I originally made an apron for my mother for cooking in the kitchen as she wanted one that only fits around her waist, and not a full length pinafore. Well, it worked so well, that I decided to make a prettier and more in-depth version for my grandmother for her birthday.
It actually is a very straightforward project, even though it has a frill around the outside and a pocket. Concerning the frill, if you are new to sewing and do not know how to make a ruffle, then check out this post for details. I have tried to make adding the ruffle easier, by making the two bottom corners curved. When I do this, I just fold the material in half lengthways (to ensure it is the same on either side) and using a curved ruler, draw and cut the bottom corners so that it is rounded. Of course if you do not have a curved ruler, a plate will easily do the job!
What You Will Need:
Fabric 18" by 17.5" -main fabric
Fabric 11" by 10" -the pocket
2 pieces of fabric 22" by 3.5" - the straps
Fabric 70" by 3" - the ruffle (if my material is not long enough for this, I cut 2 pieces 35" long and sew them together.)
Curved ruler/something to round the edges off with (see tip at the beginning)
Pins
Iron
Knitting needle/anything to poke corners out with
Sewing Machine
Method:
The Pocket and Main Piece:
Take the pocket and make a hem of 1/4" all the way round, apart from the top edge.
Then make a double hem of 1/4" then 1/4" again, on the top edge.
Sew the wide hem at the top closed.
Take the pocket and pin it to the middle of the main piece. Sew around the curved edge only.
The Ruffle:
Take your ruffle piece and make 1/4" hem on one of the longest sides and the two shortest.
Sew, with your longest stitch length on your sewing machine, two parallel lines on the unhemmed side. Do not backstitch at either end and leave enough string at one end to be able to pull.
On one end take the top string from either parallel line and gently pull.
Carry on pulling the string and spreading the ruffles that will form, evenly across the material.
Make the ruffles so that eventually they will fit around the main piece, 3.5" beneath the top on both sides.
Once you have the correct length, place the ruffle right side together around the main piece, 3.5" beneath the top on both sides.
Sew all the way round the ruffle, then iron it out flat.
The Straps:
When you have sewed the ruffle on, and then ironed right side out flat, it should have created a natural fold at the top on both sides where you did not place the ruffle. Iron this towards the fabric on either side to make a hem.
At the top of the main piece, iron a hem of a 1/4", then fold again 1.5" and iron this hem flat.
Sew hem closed.
Fold a 1/4" hem on one of the shortest sides of your fabric for your strap.
Fold your strap in half lengthways, right sides together.
Sew down the long side.
Turn right side out with the help of a knitting needle or any other implement. Iron flat.
Oversew across the hemmed short edge.
Repeat for the other strap.
Take your strap and tuck the raw edge inside the hem on the apron above the ruffle. Sew closed.
Repeat with the other strap.
You now have a completed apron!
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