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Just For You book review and giveaway

Hey everyone!  Today, I’m a “Sewlebrity” at Sew Can She where I’m sharing my version of the Retro Urban Apron from the book, Just for You: Selfish Sewing Projects from Your Favorite Sew Can She Bloggers, written by Caroline Critchfield of Sew Can She and Sarah Markos of Blue Susan Makes.  You can read my full project review and see lots more pictures over at the Sew Can She blog.  To find out about the giveaway, keep reading!  The giveaway is now closed.

Retro Urban Apron by Julie Cefalu for Sew Can She

 

If this is your first time visiting, welcome to The Crafty Quilter!  Thanks for clicking over here – I hope you’ll spend some time looking around.  I have lots of tips and tutorials that I’ve shared over the years and there’s always something new brewing sewing.  If you want to receive blog updates from me in your inbox, then become an email subscriber using the box in the upper right sidebar.  You can also check me out on Pinterest and Instagram.

Tutorials at The Crafty Quilter

 

Tips & Techniques at The Crafty Quilter

 

The giveaway:  You can win your own copy of the book, Just For You, Selfish Sewing Projects, by leaving a comment here.  Tell me what your favorite craft is – sewing, knitting, quilting, scrapbooking or something else?  I’ll pick a winner on November 1st, 2015.  This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who participated.

Julie

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227 Comments

  1. I actually have two. Quilting and cross stitch. Although I haven’t done much cross stitch lately. I guess I shouldn’t say that, I did three wedding samplers this summer. They are all done, framed and delivered.
    Spending time now working on Christmas gifts. I am about three quarters done. It’s no fun unless you are making something right up to Christmas eve.
    It looks like such a nice book.

  2. Oh, to pick just one… I love everything crafty. But I would have to say that my favorite is sewing and quilting. I also love creating things out of re-purposed items. I do really like re-doing furniture too, but it is getting too cold here to do that!!!

  3. Sewing is my passion. I love making aprons – I do a table at my church bazaar every year and I especially like making children’s aprons. My granddaughter is expecting a baby in May and I’m looking forward to making lots and lots of bibs, burp pads, receiving blankets, baby quilts, etc. (after my bazaar). Love your apron pattern!!!

  4. I love to quilt! Since I also work a secular job I start projects that are easy to finish such as table and bed runners and baby quilts. It is definitely a stress reliever!

  5. I love quilting and making, mug rugs, table runners and place mats. I just found your site and you are so talented! I have my eye on some of your Christmas projects. They are beautiful! Thank you for the chance to win the book Just for you Selfish Projects.

  6. At the moment my passion is quilting, with a little crochet on the side. I’m not good at either but enjoy it immensely.

  7. I’m a quilter and never know when to stop. I enjoy reading your blog and think the tips you give are well thought out.

  8. I’m a quilter, but I also love hand embroidery while I watch TV or don’t feel like sewing. Thanks for a great giveaway!

  9. I like creating anything with my own hands. I sew, crochet, garden and work full time (which I wish I didn’t do…).

  10. Quilting is my favorite hobby. I also like to sew home-dec items and I’m getting in to alittle reupholstering old chairs and trying to give them a second life!

    1. Hey, me too.. I tried to redo my dining room chairs with marginal success. Do you have any books, websites, etc. to recommend? Anyone have any advice????

  11. Quilting! I’m getting back into regular sewing now that my daughter is a little older, though, and I’m enjoying that, too!

  12. Quilting! I’m a retired school librarian and have been quilting a little over a year. I’m addicted!

  13. Quilting is my favorite craft. Love the whole construction process, but most of all love seeing the looks on my grandkids faces when I give them a new quilt!

  14. I’m new to quilting and rapidly becoming addicted to it! My darling hubby says it’s cheaper than liquor and safer than drugs!!!!
    Love your fresh take on colors.

