Handicraft Gift Idea: Make an Apron

Hello all,

If you are looking for a handicraft gift idea to make for someone special, perhaps that person would like an apron. When we think of aprons, we often think of mothers and grandmothers in the kitchen, but men can often benefit from having an apron as well.

They often enjoy barbecuing, for one thing. They also can use an apron in the workshop. Children, too, can use an apron for many of their activities, such as arts and crafts. Here are simple instructions for making a handicraft gift of an apron that can be adapted for anyone.

Start with a piece of sturdy fabric suitable for the individual for whom you are making the handicraft gift. The fabric needs to be wide enough to wrap 1/2 to 3/4 of the way around them and long enough to cover them from collar bone to just above the knee.


For a large adult, 25 to 30 inches wide by 36 to 40 inches long should be about right. A slimmer adult can use a narrower apron, but if they will be wiping their hands on the sides of it, they might appreciate the extra width. An apron for a child of 10 could start with a piece of fabric about 18 inches wide by 25-30 inches long.

The best types of fabric to use are sturdy cottons, such as medium weight denim or twill. Soft cottons such as broadcloth or muslin are all right in the kitchen, but will not last long, and would not hold up in the garden or workshop at all.

Other materials you'll need are thread and a sewing machine. You will also need enough extra fabric to make a strap to go around the neck, ties for the back, and pockets.

When designing the handicraft gift, you can be as creative as you like with pockets. Every apron is more useful with pockets. A person who cleans houses, for instance, can use pockets for odds and ends they pick up as well as for their spray bottles, sponges, and scrub brushes.

To make the apron, fold the piece of fabric lengthwise. This will allow you to cut the shape with one cut, making the two sides symmetrical. What you will be shaping when you make the cut will be the bib section of the apron. The bib for an adult sized apron will need to be about 9 inches wide. Measure from the fold about 5-1/2 inches.

This is half the width of the bib plus an inch to fold under twice to form a hem. The piece you will cut off the side to shape the bib will be a half bullet shape with the tip of the bullet being where the ties will be attached. The length of the half bullet shape should be about a foot, and the width will be from the spot you marked 5-1/2 inches from the fold to the outside edge of the fabric.

When these pieces are cut off, the result should be an apron shaped piece of fabric.

Now decorate the apron with pockets and any other decorations you desire. After this it is time to fold under the edges all around and stitch down with sturdy stitching for a nice hem all around the handicraft gift.

Cut two pieces of fabric a yard long by two inches wide. Fold lengthwise and fold raw edges to the inside. Press and stitch down along the length to make the ties. Attach the ties at the waist of the apron handicraft gift. (If these ties seem a little long, it is because a lot of people like to bring the ties to the front and tie them there.)

Cut another piece of fabric 18 to 20 inches long by 5 inches wide fold in half lengthwise and press. Press again with the raw edges of the long side tucked under 1/2 inch. Stitch down the open side. Attach this piece to the sides of the top of the bib, sewing it to the back of the bib and topstitching on the front side of the bib. Be careful not to twist it when you attach it.

People who work hard at homemaking, barbecuing and in the workshop will appreciate a handicraft gift of a sturdy apron. Mostly they will appreciate the effort and design you have put into making a handicraft gift that they can use.

Adhesive Tape Part 3

Shopping Savings

Hello and nice to see you again,

Today, I'd like to make a simple post for you. Let's enjoy to read it;p

Get a grip on tools

"Adhesive tape" has just the right texture for wrapping tool handles. It gives you a positive, comfortable grip and it's highly absorbent so that tools won't become slippery if your hand sweats.

When you wrap tool handles, overlap each wrap by about half-a-tape width, and use as many layers as needed to get the best grip. Here are some useful applications for you:

1. Screwdriver handles are sometimes too narrow and slippery to grip well when you insert or remove stubborn screws. Wraps layers of adhesive tape around the handle until the tool feels comfortable in your hand.

This is especially useful if you have arthritis in your fingers.

2. Take a tip from carpenters who wrap wooden hammer handles that can get slippery with sweat. Wrap the whole gripping area of the tool. A few wraps just under the head will also protect the handle from damage caused by misdirected blows.

