Hey Mom-- I'll start this post with a shout out just to you, since I'm sure you're about to look down and go "Hey! That's MY Mother's Day present she's wearing!" So I'm just going to admit right now I shamelessly photographed its whole creation for Cluck and Tweet fodder.
But still. You are the first person I ever made a full-length apron for and I did like it so much I almost kept it for myself.
:: Okay, back to our regularly scheduled tutorial ::
The no-pattern apron. I think I'm in love.
What you need:
1 yard of outside fabric
1 yard of cotton flannel facing fabric
1 package of bias trim (let me just say right this second I. Love. Bias. Trim.)
Step one: find an apron in your pantry/closet/whatever that you use and love-- of course, make it a very simple, straight-forward apron-- no pleats or gathers-- and lay it on top of your fabric of choice. I picked my trusty "Don't make me poison your food" apron.
Once you have it laid out over top of your new apron fabric, use a disappearing fabric marker (the ones that vanish with water) and trace the apron, then cut with about an inch left outside of the "pattern" you just created. Seriously. That simple.
Next, lay down a cotton fleece lining and repeat step one, except cut on the traced lines (as in, don't add an inch. I'm sorry. I can barely thread a bobbin, and yet I'm attempting to type up tutorials).
Once you have both pieces cut, put them together and press. Then pin the extra inch of outside fabric over the fleece lining, so as to create your seamless edge. Pin this (which sort of takes forever, but is worth it in the end).
Hit the sewing machine and slowly (or not, if you can sew straighter than I without doing so very, very carefully) stitch the outside fabric and lining together (do this with the fleece lining facing up).
Be careful to take out the pins before they get stuck under the presser foot. I've not broken a needle yet with pins, but I've read it is both frustrating and, um, potentially sharp-items-flying-in-your-eyes-scary.
Once you get all the way around, it's time to add the ties. I used a bias trim that I bought and a fun wavy stitch.
Connect the trim (just folded over and stitched) to the bottom dip of the apron-- you know what I mean, right? The underarm part?
Anyway, stitch it along that line (you can look at your already made apron, the one you traced to see what I mean) and that will serve as your bottom ties.
Measure out enough bias tape for a d-ring adjustable neck strap (about the same length as one of the waist ties) and wavy stitch that too. Next, make a small bias tape loop, attached to the right top corner of your apron, with the d-rings (available at your local fabric stores) inside.
Notice that expert stitching below it? Hope my mom doesn't look too close at her gift...
On the other side of the apron, attach the adjustable neck band...and that's it!
Sorry folks, but unless you are my mama, the adorable toddler on the side (toddler I say-- how did THAT happen??) does not come with this tutorial.
Now go rock your aprons. And your kitchens, for that matter.
