!)

Her little dog has a ridiculous list of illnesses and injuries for one so young, so she keeps me both busy and well fed with snacks! Bless little Ada. (and yes, she usually looks that cross when she comes to see me, so I think my embroidery is fair! :) )

I hope my apron is well liked and useful. I enjoyed making it.