3. Plumbers also keep adhesive tape in their tool kits.
When they want to cut a pipe in a spot that's too tight for their hackshaw frame, they make a mini-hackshaw by removing the blade and wrapping one end of the blade to form a handle.

Okay, that's all for today. See you again with other inputs!

Have a nice day!

Regards,
Shopping Savings

Adhesive Tape Part 3

Shopping Savings

Hi! How's today? Hopefully you're good;) Okay, I'll continues with an extraordinary uses for adhesive tape.

Cover Casters

You could prevent the furniture from leaving marks on your wood or vinyl floor by wrapping the furniture's wheels with an adhesive tape.

Hang glue and caulk tubes

Are you've experienced with an untidy pile of glue and caulk tubes on your workbench?

If yes, easily cut a strip of adhesive or duct tape several centimetres long and fold it over the bottom of each tube.
Leaving a flap at the end.
Punch a hole in the flap with a paper hole punch and hang the tube on a nail or hook.
You'll free up the counter space and able to find the right tube quickly!

Remove broken window glass safely

Removing a window sash to fix a broken pane of glass could be dangerous. There are high probability that a sharp shard will fall out and cut you.

For the solution to prevent this, crisscross both sides of the broken pane with an adhesive tape before removing the sash.

Also, don't forget to wear heavy leather gloves when you pull the glass shards out of the frame.

Yeah! That's for today about extra things you could uses for an adhesive tape. If you've faced above situations, don't forget to try the tips. See you soon with another input.

Have a nice day and safety first, please!

Regards,
Shopping Savings

Adhesive Tape Part 2

Shopping Savings

Are you know anything else that we could do with adhesive tape? Yeah...don't worry guys, I'll show you next!

Make a lint-lifter

To lift lint and pet hair off clothing and upholstery, you don't need a special lint remover.
What you should do is wrap adhesive tape around your hand, sticky side out.
You're done!

Reduce your hat size

Isn't your hat too big for your head? Would like to reduce it?
Just wrap adhesive tape around the sweatband. It might take two or three layers depending on the size discrepancy.
The adhesive tape will absorb brow sweat on hot days!

Clean a comb

In order to remove the grime that builds up between the teeth of a comb;
1. Press a strip of adhesive tape along the comb's length and lift it off.
2. Dip the comb in a solution of alcohol and water, or ammonia and water to sanitize it.
3. Let it dry.

Well, I'll continue on this adhesive tape soon.

Have a nice weekend!

Shopping Savings

Adhesive Tape (Shopping Savings)

Shopping Savings

Hello! Starting from today, I'll share with you how common household goods are useful for the unexpected uses.

This also can be the best ways to save money and time with minimum effort. For your info, aluminium foil and vinegar are labelled as Super Items because they have so many extraordinary uses.

Okay, lets start with adhesive tape first. There are several things you could do with this adhesive tape as below:

Remove a splinter

Actually, splinter is too tiny to remove with tweezer, isn't? Avoid the agony of digging it out with a needle.
You could cover the splinter with adhesive tape. After three days, pull the tape off and the splinter should come out with it.

Stop ants in their tracks

How can you prevent an army of ants from marching towards to your foods either on the table or in your pantry?
Emm...this maybe happened to you, isn't?
You just need to create a moat around the object by surrounding it with adhesive tape placed sticky side up.

If you have faced any situation above, don't forget to try the tips!

I'll list another adhesive tape extraordinary uses soon.

Good luck!

Regards,
Shopping Savings

Welcome to Shopping Savings

Hello and welcome to Shopping Savings ! Thanks for your visit. I'm really appreciated it.

First of all, the main purposes of this shopping savings blog is to share ideas and show you how we can creatively transform our ordinary household products into multipurpose products.

Thats mean you can do more with your ordinary household goods.
Accidentally you also can save your money and time.

How can I ....? May I....? Could I used ....?
Maybe this is ordinary question you'll ask, isn't?

Yeah...I believed that you can do it. Just do it.
Anybody can do it and importantly better to do it properly, ok:)

What should you do now?

Started from now on, you should bookmark this page or subscribe to this blog.
Its up to you, which one more convenience to you;)

Then, you're easily can reach the ways to save money and time which I've posted here.

Ahaah! See you next time for the first idea and don't forget it;)

Regards,
Shopping Savings