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Fat Quarter Apron Print E-mail
Editor: Alicia Thommas   
Friday, 13 August 2010 03:00

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Awhile back, with no project in mind, I picked up five fat quarters from Amy Butler's Love collection while browsing at Bolt Fabric Boutique here in Portland, OR. What to do with five fat quarters? I challenged myself to create an apron where there would be virtually no wasted fabric. What remains from this pretty flower garden apron would fit in a teacup.

 
Summer Fun: BBQ Apron with Rivet Accents Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Friday, 16 July 2010 03:00

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Fire up the grill and pull out the spatula; it's barbeque time! Summer Fun means something should be sizzling on the ol' outdoor grill. This tough canvas BBQ apron is a serious sizzle shield with its handsome rivet accents and extra-large pockets for grill tongs, tools and those giant hot pad mitts.

 
French Press Cozy Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:00

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Sew4Home lives in Coffee Land - the beautiful Pacific Northwest, home of Starbucks® , Seattle's Best® and Peet's Coffee & Tea® . We're never more than five steps from a barista, however, we also like to have lots of ways to make coffee within the comfort of our homes. The French press style coffee maker has seen a resurgence of popularity in recent years. These contraptions make an awesome cup of coffee, but if you let the press stand for any length of time, the coffee goes cold. Enter the French Press Cozy, brainchild of Sew4Home team member, Julia Chapman. This one is made from an off-the-shelf placemat and can be stitched up faster than you can say, 'grande skinny double-shot latte hot vanilla no whip.'

 
Retro Fun: Fancy Border Tea Towels Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Friday, 07 May 2010 03:00

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As with so many things ‘tea related,' the Tea Towel comes to us by way of Great Britain where it originated as a special drying cloth for expensive tea services. Linen was the fabric of choice because its smooth, simple weave was unlikely to scratch fine china or glass. Servants were usually charged with hand hemming and embroidering the tea towels. Their embellishment ranged from simple hand stitching to extremely intricate embroidery. Besides drying, the towels were also often used as a cozy – wrapped around a tea pot, or as a basket warmer – wrapped around or laid on top of a serving bowl to keep scones, cakes and biscuits warm. Our Retro Fun Tea Towels with their fancy Simply Sweet fabric borders are more casual than their noble ancestors, but are still a wonderful addition to any kitchen and a perfect gift for a wedding shower or house warming.

 
Retro Fun: Quilted Mitt Pot Holders Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Thursday, 29 April 2010 03:00

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Our Retro hot pads not only feature a nostalgic fabric combo, they also have the perfect retro slip-on style. Our fab designer, Alicia Thommas came up with this original pattern, and we offer it as a free download. The Simply Sweet fabrics on the two mitts are so bright and cheery, it made me want to slip them on and wear them around the kitchen, just waiting for something hot to pull out of the oven. After awhile, when no one showed up with a tray of cookies, I reluctantly took them off.

 
Retro Fun: Vintage Style Apron Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Monday, 26 April 2010 03:00

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This apron is another Sew4Home design original, complete with a free downloadable pattern. Love, love, love the sweetheart neckline and matching mini-sweet pockets. And the happy bottom flounce will have you skipping around your kitchen, just like when you used to twirl in your big-girl-fancy-party-dress... oh, don't even try to tell me you didn't do that! The Simply Sweet floral fabric has the perfect vintage feel, while the big polka dot accents add a modern zing. Clever knotted ties allow infinite adjustability for the neck and waist so you can make a Retro Fun: Vintage Style Apron for every shape and size of family member and friend.

 
Retro Fun: Toddler's Laminated Project Apron Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Tuesday, 20 April 2010 03:00

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Keep your tots tidy with this adorable project apron. We used the year's hottest new fabric: laminated cotton. Ours is from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane , but everyone who's anyone is adding this fab fabric choice to their new collections. We give you some tips for sewing with it (it's really easy), and a free toddler-sized pattern to download. Whip one up, then whip out the poster paints.

 
Turquoise 2010: Market/Craft Apron Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 04:00

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Handy. Dandy. That's our market/craft apron. Ultra-clever folding allows you to create it using just one main chunk o' fabric plus a little bit of trim. I especially like the way the hem shows on the front between the waistband and the pocket pouch. Top stitching holds it all together, and a line of pretty decorative stitching across the pocket binding makes it extra special. This would be one fancy yet functional apron to wear for those of you who make and sell your crafts at local fairs and markets.

 
Nature Brights Kitchen: Daisy Dot Apron Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Monday, 15 February 2010 03:00

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The design for this apron came about because we loved the Daisy Dot border prints in Patty Young's Flora & Fauna collection. We were very happy with the sample when it was finished, but were thrilled to earn the, 'Hey-this-is-really-cute Award' from our teenage model. Praise like this is hard-won, and we are now clinging to the awesome coolness of our Daisy Dot Apron. We won't, however, be wearing it to the mall. We do understand where coolness ends.