  15. I really really want to learn to sew. My favorite craft for awhile was bow making/decorating flip flops & making beaded head bands. This apron is so cute. I’ve been wanting to try to make an apron for awhile now. this is my first time to your website. I’ll have to look around and see what I find 😉

  16. Would love to win the book. BUT, picking my favorite is a bit like ‘Sophie’s Choice’
    I love them all, but probably spend more time at my sewing machine!
    BTW thanks for your newsletter!
    Kathy

  17. For my 65th birthday this year, I bought a sewing machine and made my first quilt. It has many mistakes and is a bit wonky but looks great from a distance:) I love it and I love quilting! It’s great for the brain and makes me happy. Out of all my other hobbies, quilting is my favorite.

  18. Hi Julie, I have been following your blog for quite a while. You seem to tickle my brain with your patterns and make me want to learn more. I have been a life long sewer/crafter beginning on the old Singer treadle machine.

  19. I have always done some kind of handy work. Years ago I would like to knit then sew. I did decorative painting also. I took a class on quilting about 25yrs ago and have never gone on to do anything else. There is always something different to try in quilting. It has kept my interest. Looks like an interesting book. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Diane

  20. My favorite craft is sewing clothes, bags, quilts, anything really. I’ve tried knitting a few years ago, and would like to start again. Thanks for this give away!

  21. Quilting… I love picking out the pattern figuring out he piecing and then picking out the fabric… then my next favorite part is doing the binding and calling it done!

  22. I have enjoyed sewing and hand embroidery since my mother began teaching me when I was five years old. Over the years I’ve done dressmaking, cross stitch, ribbon embroidery and crochet and I make lots of bags. I’ve just started quilting, and finished my first quilt.I really enjoyed using my existing skills to embellish my quilt with hand embroidery and applique. I have two more quilts in progress and I think I’ve found my new passion.

  23. My favorite hobby is quilting, and within that category I have mostly made table runners. I also really enjoy doing special projects for my family members, like a team fleece fabric pillow for one son, and a wall hanging made from his father’s old neckties for my other son, plus an Eagle Scout quilted wall hanging memento for each of my grandsons.

  24. My favorite craft depends on the weather. I love to knit and crochet when it is cold and snowy, and sew… that doesn’t so much depend on the weather, I do it whenever I can come up with a project, and I can usually always dream up a project!

  25. sewing is my favorite craft because it’s just me and the hum of the machine, surrounded by beautiful fabric and the limits of my own creativity.

  26. Sewing is my most favorite craft….that includes quilting, clothing and bags. I gave up other crafts like cross stitch and crocheting because I found I was starting too many things and not getting enough of them finished.

  27. My favorite hobby is quilting, appliqué and machine embroidery. I also enjoy cross stitch, Scrapbooking and card making.

  28. My favorite craft is quilting. I do many other crafts as well, but quilting helps me escape from the pain. cdahlgren at live dot com

  29. My favourite craft now is art journaling and watercolour painting but I’m staying in the loop with quilting since I’d like to make another quilt someday.

  30. I started sewing on my Holly Hobby sewing machine that only sewed chain stitch! I did sewing and cooking right through to Year 12 and I graduated to mums machine and was lucky to be surrounded by my mum and two aunties who were all crafty!
    I now love to sew, quilt, crochet, cook and scrapbook. Since starting my own business in Desktop Publishing and studying my Dip in Business Management, I’ve had little time to do any of it! This book might just be the inspiration I need as I’m realising now how important it is to feed your creative side.

  31. I started out sewing, found quilting, so I am a wannabe Quilter! I have been “collecting” books and fabric for my retirement,(years) I retired in July, and the fun has begun. Finishing up my 1st QOV… ripped out a lot of seams, one row is upside down, but you know, it may be imperfect but it is made with love and gratitude. I have enjoyed your blog, The Quilt Show quilt, and do visit the blogs you list.

  32. I love to make string blocks, and I love embroidery, hand embroidery, redwork and crayon embroidery. I would love to win the book. Thank you.

  33. I could spend all day in my sewing room behind my sewing machine making beautiful things. I love to sew and am getting better with quilting. I don’t sew much for myself, tho. The joy is in the process and seeing others be happy in receiving.

  34. My favorite is quilting, especially hand applique, but I also love cross stitch on linen with primitive designs. Not enough time in my life. I do enjoy your blog and the hints that you share and how you can inspire.

