A long, long time ago, I bought an apron pattern because I figured it would be a good intro to sewing with patterns for a beginner like me, without having to worry about fit. But then, I never actually sewed it – I got on with quilt making and eventually made a few tops and dresses from patterns and discovered it wasn’t all that bad!
So the pattern sat there unused until Karen started her apronalong, which gave me just the kick I needed to dig out this pattern in order to make a present for my friend’s birthday. I’m so happy with the end result that I have to admit it will be a pang to give it away…
I used an Ikea checked fabric as my main fabric. It’s nice and tough for proper cooking, which my friend who will get this apron does a lot. I took the fabric shopping with me so I could hold it up against other fabrics to use with it, and eventually settled on one fat quarter of this lovely Kokka Wooded Forest fabric, which was pricey for a fat quarter at £4.50 but I think it really made this apron feel really special!
The pattern itself didn’t have a waistband, but I felt the two fabrics really benefited from a hit of red in the middle so I added one. This added quite a few headaches as to how to construct the whole thing, but I got there in the end! I think the instructions and construction of this dress would be nice and simple if I’d stuck to the waistband-less version.
The pockets and the bodice are both backed with denim (still left over from this skirt and this dress!), which I didn’t really take a picture of but you can see it peeking out here:
(Isn’t it weird how taking pictures on your dress form from certain angles can seem a little pervy?? – This one definitely did)
Best picture ever, though, right?
For the waist ties, the pattern calls for the normal “sew a tube, turn it inside out style”, but I totally messed mine up (cheap polyester plus badly applied interfacing plus hurried trying to turn it inside out). I was fed up of trying to turn stupid tubes inside out and I wanted to finish it up without going out for nice ribbon (plus the shops were shut), so I made my own ribbon out of some polka dot bias tape and the feather stitch on my machine. I love how this turned out! Talk about a happy accident.
I used the same feather stitch to finish my hem, which came out really bulky because of this fabric being decor weight. I also messed up and put the skirt on the apron wrong side out (so the less attractive side of the hem is on the outside). Oh well!
Thanks Karen for the kick I needed to finally make an apron!
Oh, I’m swooning. Gingham, polka dots and flowers. I know several women who would tear this off your back! That is a truly gorgeous apron.
Thanks Karen! I just threw all the pretty things I could think off together in one item. (That was something I enjoyed about sewing an apron instead of a dress – you can make it so over the top without it looking crazy!)
I love your fabric choice. Your friend is spoilt !
Thanks Karine! She deserves it 🙂
I love it, it’s beautiful! I don’t really use aprons but I’d definitely use one like this!
Thanks Ainhoa! I’m such a messy cook that I need to wear an apron or wear horrible clothes…
The floral against the gingham is really really pretty. And the details on the straps are perfect. What a lovely apron!
Thanks Melizza! This was my first time sewing with gingham and I loved how different you can make it look just by cutting it on the bias!
Ohh how pretty
Thank you!
Beautiful fabric choices! Great job.
This sewalong got a few of us to finally sew an apron.
Now we’ll see if it actually gets me cooking…
Thank you! It’s the first sewalong I’ve taken part in but it definitely won’t be my last!
That feather stitch really adds something special! All around, the combination of patterns and colors here is just beautiful.
Thank you! The feather stitch is the only “ornamental stitch my sewing maching has, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of it on the blog!
Lovely apron. I really like your fabric combinations and I particularly like anything with gingham!!
Me too! Thanks Debbie.
It’s stupendous!! I think you’ve done the pattern justice, actually,I think you have pushed the boundaries beyond what the pattern promised. It’s such a pretty combination of fabrics. Lovely.
Stupendous! What a wonderful word. Thank you!
I absolutely love it! And I love the idea of starting out making an apron for a beginner… maybe I should make one! I have tons of fabric scraps just lying around.
Oooh, an apron made with your bedroom fabrics would be lovely!
It’s fabulous! I love the mix of prints and the bias tape adaptation is genius!
Thanks Vicki Kate! It was one of those things that I did out of desperation but ended up loving! (It got through a LOT of thread though…and some bits of tape didn’t get caught in the thread so I had to patch them up with double sided fabric sticky stuff)
I love the fabrics that you have chosen and the tie has worked excellently.
Thanks Penny!
OH this is gorgeous! I would buy ten of these if I saw them in a shop! LOVE the fabrics and the shape of it. You have an excellent eye for this. Also, excellent idea re using the bias tape as a waist tie! Am going to steal that idea for a drawstring bag I’m making 🙂 xxxxx
I’m so glad you like it! I look forward to seeing pictures of the drawstring bag!
I think I need to get myself some patterns! PS – I love the fabrics you chose 🙂
Thanks Kristen! Ikea fabrics are the best.