I was at my mom’s last night, flipping through a book she got for Christmas, when I came across a pattern for an old-fashioned foll coveraage apron. The instructions said to copy the pattern in the book, then enlarge 400%.
Don’t you hate when they do that?
I traced the pattern off then brought it home. Enlarging something 400% means a 1/4 ratio, so I copied my tracing over to 1/4″ graph paper, then I could easily (and a whole heck of a lot cheaper than taking to a copy shop) enlarge the pattern onto a 1″grid.
I have a 1″ grid handy on my extra-large rotary cutting mat and I also have a supply of sturdy yet somewhat transparent paper I use for patterns. You could use any paper you wanted, really, as long as you could see the lines on the mat beneath it. Or you can make your own 1″ grid on whatever paper you can get your hands on.
All told, transferring & enlarging the pattern, finding fabric and pins, and cutting it out took a whole hour and a half. I just have to sew a couple shoulder seams, add some binding to all the edges, slap on some pockets and a couple buttons and I’m done. Yes, I’ll keep track of how long it takes and take pictures.
And it didn’t cost me more than $50 either.
Link goes to the website of the book’s author, who offers the apron for sale, finished. It was a good book, but I am disappointed over the amount of marketing and product involved.
Hey! She’s from Idaho!
I like her stuff (and philosophies), and I guess just took the marketing as part of the package deal – because for many a city dweller, she offers things they can’t GET elsewhere. People like you and me, now, we’ve either got that stuff out back in the barn or know how to make it… but you just know there’s some city gal in Chicago or New York or Philly that wouldn’t have a CLUE, lol. So for them, it fills a “need” (okay, “want”). I wonder how the audio book would compare with the paper version… obviously you wouldn’t get the patterns and visuals…. hmmmm. Must check half.com!
Last week I had a pattern enlarged–cost me $5.00. I was very surprised at how big 400% really is! Thanks for the tip on enlarging-I have a rotary cutting mat and some newsprint paper that I can use next time.