  35. I love lots of traditional arts. So many traditional arts are being lost. Among the many I love and attempt is quilting in all its forms.

  36. My hobby is quilting, but I do sewing for my home as well as pouches and totes. I’d love to see what’s in the book. Sounds like I could find a few projects in it.

  37. I’ve done (and enjoyed) them all; but right now my favorite is sewing! My granddaughter (at 12) now does everything she wants to – sewing, quilting, paper crafts, fun crafts, painting, drawing, etc! so I get to do my thing while she does hers!

  38. Just can’t get enough of patchwork and quilting. There is nothing nicer than the excitement of starting a new project, the planning, the cutting, and stitching, and watching the pile of blocks increase.
    Then there are my UFOs, which I am trying so hard to work on. Guess the secret is to choose one and stick with it!
    I like to do a little knitting too, and have been using up my odd balls to make a few baby and toddler items which I have tucked away until my grand-daughters provide the next generation!

  39. I have been doing all kinds of crafts over the years, now I am hooked on quilting. There is just so much variety just by changing colors, fabrics or the layout. Currently I am working on a version of your spring petals table topper. Love it!
    Elfie from Germany

  40. I would say Quilting & Sewing. I have been doing both for almost 45 blessed years. It is my go to craft when I am stressed or just about any reason I can think of. I plan on passing this gift on to my new granddaughter as soon as she can press the foot of a sewing machine. lol Thanks for letting me enter this contest & May God Bless everyone. 🙂

  41. My favourite craft is definitely is quilting, in particular piecing, but, also do the whole quilt from start to finish. thanks for the chance to win

  42. I have done pretty much every textile/fiber based craft over the years. I have been quilting since 1970 and it is still my most favorite, with knitting filling around the edges for handwork, along with a few garments for baby granddaughters.
    The book looks like it is full of great ideas, would love to win it!

  43. I’m getting reacquainted with quilting after setting it aside for many years. I am also fond of crocheting and I am a novice at jewelry making. I love your tutorials and I am so happy I found your site

  44. I’m new to sewing and love it. I saved the tutorial for the Christmas Wall Hanging, it looks lovely. I like the retro apron shown in the picture. I’ve sewn about five aprons. Me and hubby wear them all the time and it’s a fun project for a quick reward!

  45. I started following your site with “Cozy Afternoon” and I totally enjoy it. You are so creative and I have learned a great deal from you in this short time. I also like the personal touch you add to your blog. I am a new quilter. I look forward to getting your emails. This book looks interesting.

  46. I love anything that can keep my hands busy. Picking the first place would I guess be quilting. I enjoy making charity quilts. I also crochet which I make a lot of scarves as they have a drive for coats every winter. I am also teaching myself to knit. Yep, I love it all.

  47. I enjoy sewing and quilting. After I retired couple years ago I started piecing and quilting small projects and although I have blocks done, I haven’t put them together for a quilt, still learning. I enjoy embroidery projects also.

  48. So much fun going on over here- so happy I found your site! This is such a cute apron- love those fabrics. I love sewing and am a beginner quilter- fabric is my weakness.

  49. Hi! Through all my years of crafting from sewing to crocheting to macrame to counted cross stitch to stained glass to quilting to miscellaneous general crafts to… as much as I currently love quilting (which I actually call stitching ’cause I’m still learning the FMQ part) I always seem to go back to crocheting. I always have 1 or 2 or 5 projects in the works that I can just grab a bag and take it with me when I’m gonna be in the car for longer than 5 minutes!! Thanks so much for the chance to win 🙂
    Debby E
    samtaylorcjsmimi at yahoo dot com

  50. My favourite is quilting but I enjoy lots of other projects to. I love the idea of selfish sewing. Thanks for the chance to win!

  51. I love your blog. Right now I am making my 4 grandchildren quilts for Christmas, dragged out some old crocheted doilies I made years age and going to frame them, knitting an American Doll sweater and the list goes on!
    I am a senior craft-a-holic and enjoy it. Quilting is my favourite for now!!

