|
What I'm reading now:
MaryJanes's Ideabook-Cookbook-Lifebook by MaryJane Butters
A Thread of Blue Denim by Patrician Penton Leimbach
Why Cows Learn Dutch and other secrets of Amish farms by Randy James
Knitting into the Mystery by Jorgensen and Izard
of reason and love: the life and works of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
by Steiner
Things Visible and Invisible: Images in the Spirituality of St.
Catherine of Siena by Cavallini
The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost their Grip on the American
Car Market by Maynard
15 Days of Prayer with Pierre Teilhard de Chardin by Dupleix
Spirit of Fire: The Life and Vision of Teilhard de Chardin by King
Eve's Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West
by Riddle
An Ancient Egyptian Herbal by Manniche
My latest project: Inspired by Mary Jane, I've been making aprons...
(click each picture to see larger view) I've was bowled over by how Mary Jane's book (see above) captured the "farmgirl"
culture I was raised in. I've been baking pies and thinking about making some elderberry jelly since I read the book!
Click here to find out more.
| Based on Sakuyo Bartram's machine knit pattern. |
|
| Machine-knitted apron |
I worked on this apron on a Sunday afternoon. It was very peaceful, and I was thrilled on how beautifully it draped.
I used soft 6/2 cotton from my stash, the contrasting color was cotton flake.
I especially liked the way the deep hem weighted the whole apron and left a smooth finish on the reverse side.
| Flip side showing hem |
|
I modified the bib substantially from Sakuyo's original pattern. I like the bib to flare out towards the
shoulders to give me the illusion of having a waist! This makes it a little more of a "pinafore" style, even without
ruffles.
| My modifications - bib and waistband, ties |
|
| Reverse side of bib |
Below is the first apron I made after reading Mary Jane's chapter on farmgirl aprons. I actually cut
apart a purchased bib apron (pack of 10 white aprons at the local warehouse club) and added a waistband, pockets, and embellishment
on the bib.
| Purchased, embellished apron |
|
| Trim and embroidery added |
| Embroidery close-up |
|
| You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy and it shall be well with you |
Sakuyo Bartram shared two pictures of her original, unmodified, apron in process - both with and without a bib.
Isn't it beautiful?
| Sakuyo's original apron from her pattern |
|
| Photos used with permission |
I found the pattern through contacts on the Machine Knit list. This is a wonderful group of people who are willing
to share every hint and trick they know about machine knitting, from static sprays to machine repair to how to get two strands
of yarn to twist together as you knit.
| Sakuyo's apron with bib |
|
| Photos used with permission |
Sakuyo graciously allowed me to use pictures of her original apron on my site! The original pattern can be found
at http://www.northtipton.com/apronand.htm . There are a lot of good patterns there.
|