 
Nature Brights Kitchen: Quilted Hot Pads Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Friday, 12 February 2010 04:00

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I ♥ hot pads! I have tons of them. In fact, I'm zany enough that when I throw a dinner party, I actually coordinate my hot pads with my table setting. Yes... I need professional help. These awesome quilted hot pads are super simple, and each one uses just a 10" x 10" square for the front and back. You might have some scraps laying around that would be perfect. Our design is reversible, which is a two-for-one deal, and the insulating batting between the layers makes them functional as well as fabulous.

 
Nature Brights Kitchen: Triple Border Dish Towels Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Thursday, 04 February 2010 04:00

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If you want to jump start a project, start with something off-the-shelf and add your own sewn touches to make it unique. That's what we did with this set of clever dish towels. We started with plain white towels from Crate and Barrel, then added three fabric bands with contrasting topstitching. The color and pattern really pops off the crisp white background. I can't guarantee folks will be fighting to help you dry the dishes, but I can promise the towels will look fabulous hanging on the rack.

 
Nature Brights Kitchen: Mix & Match Napkins Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Thursday, 28 January 2010 03:00

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We love the cloth napkin here at Sew4Home! It's a green alternative to paper; it's super simple to make; and it adds a cheery splash of color to your table. That's a trifecta of winning reasons to give it a try today. We used a different fabric for each of our six napkin samples, because mixing and matching is fun.

 
Nature Brights Kitchen: Everyday Reversible Placemats Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 03:00

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Here's a new take on the standard rectangular placemat. These have a slightly trapezoidal shape (okay ... I just gotta say, Trapezoidal sounds like a character from Fiddler on the Roof ... dontcha think??). The unique shape allows them to fit nicely around our round kitchen table. And, they're reversible, so you can spill breakfast on one side, then flip them over to spill lunch on the other. You could also alternate sides around the table for a fun and colorful look. The coordinating binding ties it all together.

 
Valentines: Heart Happy Apron (Men's Version) Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Friday, 08 January 2010 03:00

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On Wednesday of this week, we featured our Heart Happy woman's apron. Today it's the guy's turn to shine. Made in the same longer-style French baker's cut, our men's version goes even further down that road, using a smooth white cotton twill with cream linen ties. You'll notice the cream linen matches the woman's apron ties, and we used a scrap of that apron's Paula Prass Woodland Delight in Brown Bloom for a coordinating pocket heart. You know, they say the couple who cooks together in matching Sew4Home aprons is 47% happier than the average couple. Don't even try to prove that stat.

 
Valentines: Happy Heart Apron (Women's Version) Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 03:00

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Patterned in the longer style of a French baker's apron, our woman's Valentines apron is the perfect accessory to don when lovingly whipping up a dinner for two. Believe it or not, it takes just a single yard of fabric thanks to our clever cutting plan. We even supply you with a pattern to download to help you cut the arm hole curves. Start to finish, you can easily make this apron in an hour. In fact, check back this coming Friday to see our matching men's version. Make them both and cook together in style.

 
Citrus Holiday: Quick Patchwork Trim Tea Towels Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Tuesday, 13 October 2009 03:00

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For each set of Themed Room projects we do here at Sew4Home, we like come up with at least one fun thing to do with all your leftover fabric scraps. For our Citrus Holiday Dining Room, it's these cute tea towels trimmed with a simple eight-square patchworked row and highlighted with bright red jumbo ric rac. They'll be fightin' over who gets to dry the dishes!

 
Citrus Holiday: Hostess Apron with Dreamy Bow Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Monday, 12 October 2009 03:00

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The hostess apron is a nod to the more elegant entertaining of days gone by, when a beautiful apron was a critical part of your party ensemble. We've brought back this vintage accessory, but with a bright new spin to match the playful palette of our Citrus Holiday projects. We combined five different Heather Bailey fabrics, then added a deep wine red for the waistband and all the ties. Flouncy skirt tiers and a bold bow we tied jauntily at the shoulder are the finishing touches that make this apron a stand out.

 
Patio Party: Groovy Hostess Apron Print E-mail
Editor: Liz Johnson   
Monday, 20 July 2009 03:00

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We know Sew4Home is all about home dec sewing, but every once in a while, we like to branch out. Besides, we were a little afraid our cool Patio Party linens were stealing all the glory. I hate it when the placemats look better than me! Aprons are all the rage right now because they are so fun and easy to make. Try this cute little number, and show off your own party style.

 


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