  52. I love to quilt in all forms – traditional, modern, some art quilts. Love to sew little gifts for friends and relatives. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

  53. I can’t choose a favorite between sewing and knitting although I do sew more now than I used to do. I learned recently that being selfish is actually to love yourself so I try to indulge myself by making more things for my pleasure instead of everything for others.

  54. Oh, I couldn’t pick just one!! I love them all…quilting, knitting, sewing, crocheting, x-stitch, card making. I know, I know… Each one brings me joy while I’m in the midst of the project… I love the variety and always have something new to pick from baskets.

  55. I love so many crafts but quilting and sewing are my favorites! Thanks so much for the chance to win this great book.

  56. I’ve tried several different crafts including stained glass, knitting, counted cross stitch, etc but found my passion a little more than a year ago when I started quilting!

  57. I love all types of crafts, however, sewing is my favorite (zip bags, totes, table toppers, wall hangings, etc.) with quilting close behind. Thanks for the sweet giveaway!

  58. My first love is quilting,fabric wishing,knitting socks and cooking a tough choice for 2nd loves. More time to do it all is needed. Lol

  59. Quilting is my current obsession. I also enjoy weaving and crochet. Thank you for the giveaway. All my best to you and your family.

  60. I love sewing be it piecing, creating home dec items, gifts, and charity items. I’m always looking for new projects and inspiration. This book will be well-read and used frequently should I be lucky enough to win a copy.

  61. Quilting is my favorite but I have dabbled in many other crafts also. I enjoyed most of them but keep coming back to my quilting passion.

  62. I love to piece quilts, no actual quilting, tried it, didn’t like it. I used to do other sewing, but no longer interested in that, just piecing quilts.

  63. I guess your other daughter will have to make her own cute apron. 😉
    Favorite craft… So hard to choose for a dabbler like me! Embroidery is probably my favorite, but quilting & sewing are catching up. 🙂

  64. I love to sew! Quilting mostly, but right now I’m gearing up for Christmas giving by making a bunch of fabric “goody baskets” to take treats to people in. Lots of fun!!!

  65. Julie , my favorite craft is quilting.I love picking out beautiful fabrics, cutting them and makeing something beautiful and something to treasure out of them. I am allways at awe when i look at my grandmothers quilts. Hoping my family will treasure my work as i treasure my grandmothers.

  66. I really your email updates and blog.
    I love working with my hands including sewing, quilting, and knitting. And it gives me great pleasure to give gifts to others of things I have made.

  67. Really hard to pick just one craft. This month, and probably the next few months, I’m obsessed with sewing. I’m using my stash to make quilts for foster kids and a raffle quilt for our town’s new playground equipment.

  68. I really want to get into sewing! Havimg a pattern book would belp so much. I have made about 4 baby blankets and would love to learn to male new items as gifts for family members 🙂

  69. Sewing is my favorite. I’ve been looking for an apron pattern that appeals to me. The one you made is perfect. I hope I win the book so I can make one for myself!

  70. I sew/quilt but I also have crocheted a lot of afghans in the past. A little knitting long ago and I recently tried picking it up again. I like a bit of variety in my life. Thanks for an opportunity to win.

  71. sewing is my favorite. making gifts to give others in particular. during the day while going to meetings or seminars my “go to craft” is crochet because it is to portable.

  72. Picking a favorite would be difficult, but I have to give the nod to quilting, but sewing and crocheting are also high on the list.

  73. It really depends on the day. I love to sew and quilt, but I also do glass pet portrait mosaics, work with polymer clay, and I carve and print Lino blocks. Right now I’ve been sewing and learning to free motion quilt.

  74. I am newly retired and trying to improve my quilting skills! So many quilting projects small and large I would like to do! So yes quilting would be my favorite!

  75. Quilting is my new favorite hobby thanks to you, Julie! I loved your intro to quilting class and you have got me addicted! Thanks for sharing your amazing knowledge and expertise. You’re amazing!

  76. I love all the ideas you give and I save a lot of them for possible future use. Another plus is the tutorials which are great. Keep up the great work you are doing. GK

  77. Have followed you for quite a while, Julie. Love your name (it’s my mom’s and my daughter’s name) and your style. My favs are sewing and quilting….my license plate even announces it! Keep on inspiring us.

