My friend Carolyn loves vampire and Halloween stuff, so when I saw this cute fabric with skeletons and roses on it last Christmas or so, it cried out to me that I needed to make an apron for Carolyn out of it. (I think if you know Carolyn, you agree.) I have several apron patterns inherited from my mom, and I bought enough fabric for the one I thought I wanted to make. After making one of those aprons for a different friend, I decided it was overkill and went with a less fabric-intensive apron for Carolyn. She loves it, and I even saw her wearing it when I went over to dinner at her house last Saturday. (If she doesn't love it, she does a good job making me feel good about it anyway.) I gave her the apron "for Christmas" back in July. (I don't always get my projects done in a timely manner.) The apron is pretty nice. It has one big pocket in the middle of the front and a smaller one for a pencil or thermometer or other small kitchen thingy on one side towards the top.
For her birthday this year (on time!), I made a tote bag for her out of the same fabric. I used It's so Easy/Simplicity pattern #2402. It can fold up and fit in a little pouch. I think it's a pretty nice tote. It's strong, and it is lined with a red cotton broadcloth for even more sturdiness (and so there aren't as many seams showing in the bottom). The pouch is cool too. I used a magnetic snap to close it, and it has a little clip on it, so it can be attached to the tote when the tote is unfolded.
I still have enough fabric for one more project for Carolyn. We'll see what it becomes.
