Finito

I am just on a creative roll lately.  It helps to have projects that can be completed during a lunch hour.

I think, in retrospect, that these fabrics are a little too feminine – I think stronger colors and patterns lend themselves to the ruffliness and would keep it from being too sweet.   I wish, at the very least, that I had picked a pink and white stripe fabric instead of the gingham (because pink and white stripes is SO much less girly than pink and white gingham….).  The gingham is really sheer and you can see the pattern of the main fabric through it. 

When I was sewing this I was having flashbacks to my very first sewing project in 8th grade home ec.  It was a pink gingham smock top with ruffly cap sleeves and white heart shaped pockets.   I can’t believe I actually FOUND a picture of the pattern.

I never could get those heart shaped pockets right.

Ruffles haven’t gotten any easier either.  Unless there is some gathering technique that I don’t know about that guarantees perfectly spaced ruffles.

I don’t think this was meant to be a dress – I know I was intending to wear it as a top – shouldn’t that young lady have some pants on?

If anyone makes the apron here is a tip – I marked the backing material with straight lines where each ruffle was to be pinned and sewed.  It kept my ruffles from getting away from me as they were wont to do.

I finished my monogram too – I toyed with the idea of using it as a pocket or a patch on the apron (which is why I kept the flowers all pink) but then it seemed like too much.  So back to my original idea of using it on a pillow. 

Every time I do something I learn what I would do differently – It’s hard to see in this picture but in some of the satin stitched leaves I have a running stitch right in the middle (as the stem) – I wouldn’t do that next time – it makes it look messy.  I also got a great tip from Victoria who explained a better way of putting the fabric on the hoop so my sticky fingers aren’t all over the front of the material (see the comments on this post – she explains it better than I could).

So what should I do next?  I should probably put my embroidery hoop down and pay attention to the garden.  It has been seriously neglected this year. 

(Note to Merry – I got a lovely email from you yesterday but when I tried to reply the email system spit it back at me – not sure why – it didn’t like the email address.  Just wanted to say thank you for your kind words.  I did have a few monogram suggestions if you want to email me back – I can try again)