This is a long post today because I got the chance finally to sew with the delightful Homegrown Preserves fabric, and I made so many things! I couldn’t stop sewing with it because it’s just so fun. It’s a new fabric line designed by Sheri McCulley for Poppie Cotton, and it fits right in to my vintage kitchen style in the softest autumn colors.

I just loved the canning jar and fruit prints especially, because they are so similar to vintage kitchen novelty prints from an older era. So naturally I had to leave into the vintage style and make a 1940s pinafore with one of them!

It was supposed to be trimmed with lots of bias tape, but I opted to hem or face all the edges, and added a fun fussy-cut canning jar row across the top.

Sometimes the ruffled pinafores are just too…ruffly. But I did quite like this one. It’s vintage pattern Simplicity 1358, in case you want one too.

While I love to sew pinafores, I more frequently reach for a half apron in real life, so I also wanted to make one of those. This was from a modern pattern Butterick 5436 I had recently picked up at a thrift store, and it was super easy.

I absolutely love the fun pocket shape, which I emphasized by doing a contrasting lining, and I used my favorite canning jar print – so now I can use it on a regular basis when I’m baking!

But there were way too many cute prints in this fabric line to limit myself to just a couple of aprons. I was thinking about making a quilt, but then I realized that if I did a quilt I would only have it on display for a short time, while if I made placemats I could enjoy them continually (since I do regularly use placemats).

SO I made up a placemat the right size with patchwork strips on each side and a touch of rick rack trim. I didn’t quilt these because even with thin quilt batting I’ve found it tends to lend itself to little hands spilling their drinks, so these are just backed with fabric, turned, and top stitched around the edge.

The soft warmer colors go well in my kitchen/dining room area, and I love having a fresh look for my table for fall! I love how they are mix-and-match but all coordinate so well. I made 6 so all of us at the table can have one.

Naturally I had to sew up a couple of quick whole-cloth potholders as well, to also spruce up my baking area.

These I made reversible, so there is no wrong side. (Mostly it was because there were too many cute prints to limit myself to just 3.)

I also wanted to make a bag to feature more of this ADORABLE label print, but I ran out of time. Isn’t it just the cutest?

Was this enough accessories for my kitchen? Nope, there was one more! I had been wishing for a more autumnal valance to switch out for my kitchen window once I took down my 4th of July decor. This collection brought me the perfect inspiration!

I made a random patchwork panel the right length, faced it on the back (along with some trim at the bottom) and stitched the top closed. Rather than fussing with spacing sewn loops, I grabbed some cotton sport weight yarn and crocheted a header which makes the hanging loops AND adds cute lace detail at the same time.

My kitchen isn’t very photogenic so you’ll just have to take my word for it that it turned out perfectly adorable! It lets lots of light through, and adds the ideal colorful autumn patchwork touch to this corner.

I’m delighted at how all these things turned out, and am so thankful to Poppie Cotton for the opportunity to sew with them! Homegrown Preserves is shipping to shops now, so track some down if you want to sew some beautiful vintage-y autumn things for your own kitchen. 🙂