  78. I love them all! I guess I love to quilt the most. The satisfaction of the finished project from start to finish. I love assembling the quilt as much as quilting. I do love to embroider on some of my things like towels, aprons, children’s shirts,quilts, pillowcases and sheets. I love to knit hats and scarfs for all my grand-babies, almost 9 now! All of this keeps my crafting busy which makes me a happy camper!

  79. Hi Julie my favorite craft has to be quilting. I do enjoy any type of crafting. I used to do much more when my mom was still with us and I do miss those days. I enjoy you site very much, keep up the good work.

  80. I am newly retired and am a self taught quilter! I love creating, just looking at a piece of fabric and thinking about the possibilities is so exciting! I also love making all things baby!

  81. I have sewn as long as I can remember, but have been quilting for the past 25 years & love it. I also like to do many other kind of craft projects.

  82. Although, I probably knit more than anything, I cannot possibly choose a favorite craft! I flip-flop between them all the time – knitting, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, counted cross stitch…

    Probably my new favorite is combining two: embroidering quilt tops!

  83. Quilting is my passion. And so is shopping for fabric! I am now enjoying teaching my sister to sew and quilt. Thank you for the chance to win.

  84. First let me say I love this web site. No matter what day I click on I am bound to find something I like or need.
    I consider myself a beginner quilter although I have made quilts as gifts. I have always loved quilts but no one in the family ever quilted. I wanted to learn so I could make a log cabin quilt for myself. LOL. That was quite a long time ago. I plan to start it within the next two months ( I hope ).Thank you Crafty Quilter.

  85. I have always loved to sew, I think I was about 10 years old when I started making doll clothes. I do love embroidery and cross stitch but creating something from fabric is at the top of my list of fun things to do.

  86. Hi Julie…..been making baby quilts for quiet some time….i love this craft and have been following your ideas …thanks a lot for them….looking forward to sew more quilts…..

  87. I am a quilter. I started quilting a year ago after retiring as a school librarian. My fabric stash has grown and I find myself looking at quilting tutorials often. What a fun way to spend my retirement days!

  88. Oh, this is hard for me. I’m a quilter, love to sew all sorts of things and am an avid knitter. I also play around with weaving. My husband claims I have OCCD. (Obsessive Compulsive Craft Disorder) ….in jest of course, and In fact I rather agree!

  89. Quilting is my favorite, but I have been sewing since I was 8 when my grandma taught me to blind stitch and hem.

  90. Sewing is definitely my favorite. But too often I have to spend time MAKING THINGS that are necessary rather than being creative. Wish I had more time for that.

  91. I love sewing and whether that means sewing up bags and home decor or quilting, I’m happy to be at my machine. Thanks for the chance.

  92. Hard choices, but sewing, specifically piecing quilt tops is my favorite craft or art! I do love to smock and do machine heirloom sewing. And I do like to knit!

  93. My favorite thing to do is quilt. I like to make small gifts that involve quilting, too. Thanks for all your projects and tips…….and for the giveaway.

  94. I love to make quick gifts for family & myself, I am always busy so those quick gifts to make are a great way for me to get things done. Quick & easy, that way when I want to make a quilt, I will have the time to do it.

  95. Hi Julie…..my favorite craft is quilting….I am also just getting back to garment construction-it helps to have 3 grand daughters to sew for now!

  96. Julie, I love to quilt and to sew for the home. I sewed infrequently as my children grew up (too many sports in our home!), but I have now returned to sewing and I am also teaching myself how to quilt. Your website is a constant source of information, as well as inspiration, to me. I have learned so much from your tutorials and appreciate how well you describe a skill, as well as your photos. Thank you so much! I am currently making a version of your Pinwheel Star placemats, using the In From the Cold hot chocolate fabric.

  97. Oh my gosh…I love to do sooooo many things…but my favorite thing is sewing. I make pillow covers for all the different holidays for my living room….its so much fun!

  98. My favorite craft is probably quilting. I just feel so good when I’m quilting something. I imagine the recipient snuggled under it.

