Pretty aprons

Made these 2 little beauties this morning...

More views:

 I ADORE jumbo ricrac!!

 Tea towel holder and heirloom stitching around the pocket

How on earth do you 'model' an apron in your PJs?!

 Not much better!

Maternity trousers - first trousers ever!!

Well I guess they're slightly easier than usual trousers due to there being no zip closure etc.... But I still manage to make my usual pigs-ear of at least 1 process in the making of these trousers!

So, they're based on a Burda Maternity pattern: 

I was at Trago Mills in Newton Abbot today and saw some stretchy cotton sateen fabric (to use on reverse side as don't like shiny!) that I thought would be suitable for these. Bought some extra jersey for the band too.

Took forever to print out and piece together the pattern, but not too long to cut out the pieces - having worked out the direction of the stretch! 

The actual sewing took hardly any time and before long I had the main body of the trousers and they fit! So far so good! 

You'd think the band would be easy but me being me managed to cock up quite a few times, unpicking many a seam before finally working it out. Even once I'd worked out what their incredibly scant instructions meant, I still made silly mistakes and ended up unpicking seams again! Doh!

Anyway, finally got there. Total sewing time, approx 45 minutes. Total making time, approx 2.5 hours. Total including making pattern and cutting, approx 4 hours!! Crazy! Could whip up another pair now in no time I'm sure! And may even do so, maybe making a flared pair. 

Hopefully can't see a 'camel's toe' here but the threat is there with stretchy material plus curvy girl! Oh dear!!

S'cuse the look on my face! Was concerned about the zooming going on!

Should look quite nice with heals or sandals anyway!

Just a wee extra....

Wasn't going to post this as I wanted it to be a surprise for my friend when she opened the bag, but hey ho!

Thought of the idea when I looked on Etsy and lots of changing bags come with a changing mat and because I had about 1/3m left of the oilcloth, which was the more expensive of the fabrics, thought I'd just whip one up! Searched online and found this great tutorial from Prudent Baby - here!

I used towelling on the reverse and quilted this before construction to make it padded...

Then I attached to the PVC cotton, stitched together, overstitched and divided into thirds for folding...

Then I added some bias binding for the ribbon and here it is all tied up like a beautiful present...

Hmmm, maybe she needs some bibs?!!