Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Tuesday at the Table

Grandgirl was over the other day, and after a while she asked what we were having for dinner. I told her, and her quick reply was, "I don't like that idea." (She's very nearly 4.) She went straight to the fridge, yanked open the door, while retorting, "Let's see what's in here." Having no inkling she'd find much interesting in our refrigerator's post-vacation emptiness, she soon announced, "Hmm. Let's have eggs and toast." Why not? So we got to work.

I was a tad surprised when grandgirl announced she'd crack the eggs, but always one to encourage kids in the kitchen, I got her stool so she could wash her hands and then work at the counter. Just 1 little reminder about where to place her thumbs after cracking the first egg was all it took, and I tell you, in no time we were ready to scramble.

All that to say, when I needed some random sewing the next night and came across a plain pre-made apron in my stash, I knew it was time. I'd purchased the kid-sized apron last year when I made my own Polka-Dot-Cafe-Apron during the Zakka 2.0 :: Patchwork, Please sew along, intending to downsize the Zakka design for grandgirl, but I never did. Debating on blocks for the pockets, I finally decided to keep it simple and went with an old favorite, the Polaroid block from CapitolaQuilter. The bright pink of the apron made me immediately think of Cotton+Steel tiger stripes along with a couple of other C+S coordinates. Fussy cutting definitely seemed the way to go.
Working from a fuzzy memory, I framed the Polaroids in white and sewed them into a row. Backed with a layer of batt, I matchstick quilted around the blocks with some straightish lines using Aurifil 12wt #4660 (Pink Taffy). Then I added the lining using a technique that left a tall enough flange to show off those sweet daisies. Easy peasy and just the amusement I needed. Stitch the rectangle onto the apron, dividing into 3 child-sized pockets, and it was done.
When I showed the apron to grandgirl over the weekend, she did admit the "kitties" were really cute, and pink was her favorite color, but she refused to try it on. So time will tell if it gets any use, but it was a fun diversion at any rate, and apron or no, I'm curious what she'll have us cook up next.


Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

13 comments:

  1. Kids are funny how sometimes they have to come round to things on their own terms...a little like men, you have to let them think it was their idea ;-) It's a gorgeous apron and is sure to see lots of use...soon!

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  2. Great you had a good help in the kitchen! Her apron became really beautiful! x Teje

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  3. Annabella is so right- I'm sure she will come round to the idea! It is too cute not to be used!

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  4. so cute! I'll bet she comes around and wants to wear it to cook next time

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  5. She wouldn't try it on?! LOL Oh, don't kids have minds of their own, though! :) Well, I think it's very cute. It probably just needs to be a cooking requirement. ;)

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  6. I hope I get grandkids someday! Love this story from beginning to end. Hope she does give the AWESOME apron a spin :)

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  7. Aww! Super cute!! Kids - I'm sure she'll give it a whirl and then won't take it off! ;)

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  8. This is adorable and may just break me into buying the tiger bundle that's been sitting in my shopping cart.

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  9. It turned out adorable! I know she will warm up to it over time!

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  10. Those granddaughter s keep us on our toes for sure! Adorable apron, sometime she'll want to be like Gramma and wear hers!

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  11. I made my granddaughters aprons, but I think they outgrew them before they ever got much use! (Their mother doesn't want to cook much.) I loved reading the lovely story of cracking the eggs, and the crafting of the apron. Very cute!

    Elizabeth

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