Row cover: another reason organic costs are higher

Ever wondered why organic fruits & vegetables cost more? The main reason is increased labor and more costly materials.

One reason shown here in picture. We have a problem in this part od the country with an insect pest called the "flea beetle". It's not really a flea. Anyway, it loves to eat the delicious leaves of brassica crops... think arugula, mustard greens, all the asian greens, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. On a conventional vegetable farm, a low-cost insecticide chemical would be sprayed, taking a few minutes, and that would be it. On an organic farm, we use no chemicals. Instead, we fight flea beetle attacks by using "floating row cover", which you see pictured. Costly to purchase, and takes a lot of time & labor to lay it over the beds.

Pictured is just one of many beds being covered now at Wishful Acres Farm.

www.WishfulAcresFarm.com

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Redwork fabric Apron

Newest apron creation: a full length women's sized apron crafted with redwork-pattered fabric. I wanted to pick up the redwork and highlight it, so I created a red top at the neck, matching red pocket, and red neck and waist ties.

I've always loved the look of redwork and was thrilled when I came across this fabric! :-)

Another vintage fabric apron

Another vintage fabric, hand embroidered apron finished.

This one was also created from an antique table runner. One half was damaged (not by Me! oh forbid! ;-), it probably happened to the vintage piece many years ago... I purchased it that way.)

Because of the damage, my plan to make this a full apron had to be tailored back to a half apron. Rolling with the punches!

What a productive day!

Aprons created from antique fabric - love it!

Dead of winter= sewing time! My newest apron creation is here, I will take it to farmers market next season to sell. I adore vintage fabrics. This mother / daughter apron set was created from 1 antique hand-embroidered linen table runner. I cut it in 2 pieces (I can't tell you how nervewracking it is for me to cut (sob) these antique fabrics).

I then created a half apron with a ruffled edge for the 'mother apron', and a full apron for the 'daughter' apron.

It's probably going to be hard to see the hand embroidered flower pattern in this picture, but it's pink, green, and white.

I think they're darling!

Apron from circle skirt pattern

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As the garden slows down and fall approaches, I inevitably turn indoors and back to sewing, cooking, & crafting.  I began work on this apron last spring, let it sit all summer as I worked in the farm garden, and just recently pulled it out to finish it.

If you're thinking that it looks like a skirt - you're not too far off.  I purchased one of those ready-made pattern fabrics (other sewing enthusiasts probably know exactly what I'm talking about here) - it's a big piece of fabric with the pattern printed on it.  You simply cut out the pieces, following the directions printed directly on the fabric, and sew as directed.  I did change it up a bit, and used a different fabric from my stash for the waistband & apron ties - it was originally just plain brown, but I thought the pink waistband would add a nice touch.  Here's what is left of the pattern after I cut out the pieces.  Now you probably have an idea of what I mean when I say ready-made pattern.  Easy!

I decided this skirt would make a pretty apron - I love the chocolate brown & pink color combination.  Since this is a skirt pattern, I simply cut the skirt portion in 2, to make two half-aprons.

I really like the fullness of the skirt, it's like a flamenco dancer or something, with lots of fabric.

The person who ends up owning this apron can dance around the kitchen while cooking!  Just make sure the windows are covered first...

Another apron finished!  That makes for a good day.

Thanks for visiting All Natural Mama blog, home to Wishful Acres Organic Farm!

Lemon Drop Apron

I love this lemon-print fabric.  I wish I had bought more of it, because this apron used all that I had.  The apron used a lot of fabric because it's double-sided.  The front & back are the same.  It slips on over the head and ties at each side.

 

It offers more coverage than a traditional apron.  I believe it's commonly known as a Cobbler Apron.  Wearing this apron will pretty much ensure your clothes underneath will still be sparkly clean when you're done cooking.  It's a Christmas gift for a good friend who needed a good covering apron.

I got the idea for this apron in a book called "The Perfect Apron".

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Kicking the frustration out

There is nothing like a kickboxing class to release stress, anxiety, and the frustration caused by.....

a teeny, tiny strip of bias tape that won't cooperate and separated itself from the fabric I was attempting to sew it to.  How'd you guess?

It's a new apron, and it will be a great gift for a good friend when it's done, but getting to the done part is causing me a bit of frustration...

