An Apron for Him - tutorial

It's difficult to make a present for a man. But I found a great idea on Silvia's blog.
It's a quick and funny project.
I have asked Silvia if I may write a short tutorial about it and she kindly approved.
Here is my version:

Materials needed
- one shirt (if it is used, the front should be in good shape)
- binding
- scraps of fabrics
- thread
- sewing machine
- scissors, water soluble pen or tailor chalk, pins
- one safety pin

I folded the shirt in half. I cut out the front.

On the back, the cutting followed a curved line finished up at about 4" down from the shirt's neckline.

I drew a line along the neckline.

I cut out the collar following the drawn line.

I verified if the new neckline needs some corrections.

I added the binding on the raw edge and stitched the two straps.

I made a bow tie and I placed it on the shirt with the safety pin. I played a little and embroidered a label with his monogram and stitched it above the chest pocket. 

Done!

It was very well received.

Thank you, Silvia, for this brilliant idea and for the permission to post the tutorial!

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

I'm linking to Finish it up Friday!

Self - threading or not?

Do you use self-threading needles?

I was so happy when I found them in the department store. I saw them only on the internet.

How I wanted needles like these! Especially for bury the threads after finishing quilting. And because I have a hard time threading a needle.  

But I was very disappointed when I used the first needle. 

Thread did not slip at all through the small vertical channel. Just breaking. I changed the thread. Breaking. I tried the next needle. The same thing. And so on until the last one. It was the only one working. Because it was the only one having that channel cut! 

So, I paid for one needle the price of six!

You will say that it was an exception, an excusable mistake. I intended to think like this too. But when I bought mine I bought also one package of needles for a friend and she had the same bad surprise. 

Coats Gmbh – Germany, shame on you!

My conclusions after using my only self-threading needle:

                        1.the boring process of the threads burial is faster 

                        2.the needle is too thick and it slips into the fabric with difficulty

                        3.my fingers are stinging from the sharp head of the needle (I don't like wearing thimble)

 These being said, I wish you, as always to

Have a beautiful day! 
With or without self-threading needles!

I am linking to Linky Tuesday 

Spring Signs

These days in my country home garden:

Have a beautiful day!

I'm flying! - a baby quilt

 The baby quilt is ready. Now I can really say "I'm flying!" 

The pale blue fabric I used as background in the main panel surprised me in a bad way: after I washed the quilt the color became almost white. But the only person to blame is me. 

I place this piece of fabric in the wrong place, the good-to-use-fabrics closet.

Some time ago, I tested few textile dyes. They proved to be bad quality because despite the manufacturer's instructions, the dyes faded out in the rinsing water. Among other colors, I tested also the blue color. 

Usually after I buy fabrics, on each piece I pin a short note with the main information : if it was pre-washed or not, if the color is stable or not and sometimes its dimensions.

In this case I didn't do this.

So, this quilt will stay with me. 

But I have one more reason to keep it: the drawing was made a few month ago, for my birthday by my friend Elena Dragulelei with whom I collaborate on some projects. You may see one here, one here and another one here.

Lesson learned: be organized!

Have a beautiful day!

I'm flying! ( work in progress)

I finished the top of a baby quilt. A lot of applique. Raw edge applique.
Here is its centerpiece.

Now I'm quilting it. Do you see those little fingers? Imagine you have to follow their edges with quite narrow zig-zag stitches. Funny isn't it?  
I only hope I will not ruin it.

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

Tic - Tac Little Bag

Recently I told you that I'm working on a pattern of a little bag.
Today I show you another result of my tests.

I gave it already to a young lady known by her friends for her problem of being late to meetings. As she has a good sens of humor, I knew that this bag is the perfect present for her birthday.

Back to testing and maybe some writing, now.

Have a beautiful day, my dears!

I am linking to Linky Tuesday
                      Keep It Simple, Make It Fun