Nana's Reversible Half Apron (with tutorial)

During the deployment, I hosted several Sew Domestic Friday nights with other military wives - a sort of "crafting as therapy" for war.  A couple of these evenings were just for aprons, and I miss it - not the deployment, mind you - but the whole camaraderie of venting-while-apron-making.  It was on one such evening that I realized my newfound respect for my Nana and Grandpa, who endured a similar (well, more difficult, really) separation during the Korean War.

This past Christmas I made Nana this reversible apron and oven mitt set.  She loved it and put it on as soon as she opened it.  She was adorable and I regret not having a picture of how proudly she wore it.

Links of Interest:  My First Apron (with bib), Tie One On (a fun apron-along & source of inspiration),  Guide to Vintage Aprons

Continue reading this post (click on link below) for a tutorial outlining my take on making a half apron.  There are endless ways to modify this. If you have favorite links to apron inspiration or other apron tutorials, please share!

Basic Apron Without Ruffled Bottom:

Materials Needed:

• 2 pieces complementary fabric, 15"x24"
• 1 strip of fabric for top binding & apron strings, 4"x 55" (or use a measuring tape to determine your desired length - you may have to sew two lengths together)

1. Right sides of both apron pieces together, sew bottom and sides; clip the corners (figure b.)

   

2. Turn right side out and press.
3. Using your machine's longest stitch, sew a basting stitch 3/8" from the top edge, leaving a long tail of thread at the end.
4. Pull the top thread carefully, loosely gathering into a slight "ruffle" (figure c.)
5. Press the fabric strip in half lengthwise.  Open and fold the raw sides into the center.  Press. Fold closed and press again (figure d.).

   

6. Center the fabric binding over the gathered top edge of the apron and pin in place.
7. Starting at one end of the binding, topstitch the binding closed, stitching close to the bottom edge (figure e.)

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(Optional) Apron with ruffled bottom:

1. Fold a 3 1/2" x 36" length of fabric in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.
2. Using the longest stitch on your machine, sew a basting stitch 3/8" from raw edge.
3. Pull top thread carefully, slightly ruffling the fabric until it is approx. 23" long.
4. Place one piece of apron fabric right side up. Line up the raw edge of the ruffle with the raw bottom edge of apron fabric, ruffle pointed toward the inside.  The ruffle should start and end 1/4" from the left and right edges of the apron piece (figure f.).
5. Continue with Step 1 of Basic Apron (above)

Comments

[Becky]

MAHALO for the directions! I had wanted to make half aprons out of Hawaiian fabric for some friends, but couldn't find a good pattern! WOOHOO! I can't wait to try this out...

BTW: I love your site!

I'm half way though my long year...

[Crystal]

PS. I found this craft apron tutorial and think it is SO cute:
http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2006/11/craft_apron_tut.html

Dawn at four fifty-three also did her own version of the "craft apron" (so pretty!): http://fourfiftythree.blogspot.com/2007/02/craft-apron.html

[julie (jane's apron)]

It's one of my goals this year to sew something and I'd love to make an apron. Thanks for the tutorial!