The Attempters DIY : Step By Step: "Cooking Matsters"

Materials:

a. thick ribbon or strong fabric

b. sewing machine

c. thread

d. needle (if you wanna go the amish route)

e. placemat ($3.99 at Target or use one from an old set)

f. remnant piece of fabric for pockets and/or design (optional)

g. iron

h. pins

i. scissors

STEP 1: Take your thick ribbon or strong fabric piece and measure about two times your waist. Wrap around your waist to double check that you have enough material to make a nice size bow.

STEP 2: Time to start sewing! ** Make sure your foot is up and place your ribbon/fabric on the desired end of your placemat. You want your placemat to be on the left side and out of the way, so you can sew as straight as possible.

STEP 3: Push the lever down, put your foot to the pedal, and slowly start to guide your materials through. At the start and finish of your sewing line, you're going to want to make a back stitch to reinforce (the back stitch button might be in different locations for each sewing machine). Once you're done sewing, push the lever back up and slide your "apron" out to cut the thread.

STEP 4: We're going to make pockets! Take your remnant fabric piece and cut about 2 inches longer than your length and half width of your placemat.

STEP 5: Fold down all sides of your fabric about 1 inch and iron to make a good crease. This will help when you go to sew. Pinning the fabric is an option but it definitely helps! Especially if you're not an experienced seamstress. You can sew right over the pins!

STEP 6: Start at one end of your apron and guide one side of your pocket (remember to back stitch at the start). When you get to the end of that side, put up the lever, twist, put lever back down, and begin to slowly guide the stitch on the next side. Repeat for the third and final side and back stitch. Push up the lever, pull and cut thread.

STEP 7: We're going to make two final stitches so that we can make 3 pockets. The pockets can be any size you want! We chose to make our pockets all different sizes. Start at the bottom of your apron (wherever you would like to make your first pocket) and make one nice straight stitch. Again, remember to back stitch the END of your sew line. Pull up lever, pull and cut thread. Repeat once more wherever you like. With scissors, cut any excess thread pieces.

You can also make pockets out of shapes or sew random patterns onto your apron. Once you know how to sew, its yours to create!

** Disclaimer: We are NOT seamstresses (not even sure if you can make 'seamstress' plural). Just Attempters who own a sewing machine. If you do not know how to sew, this DIY webisode might not be for you.