Homemade Yogurt and Aprons

I'm always looking for ways to cut corners off our grocery budget by making as much as I can from scratch.  I found a recipe for homemade yogurt and decided to try it a while ago.  I haven't made it frequently because my results weren't very consistent.  But I decided to try it again last night with a new way to incubate it and it turned out the best batch yet!  The problem this far has been that I really like thick yogurt and I couldn't get it thick enough for my liking.  Last night, I used this recipe:

1 1/2 qrts Milk (I used 1% but anything works even reconstituted powdered)
1/4 cup plus half again plain store bought plain yogurt (be sure that it's the kind with the active cultures)

In a microwave safe dish or pan on the stove, heat the milk to 180 degrees F.  In my microwave it took about 7 minutes.  Then put aside (I'm impatient so I used the freezer) and let cool to between 100 and 115 degrees F.  Then add the yogurt start.  Stir thoroughly and let sit for 3-4 min. then stir again.  Pour the milk yogurt mix into a clean, dry, preheated thermos (just put hot tap water in the thermos while you're heating up and cooling down the milk).  Seal tightly with the thermos lid and set on the counter for 6-8 hours (I do it overnight so I'm not tempted to check it constantly!).  When the time has passed pour the whey off the top (that's the slightly foggy water that collects on top of the yogurt) and then pour yogurt out (this may take some pounding) into whatever kind of container you're going to use, chill and eat as desired.  I really like vanilla, cinnamon and a bit of sugar and dip apple slices in it!  This is no different than the plain yogurt you buy in the store and can be cooked with and used in any recipe that calls for plain yogurt (or sweeten, add vanilla extract and use in anything that calls for vanilla yogurt).

I decided to make aprons for Lily and Lina and Ciara (my sister's daughters) for Christmas.  They're matching in that they're all the same pattern and have ribbon ties but each one is made with 'girl specific' fabric.  Ciara's is bright circles, and flowers with orange ribbon ties, Lily's is cherries and red polka dots with green ribbon ties, and Lina's is green and brown with wild horses (she's 5 so she's obsessed with horses) with cream ribbon ties.  I made the first one last night with my new sewing machine and it turned out so good!!  It only took about 2 1/2 hrs. and only cost $6.25 for all the materials with a little left over.  I may decide that I like them so much that everyone will get one!  We'll see :)...Oh, and I made the pattern myself too just with butcher paper and Lily measurements!

Lily's modeling Ciara's apron that I finished last night