  99. Hi Julie, I love every aspect of making a quilt! I really love the free motion quilting and learning new motifs from all you wonderful people online. It is a very time consuming and lots of practice thing, but most enjoyable when mastered. I am trying to learn the knitting and crocheting thing by making a ruffle scarf. That is fun to do. As for beyond that, it looks very difficult. I have done cross stitch and love doing that too. I really like all crafts and wish I had more things for my group of gals to do, since all are not quilters. Well thanks again for another opportunity. Lots of hugs to you and your family…..Claudia

  100. Sewing is my favourite. I am still quite fresh since I started sewing May 2014. Have tried sewing tote bags, coins purse, framed purse, pencil bag and soft toys. I have managed to give away as gifts to family members, colleague and friends and I feel much delighted and appreciated when they liked it so much! Currently learning to do quilting which needs a lot patience and time.:)

  101. I Knit, crochet, cross stitch,quilting and some sewing. Quilting is currently my favorite. I have different craft projects all around my house. I go upstairs to quilt, I have a crochet project on the couch for when I’m watching TV and a small counted cross stitch project in a bag to take for car rides and waiting at appointments.

  102. Good morning. I recently retired and am teaching myself to sew. I now have a reason to live forever. I just love it! I used to knit at work and am a published writer of romance\suspense, but sewing is by far my favorite craft. I’m making lots of mistakes and laughing my way through it. Sewing is therapeutic. I’m so thankful for all the experts who are willing to share their expertise with novices like me. Thank you!

  103. Are we supposed to have a favourite? I would have to say quilting is first and foremost. Scrapbooking would be somewhere in the top even though I have not had a chance to do it for a long time. So other than quilting, and type of sewing I guess would be in there too – like machine embroidery! Too many things, sew little time 🙂

  104. Julie, Love your website and found many interesting things on it. I love quilting, which I have started in the last year, and sewing, which I have been doing for many years. I make a great deal of “little” things for my granddaughter who really wants me to make her doll clothes.

  105. Love your blog. Look forward to receiving it. I am a long time quilter, but have picked up many hints and patterns from your blog. Thank u.

  106. Quilting is my favourite way to fill my time but have always sewn. And have always done handwork such as crocheting, cross-stitch, embroidery, smocking, etc and folk art painting. Now I focus on quilting.

  107. I like a smattering of crafts to keep it lively. And better still, combine some things. Knitting and quilting crochet and knitting and quilting and embroiderer!

  108. Quilting is my first choice, but sewing has always been in my life. Thread Crochet is another one of my favorites.

  109. I love to quilt!! From deciding the pattern to stitching the
    binding it’s a therapeutic activity for me. It keeps me
    focused, improves my decision making processes and
    relaxes my mind as I work with the beautiful colors and
    fabrics. It brings me joy to see each finished product and
    to know I’ve learned new skills from every effort!

  110. I would love to win a Quilty Box! I just began quilting about 3 months ago and need some notions and more fabric.

  111. Of all the crafts I’ve tried over the years – cross stitch, scrapbooking, sign making, painting, all kinds of sewing – quilting is my favorite. I’m drawn to so many lovely fabrics… Thank you for the chance to win and I’m always drawn to apron patterns too!

  112. Julie, Quilting is my favourite and love hearing from you! I named my daughter after you, how is that for a compliment and she loves her name and the quilt I made for her from your website so I am very much your follower!

  113. I have done cross stitch, crochet, knitting, clothing construction, and quilting and applique. Now, I mostly applique both by machine and hand.

  114. Sewing is my favorite craft, mostly quilting, but anything that lets me play with beautiful fabrics and threads.

  115. HI! I love to sew but it’s a toss up if my favorite is sewing or photography. Love your ideas and email! Great work!

  116. My favorite craft is sewing. Anything that lets me pet my fabric, or shop for more, rocks my world. I’ll make quilts, clothes, bags, notebook covers, book covers, mug rugs, you name it! No hemming pants for neighbors though. Work sewing doesn’t count.

  117. Quilting is my first choice but I love to “sew”. Finally going back to making clothing again. Love the challenge of both.

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