Everyone should use an apron. They not only keep your clothes clean, they help you get into the mindset for cooking. If you love it, an apron will add to your excitement. If you hate cooking, a fun apron can make it less of a chore.
An apron is a simple sewing project. It is a perfect for beginners who want to begin sewing clothing because it has many of the techniques for clothing and it is guaranteed to fit and size or shape.
They are also great gifts. Even children can make aprons for parents, grandparents or teachers.
Materials & Supplies
Fabric
Quilting cottons are perfect. Cotton fabric is durable and absorbent, but you can use a polycotton blend if you find a fabric that you love. You will need something fairly lightweight. A heavy twill or denim will be difficult to us with this pattern. There are other apron patterns that you can use for heavy fabric.
You will need two strips of fabric that are 4″ wide by the width of the fabric (about 40″) and a square of fabric 20″.
This will make an apron that is knee-length, so you can always make it shorter if you want.
Because of the size of the pieces, you need 3/4 yd to make one apron, but 1 yd is enough to make 2 aprons.
If you have scraps, you can always make the tie and the skirt out of two different fabrics.
Thread
This is a chance to use whatever thread you have on hand already.
You will probably want a coordinating thread for the hem and basting, but an optional contrasting thread can add fun decorative stitches.
I used matching thread for most of the construction, but a contrasting decorative stitch on the final band stitching.
Tools
You will only need basic sewing tools:
- working sewing machine
- fabric scissors
- pins
- ruler
- fabric marker or pencil
Assembly
Cut fabric
Fold the 20″ square in half. Use a plate or other template to mark a curve on the outer corner edge.
Trim along this line. This will eliminate sharp corners from the bottom edge.
Hem Skirt
Hem the edge of the skirt starting at the top of one side and going all the way around the bottom and up the other side.
If you have a rolled hem foot for your machine, this is a nice time to use that. Check with your machine manual for how to use it.
If you don’t have one, you can still get a nice hem. Fold over the edge 1/4″ and press. Fold over 1/4″ again and press. Top stitch to hold in place.
Prepare the ties
Join the two tie strips on a short end to make one long strip.
Fold over the long edges 1/4″ on both sides and press.
At the ends of the ties, fold in half right sides together and stitch with a 1/4″ seam just across the end. Turn right side out. The long edges should just be folded in.
Baste the skirt
Along the top edge of the skirt, add a row of long stitches 1/4″ from the top. Leave tails on the thread long enough for you to pull.
Place a pin in the centre top of the skirt to mark the place, and then pull the basting threads to gather the fabric. Gather it in to make it 16″.
Add the tie
Centre the skirt to the using the centre pin to align.
Fold the tie in half, pinning together with the apron skirt between the front and back tie pieces.
Hold in place with a basting stitch just at the part where the tie attaches to the skirt.
Finishing the tie
Press the tie in half, matching the folded edges.
Stitch from one end of the tie all the way across the skirt and to the other end of the tie. This can be a fun time to use decorative stitches on your machine.
Be sure you are stitching through all the layers of the fabric.
You’re done!
Enjoy using this as you prepare food for family and friends.
Elizabeth DeCroos
designer, teacher, speaker
Elizabeth enjoys doing all types of sewing and needlework and teaching others new techniques. For more information or to have her speak to your group click HERE.