Motherhouse started the new year with A Stitchin' Time workshop in our second Saturday of each month Old Style Life Skills Series (OSLSS). Check out the other OSLSS workshops planned for 2009 on the Motherhouse web site! There are some old favorites: Honey Bee Mine, the Wool Gathering, Keeping a Family Cow, and Yes, We Can Can, as well as some new ones, such as Sourdough Starter Course, The Whey of Cheesemaking, and Appley Ever After.
At A Stitchin' Time each family worked together to make a handy apron. The first step was to select a pattern and the fabrics - one main fabric and if desired, a contrast fabric for pockets.
We learned how to read the patterns. As each pattern had several variations, we had to identify the pattern pieces needed for the particular apron we were making and separate them from the rest.
We referred to diagrams in the patterns to see how to lay out the individual pattern pieces on the fabric. Does this fit?
Some of the patterns were creased from being folded, so we ironed them! This really helped in having the pattern lay smoothly on the fabric for pinning, the next step...
We pinned the larger pieces first, then positioned the smaller ones, placing all pieces as close together as possible. Some pieces had to be placed along a fold. Some had a grain-line arrow that meant the pattern piece had to be positioned so that the arrow ran parallel to the selvage, or finished edge, of the fabric.
Now, we were able to cut, carefully along the line... It is a good idea to have a pair of quality sharp scissors and only use them for cutting fabric, cutting paper will dull the blades.
Before we were able to do any sewing, we had to thread the machine. There were a variety of sewing machines at the workshop - a few Singers, a White, and a Brother.
We're off.....and sewing! It takes concentration and a steady foot on the pedal!
For hemming, we turned the fabric over twice for a neat edge, this helps to avoid fraying also. 
Here is an apron with the pockets sewn on. Snow began falling and I had to leave and didn't see any of the aprons completely finished! I'd love to see them! If you were at the workshop, send me a photo of your apron and I'll post it here!Update:Here are a few photos Debra took at the end of the workshop. She says: We were all so excited that my hands must have been shaking!
Aprons
I don't think our kids know what an apron is...
The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter or seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
Remember:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool.
Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.
Author Unknown
