I had a very smart 7th grade Home Ec teacher who made us do the apron, complete with pulling threads to straighten the fabric. It was a drawstring apron with fold up pockets and ric rac. If that doesn't date me, nothing will! However she promised that if we did the apron, we would move on to stuffed animals. Way more complicated than we should have been doing, however being 7th grade girls of that era, stuffed animals were fun. We used a commerical pattern, marked all seams with tracing paper and tracing wheel, etc. The woman had the patience of Job, and got each one of use through it, extremely well, I might add. Sewing became fun and and taught us that we could create something we actually wanted!! I will be forever grateful to this woman. P.S. the animals were calico pieced dogs, should have known then that it would lead to piecing and dogs!! Sharon