An apron for Lauren

Monday was Lauren's birthday, so you know I had to get down to some sewing business and make something for her. I knew that she would pretty much be happy with anything. She is a very grateful person. I know that people throw around that phrase "It's the thought that counts," but with Lauren, I know that this is true. She really does appreciate the time and thought behind things—sometimes even more than the "thing" itself. I really love that about her.

Lauren has a necklace with a hedgehog charm on it, which she got after reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. (I haven't read this book yet, but it's on my list!) A few months ago, Lauren mentioned how she would also love an apron with hedgehogs on it. I quickly filed that idea away and ordered some fabric with hedgehogs on it from Etsy a few weeks later.

Since Lauren is also a less-is-more kind of girl, I decided to use the hedgehog fabric an accent fabric rather than the primary fabric. I picked up a piece of brown cotton-poly blend suiting fabric for the body of the apron. Weird choice of fabric, I know. I questioned the purchase while wandering around the fabric store looking for other options, but did end up going with it in the end, and I am glad I did!

Making clothes for other people is kind of scary, but luckily I had two things going for me on this project: (1) an apron doesn't have to fit that precisely, and (2) Lauren and I wear the exact same size, which means I didn't have to guess at sizing at all.

So, here's the front:

And the back (I know this is just a dress form, but this photo makes me giggle every time. Maybe I should have put clothes on her under the apron. Sorry for exposing your muslin bum, Gertrude!):

Here is a close-up of the waistband:

And a close-up of one of the pockets:

The best part of this gift, though, was that I got to give it to Lauren in person! She's in town for a whole week right now. Yay!