MARCH
St. Patrick’s Day Hat
PIECED BY Angela Pingel
FINISHED SIZE of paper-pieced block: 12˝ × 12˝
March 17 is St Patrick’s Day, when people all over the world come together to drink, eat, and take part in parades. In Ireland, people traditionally wear a shamrock on their jackets or tucked into their hats.
Materials and Supplies
CD content is available to download from http://tinyurl.com/11026-patterns.
•Gray solid: 1 fat quarter for background
•Green print: 1 fat quarter for hat
•Assorted scraps for hatband (at least 2½˝ × 6½˝) and buckle (at least 5˝ square)
•Embroidery floss for shamrock
INSTRUCTIONS
Assemble the Block
1. Assemble all sections.
2. Join K to A to B to C. Join G to E to D to F to H to J. Join KABC to GEDFHJ.
3. Trim block to 12½˝ × 12½˝.
4. Using 6 strands of embroidery floss, sew the shamrock using a backstitch.
Irish Apron
MADE BY Angela Pingel • FINISHED SIZE: 23˝ × 23½˝, with 29˝ sashing
This apron is perfect for entertaining on St. Patrick’s Day! The sash is cleverly designed to look like a buckled belt, and the pleats give the apron a tartan flair. Pair it with a fabulous fabric and you have the recipe for a festive holiday. Erin Go Bragh!
Materials and Supplies
Paper-piecing pattern is on page CD18.
•Print: ¾ yard for apron skirt
•Dark print: ⅜ yard for sash
•Mustard print: Scraps for buckle
•Paper-backed adhesive strip, ¼˝-wide: 2½ yards
Cutting
SASHING
•2 strips 3˝ × 42˝; then sew together along the short ends to create one long strip
•2 strips 3˝ × 40˝ to sash the buckle
•1 piece 36˝ × 22˝ for apron skirt
INSTRUCTIONS
Assemble the Apron
1. Hem the bottom edge of the apron, if required.
DESIGN NOTE I used the selvage edge as the hem, as shown in the photograph on page 37. Selvage edges are so cute these days and can easily look like ribbon trim.
2. Fold the apron fabric in half widthwise, and press a small crease at the top to mark the center. Mark 3˝, 6˝, 9˝, and 12˝ from the center on each side.
3. Create the first pleat by matching marks at 3˝ and 6˝, right sides facing. Press the pleat so it faces the center, and pin in place.
4. Create the second pleat as you did the first, this time matching the marks at 9˝ and 12˝. Press this pleat also toward the center and pin in place.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the other side of the apron.
6. Baste across the tops of the pleats to hold them down. Topstitch 5˝ down the inner pleats and 7˝ down the outer pleats.
7. Hem the sides of the apron using a ¼˝ double-turn hem.
8. Paper piece the buckle (page CD18), leaving a ½˝ seam allowance on all sides.
9. Sew the 3˝ × 40˝ strips to both sides of the buckle using a ½˝ seam allowance.
10. Match the center of the buckle strip with the center of the long sashing strip. Sew the long sashing strips to the top of the buckle strip, right sides together, using a ½˝ seam allowance. Remove the foundation.
11. Match the center of the buckle strip with the center of the apron. Sew the apron to the bottom of the buckle strip, right sides together, using a ½˝ seam allowance.
12. Press under the top edge of the long sashing strip and the bottom edge of the buckle strip (on both sides of the apron) by ½˝.
13. Apply the ¼˝-wide paper-backed adhesive strip to the turned-under edge of the long sash strip. Remove the paper backing and press the long sash into place, over the turned-under edge of the buckle strip.
14. Topstitch the apron sash, including the buckle detail, from the front side of the apron.
15. To finish both ends of the sash, press and sew a ¼˝ double hem.
