Echino laminate apron for a hair cut

Finally, I got a chance to cut into the new Echino laminate fabric for a good cause.  This week I have a hair appointment with my little sis (the hairstylist).  To make sure we get off to a good start, I will come bearing gifts for the lady...

Me like-y the shiny.

Here's the back...

Due to the laminate coating, it was a little difficult to work with.  My feed-dogs and sewing foot had a hard time feeding the fabric through my sewing machine.  However, this was only when I was sewing the pockets to the laminate fabric.  When I stitched the pockets, I folded the raw edge under and therefore was stitching with the laminate side facing up.  My sewing foot just couldn't seem to get a good grip on the laminate fabric.  Normally, when sewing with laminate, you would stitch bias binding to the raw edges.  I thought I could get away with just folding the raw edges under, but I thought wrong. After battling the pockets, I decided to make and stitch bias binding to the apron's raw edges that I had originally intended to turn under. In contrast, when I made the Damask apron, the Michael Miller laminate fabric was a breeze to sew with.  The laminate coating on the Michael Miller fabric is not as sticky (for lack of a better word) as the Echino laminate. I was able to turn the raw edges under and my sewing machine didn't mind stitching with the laminate fabric side facing up.  So, once I figured out that I needed to add bias binding to the raw edges of the Echino laminate, the rest of the apron was a joy to make.  I must say that I love the shininess of the Echino laminate fabric! It's well worth the extra sewing step of adding the bias binding.

Next, we'll see how my hair turns out.  I don't intend to do anything drastic, but sometimes when I'm sitting in the waiting area and I begin to flip through the hair books, I start to get a little delusional in my decision making. I begin to think to myself that I too can look like that really cute blonde European model with the pixie hair cut.  When in fact I can't, because a pixie cut makes me look like a boy, and not a cute boy at that.  I vividly remember 2nd grade and the kid that came up to me on the playground and asked, "Are you a boy or a girl?"  I looked at him and said, "I have earrings in my ears.  Duh!"  Darn that Mary Lou Retton hair style.

Jamie

Update - In the comments section of this post, SilverLining Designs suggested using silicone spray and/or a  teflon foot when sewing with laminates.  Great tip!

Another update - I just got off the phone with a Viking Sewing machine rep (very nice lady I might add) and she recommended taping scotch tape to the bottom of the foot.