Embellished apron

By Spotlight

Take away some of the drudgery of household chores with some apron activity.

Final Result

Materials

• a plain half apron or 80cm x 112cm cotton fabric to make your own
• 115cm lengths of assorted co-ordinating trims & ribbons
• iron
• Gütermann sewing threads to match fabric & ribbons
• scissors
• pins
• sewing machine
• tape measure or ruler

Step 1

To make half apron -
From cotton fabric cut a 55cm x 112cm rectangle and two strips 12cm x 112cm.

Note: Apply trims and ribbons to apron front now before continuing so that raw ends of trims will be enclosed within side hems. Complete steps 1 and 3 from Embellishing Half Apron before continuing.

Step 2

Press under 1.5cm on each of the 55cm sides and then press under a further 2cm. Topstitch side hems in place. Repeat for bottom edge. Sew 2 rows of a gathering stitch (long stitch) along top edge, 0.5cm and 1cm from the raw edge. Gently pull stitching to gather top of apron front to a measurement of 60cm. Ensure gathering is even.

Step 3

To make strap, cut one of the fabric strips in half and using a 1cm seam allowance sew one half to each of the shorter ends of the longer strip to create one long strip. Press seams flat. Fold in half lengthways, right sides together. Sew together with a 1cm seam allowance, leaving a 60cm opening in the centre. Clip corners, turn right side out and press flat. Insert gathered top of apron front into opening by 1.5cm and pin closed. Topstitch around waistband and strap, enclosing apron front within stitching.

Step 4

To embellish half apron, If using a ready-made apron.

Step 1
Lay apron flat right side up. Pin ribbons and trims to the front of the apron in desired pattern.

Step 5

Step 2
Take the extra trim on each side of apron to the back of the apron, turning under the raw edges.

Step 6

Step 3
Topstitch trims in place either with a straight stitch or a zigzag stitch. Press apron.