a handmade challenge

several months ago, someone posted on facebook that she would send something handmade to the first five people to comment on her post…and then post the same status themselves. So I hopped on board…commented on her post, then reposted, promising to send something handmade to the first 5 people to comment on my status…sometime in 2010. (I didn't require them to reciprocate, wanting to keep it open for anyone. I'm nice like that.)

Mind you, I barely know the vast majority of my fb friends. Most are people I went to college with, or high school, or I would say hi to at church. A lot of them are people that I think I would love to be real life friends with, but I don't live near any of them. A few of them are truly good friends right now…a few were good friends years back.

It was therefore a bit difficult coming up with ideas of what to make for people, since the commenters fell into all of the above categories…but I just decided to make some projects I wanted to make anyway, and they could be my test subjects. I'm telling them to feel free to give it away if they decide they just don't like it or wouldn't use it!

The first project I finished was the emmeline apron by Meg at Sew Liberated. It was a pattern I had bought impulsively ages ago just because I thought it looked really really cute. Nevermind the fact that I almost never wear an apron while baking or cooking. I thought maybe I would if I had one like this! And it's reversible, so it's like two aprons in one.


I made this while trapped upstairs in my craft/sewing room while the tile guys were destroying our kitchen to put in new tile so we could sell our house. My fabric choices were based solely on what I had on hand, but I think it worked out just fine. I didn't have large enough cuts of fabric to do what the pattern said to do, so I pieced some together to make a large enough panel for the one side. And I like that side best. (Maybe because the green side is so wrinkled??)


I did some decorative stitching on the edges, and learned a few things about this apron as I went along. I think I would do less gathering for the top part next time, or at least pay more attention to making it even, and would try to use lighter weight fabrics also. Though I really like the look of the finished apron, it felt a bit bulky to me when I had it on, and I don't think I would wear it much if I kept it. Some of the fabrics I used were fairly heavy weight quilting cottons, so if I used some lighter weights, that would likely cut down on the overall heavy feel of the apron. Perhaps I'll try it again some day.

The girl I sent it to is a mom of 4 (or 5?) boys, and I thought she'd maybe like something feminine to combat some of the testosterone buildup at her place! She said she likes it, so that one worked out well :)

The next project I made was a bag from Anna Maria Horner's book, Seams to Me. I think it's called the taxi tote, but I don't have the book handy, so I can't check on that.


I wasn't sure if the recipient would like the crazy orange fabric with a recycled pillowcase as a lining…but I really love the combo, and since she had a picture of herself standing in front of a gorgeous flaming orange tree, I figured she couldn't be totally opposed to the color!


A chapstick pocket is a must.


The bag is just the right size to fit a few magazines or folders into, along with whatever daily essentials you carry. It was pretty floppy, so I would use more interfacing next time (I don't remember if I even used what was recommended in the book), and probably add a few more interior pockets. Maybe a magnetic snap closure, as the button & loop I made didn't really work all that well. I used premade bias binding, and liked how it worked out. Sure saved me the time & trouble of making my own.

I miss this fabric now. Wish I knew where I got it, but I think it was a clearanced one from way back before I even started sewing. Bummer. I'm a big fan of orange.

So that's two out of five projects done and sent on their way. Three more to come. I think I know what I'm going to make for one of the remaining three, am unsure about another, and am pretty stumped on what to make for the lone guy commenter. He probably forgot he commented, but I'm going to make something anyway!