My quilt guild has a optional homemade gift item exchange each year. This year they choose a apron as the project. The guidelines were that you make an apron (any style, your choice) and bring it to the Christmas Party, wrapped.
I am not a pattern user and honestly, I've never made anything except straight-line quilts. This was quite a challenge for me. I spent 3 days (2 with my quilting friend and 1 own my own) working on this. I generally don't work on crafty stuff during the day because my kids often get in trouble while I am working. But I ignored them in the name of a deadline. I even went out and bought fabric just for this project because I was sure that no one would like the stuff from my stash. I have different tastes than the older ladies in my guild. It was a learning experience but overall I was pleased with my project. The below photo was the product of my efforts.
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| The apron I made for the quilt guild's Christmas Party gift exchange item. |
Upon arrival at the Christmas party, you received a number and the same number was put on your package. We then drew a number based on the order we arrived. Mine was # 33 because I was the last to arrive. The group began drawing numbers and there were some beautiful aprons coming around... it was amazing to see how talented our guild members are. As the last person, I didn't draw a number. I got what ever hadn't been picked. I was so excited, I'd seen some great aprons. There wasn't one I wouldn't have loved to have. So when I got my bag, I eagerly ripped into it and found an apron that was not per the guidelines. In fact, it was the only one of the night where someone "bought" the apron. It was a kid-sized canvas apron with a Maxine comic iron-ed on and a ribbon stitched around the comic. It is the photo below.
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| The apron I got at the guild's Christmas Party gift exchange. |
I was gracious and acted excited but I was hurt and angry. Why would someone participate in a optional gift exchange if they didn't have time to properly do the project?! The card inside said nothing about who made it; why would they when they did such a dismal job? Normally, I am not phased by getting the "bad" gift in an exchange but this just it irritated me. This person put in next to no effort and in turn got a amazing, homemade apron. That's just not fair.
I stewed on this for days and finally decided that I wasn't going to take this laying down. So I decide to make a 2nd apron and this time for myself. I pulled some fabric out of my stash that I love but didn't know what to do with. I was not particularly happy with the first pattern I'd used... it was too difficult for me and I am not a fan of ruffles. So I trolled the internet and found a free pattern on Joann.com for The Josephine Apron. I decided to make this one for myself. It took me several days over a few weeks (because we were getting ready for Christmas) but I got it done. It is below and I LOVE how it turned out. My one complaint is that the top is too wide and bunches a bit but I can deal with that.
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| The apron I made for myself after what will forever be known as The Great Apron Debacle. |
So what happened to the apron I got at the exchange? I brought it to a White Elephant party and re-gifted it with some Joanns coupons. Maybe someone else will have the motivation to re-do it but I can not stand to look at it because it makes me mad every time I see it.
