Homemade gifts are the best. I wanted to make something fun and useful for my sister and since she enjoys cooking so I decided to make her an apron. I thought this fun retro style mixer would be the perfect motif to set it off. I designed the applique motifs using EQ8 quilt design software from The Electric Quilt Company. Here is how I put it together.

I started out making a picture of my own kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I got this as a Christmas gift recently, I had been wanting one for years. Ii takes all the work out of mixing up a batch of cookies or brownies and looks beautiful on my counter. I have always liked to draw so that is a gift I like to use.
I used my picture to trace the drawing in EQ8. First, I scanned my drawing and imported it into the quilt design software. Then I traced and edited the shapes to create the overall Applique motifs. Electric Quilt allows you to print and mirror the templates so they are perfect for tracing onto fusible applique paper.

I have a super cute Apron pattern with multiple sizes. It is called More Retro Aprons by Cindy Taylor Oates. I just love her patterns, she always does a great job and I have a lot of them. I made the A version of the apron which is the one on the right.

I had these lovely vintage prints from Grandma’s stash to use.

I placed my shapes in order and pressed them on with the fusible backing. Then I did a straight stitch around each shape. For this one, I left off the back edge of the mixer and added a little heart. i just liked the look better.

Here is the top of the Apron, those ruffles are too cute!

There is even a ruffle detail on the bottom.

The whole apron. There is a cute crisscross way to tie it up on the back as well. The applique just added that fun retro vibe of the kitchenaid mixer and my sister simply loved it.

Kitchen Stand Mixer Applique

Here are the Applique Motifs for you to download. I have included a page with a key for the order to lay down the individual motifs. They go in alphabetical order.

INCLUDES 8″ and 6′ block templates and a key block.

Kitchen Stand Mixer templates

This cute applique would look great on a tea towel or even on a kitchen wall hanging. What will you make?

Share pictures of your Kitchen Stand Mixer Applique. Tag me on Facebook or Instagram @lorimillerdesigns

Looking for the EQ8 Design Instructions? You can find them HERE!

For more projects and tips and techniques on using EQ8, visit my Electric Quilt blog series EQ8 Lessons with Lori.

For more information on EQ8, go to Electric Quilt 8 Software.

I teach EQ8! I would be happy to teach at your event or Quilt Shop. Check out my classes page.

I have had a couple of project due dates and I really should be doing my taxes, but I definitely put blogging on the back burner. I am off on another trip while this posts to visit my dear friend, Ann. I like being busy but this trip will really welcome Spring and I was tired of being cooped up with the weather. I thought I would share a few of the things I have been working on for Finish it Up Friday and what I have accomplished.

My Moda Apron

At Quiltcon, yes it was awesome, I won this super cute dish towel in the Moda Booth. It was just too cute to not stitch it into something, so I grabbed some fabric from the stash and started cutting.

I was able to keep most of the printing visible. Don’t you love the 50’s style ruffle?

I even managed to craft a little cupcake pocket. Love it!

Donna (dolce-t), Carolyn Friedlander and myself with our aerial grove projects

Also at Quiltcon, I took the Aerial Grove class with Carolyn Friedlander and my fellow Detroit Area Modern Quilt Guild Gal, Donna Tarnas. I managed to get most of my circles appliqued in class. (I was making a small table runner, not the full quilt.)

I took my grove strips and decided to just improvise the rest to create the table runner size I wanted. Then I just used straight line quilting with my walking foot.

Here is my finished runner.

I tried some matchstick quilting at the end. Interesting texture, but it sure takes a long time to stitch!

I also had a freebie spool of bold quilting thread from Coats and Clark in my Quiltcon gift bag. So I used it to big stitch quilt through the circles. Not as bold as a Perle Cotton, but it added a nice touch.

Lots of folks are making their own Aerial Grove quilts, quite inspiring. The hand applique is a nice thing to work on when you are on the go. Check out instagram for some wonderful inspiration.