Recycled Jeans Apron

My favorite pair of jeans have a massive hole in the knee.  I've tried patching it, but the hole grew to enormous proportions.  This may be in style among teenagers, but I'm a long way from being a teenager anymore.

So I turned my favorite jeans into an apron.

Recycled Tie Apron

Yep, you read the title right!

I came up with an idea for a new apron design last spring and just didn't get around to creating it.  Gardening time came!

So.... now that we only have our small fall garden growing, I have been hitting the sewing machine hard!

I originally designed this apron as a full apron with a top.  The top was to be made from a men's button-down white shirt.  But as I was making the apron I ditched that idea in favor of a half apron.  I'll hit the drawing board again soon to make the full apron!

The apron is made from used men's ties. I cut them open to lay flat and sewed them together.  I even used ties for the waitband and tiebacks!

Should I call it my "Eco Line"?  Maybe "Penny's Creations in Green"?

This could be fun...  I have a pattern for an apron made from recycled jeans that could also be a part of this line.  Hope to get around to trying that pattern soon.

But this one was designed by little old me, no pattern.  Makes me kind of proud, but in a modest way, of course. lol. :-)

Apron with Empire Waist

I created this apron to be auctioned off at a local benefit.  I read about this family in our local newspaper and it broke my heart.  The benefit is to raise money for the family's medical bills, which I'm sure are large.  Their baby is fighting for it's life after being born with a genetic heart defect.

The apron was made of cotton fabric, a black background with small white polka dots and bright red cherries.

I didn't use a pattern on this one.  The top portion of the fabric is elasticized, which worked out great for the top portion of the apron.  I decided to create the apron in an empire waist to better meld with the elasticized top.

For the waist and neckbands I used a simple satin black ribbon.

I think this is one of my favorites so far!  I bought extra fabric to make more of these to sell.

Sewing: Apron for teacher

I made this apron as a gift for my son's kindergarten teacher. Hard to believe summer is almost here!

I chose, of course, an apple-themed fabric.
I used this pattern, although not exactly. I used the skirt pattern in the bottom right-hand corner picture on the front of the pattern but didn't use the pocket or waistband pattern. Those are very simple to make up on your own. I do like to use a pattern for the skirt on this one because the bottom has a wavy line (very technical term) and I know I'd screw that up in a second without a pattern!

After cutting out the skirt pattern, I hemmed the sides & bottom edges. Just fold it in, press (iron in place), then fold & press again (you want the raw edges completely enclosed). Then I needed to make the ruffles on the front. To do this, you'll need to sew a line of stitches across the top of the skirt. Set your sewing machine to the widest stitch (the stitch that is the longest). Sew all the way across the front, making sure to leave some threads at each end for pulling (next step). You can see how wide these stitches are in the picture below. Along the top edge are my wide stitches for making ruffles, and the right side shows the small stitches I used for the hem.


The next step is kind of fun. See those threads hanging in the top picture? They're on both ends of the skirt. You just pull the top & bottom threads to make the fabric ruff up.
Just keep pulling & moving the fabric over. I like to mark the middle line in the skirt and pull each side threads to make it all meet in the middle (see picture below).
When one side is ruffled to the middle, I go to the other side and pull those threads and ruffle it to the middle.
Then I make my waistband. This just needs to be a straight piece of fabric. It needs to be long enough to tie in the back with lots of extra room, and side enough so that you can fold it in to hem and sew it over the top.

Then sew!
Done!
But I decided to fancy it up with the teacher's name on a pocket, now that I know how to use the embroidery feature on this machine.

Done. I made a couple of pot holders to go with it and packed it all up. Those are so easy to make. I'll give the how-to in an upcoming blog posting.

Rose Garden apron

This apron is designed with 2 rose pattern fabrics.





It has a curved bottom and is pleated.


One of my favorites so far.
This is my new dress form. I'll post soon on how to make one for less than $5.

Fun apron

This material is fun and I made an apron and matching oven mitts and pot holders.

There is a craft show coming up in April so I am trying to increase my inventory. :-)

Fruity Apron

I finally splurged on some nice fabric that wasn't on the clearance shelves. It's a gingham with red cherries.
Designed this apron with big fat straps.
The red fabric has tiny polka-dots which don't show up well in the picture.

Reuse and Recycle

My MIL gave me this vintage item that would normally cover the top of a dresser.
It was embroidered with flowers and had lace trim.
Well, I cut it in half and made 2 cute aprons.