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Friday, January 10, 2014

Apron.

Our friend M recently bought a new house.  I told her I was going to make her a housewarming gift, and I had something specific in mind (which I'll probably still make, so I don't want to let the cat out of the bag), but she immediately said, "I want an apron.  In orange.  Orange makes me happy."

OK then, an apron it is!

It took me a while to figure out what kind of apron I wanted to make.  I didn't want anything ruffled, and I wanted it to be a serviceable apron - i.e. cover her clothes while she's cooking.  I finally found this tutorial for a deli-style apron like the kind I always wear.   I ordered up some cotton sateen:  Swirl in Tangerine by Trenna Travis for Michael Miller, and the reverse for the pocket.


When I set about making the apron a couple days ago, I did things a bit differently from the tutorial.  Since I thought I might want to make this again, I traced out the pattern on tissue rather than directly onto the fabric.  And instead of using cotton webbing for the tie, I made my own tie using the contrasting fabric.


For the tie, I cut three pieces of fabric 2.125" wide by the length of fabric I had, which was about 39".  I trimmed the ends to 45-degree angles and sewed them into one long strip, then folded it in on itself and sewed it up with a 1/4" seam.  After turning it out to the right side, I poked the ends in and then edgestitched along the entire seamed edge.

There is a fair bit of edgestitching in this project, and my blind hem foot came in quite handy for that.


You can't really see it, but the pocket is divided into three:  one larger pocket on the right side, and two smaller ones on the left.  M told me that she has to have a pocket to keep her phone in, since it's how she operates her buzzer!

pocket dividing stitches from the back

The pattern calls for 1.25 yards of 54" fabric for the apron and .5 yards for the pocket.  I have enough fabric left over that I could make a second apron, so I think if you wanted to lay this out cross-wise instead of length-wise, you could get away with half the amount.

This kind of apron is long, and meant to be worn folded up at the waist, like this:


I think the only thing I'd change in the future is to make the tie longer - this one is 98".  I like to wrap my apron ties around the back and then tie a bow in the front.  This one does wrap to the front, but it's only long enough for a double knot, not a bow.

So that's my second sewing FO for 2014.  Sadly, it doesn't count toward my Stash Diet tally, since I'd purchased this fabric at the end of 2013 specifically to make this gift!

29 comments:

  1. Wonderful gift! Orange makes me happy too :)

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  2. I didn't appreciate aprons before my binge on them :) and now I do! It's fun and functional and a way to use really cool fabric. I love the orange! I love the pocket too. So handy to have compartments.

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    1. I've always worn an apron while cooking, but mine have always been very utilitarian. I might "need" a fancy one myself!

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  3. Oooh, it's lovely. I don't wear aprons when I'm cooking etc, but this cute one makes me want to.

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    1. You must be super neat while cooking! I always end up making a mess - my aprons get pretty dirty!

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  4. Wow the apron is beautiful! And such a happy color and pattern. I think your friend will love cooking in it! And thanks for sharing how you made the tie, I am also looking into making a apron at some point because I have started to cook more :)

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    1. Thanks, Ela! I really like how this tie looks, but in the future I might go with the webbing - it would be a lot less work!

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  5. Looks great Gail. I do love a simple apron pattern and M is right - the orange is such a happy shade. I'm curious about the fabric because my last Hawthorne order was for two cuts of solids from this collection (Orchid and Bright White) for spring coats so I'm wondering if you think it is an appropriate weight? I won't get to see the fabric until I go to Maine and I'm super curious.

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    1. You know, I felt like this one was lighter in weight than the AMH sateens I used last spring. I'm thinking you might want to underline the coats. But, you never know - the solids might have a completely different feel. This one has a fair bit of stretch too.

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  6. This is gorgeous! I bet it will make your friend happy-- it's so cheerful!

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  7. This looks like such a serviceable and beautiful apron! Perfect!

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  8. It's the perfect apron Gail. I love the fabric, the design is so fun and orange is a favorite color.

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  9. Aprons are so special ~ I don't think I use them often enough. This orange one you made is so beautiful.

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  10. Wait - aren't you allowed to buy the fabric if you're making it for someone else? Isn't that part of your deal??

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    1. Good eye! It is part of the deal, but this fabric was purchased in 2013, so it's not part of the 2014 Stash Diet. In 2014 I can purchase new fabric for a gift if I have to.

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    2. Lord, this is complicated Gail!

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    3. Hehehe. I'm a complicated girl!

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  11. Splendid job on this pretty apron. You are clever. What a great gift.

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    1. Thank you! Can't take too much credit, since she asked for it! I never would have thought of an apron as a gift for her!

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  12. very nice! i should really make myself one someday...

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    1. And matching ones for the kiddos! How fun would that be?!

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  13. Lovely, practical and such a cheery colour. Orange makes me happy. I really like that style of apron :)

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  14. I LOVE that fabric and immediately went to hunt it down! Seem not to be available on quilting cotton though -- bummer. Who knows, maybe schmeebot will love it too and I'll get some to make a skirt for her, since home dec weight is what she prefers. Anyhow, very cool apron, I'm sure your friend will really enjoy using it!

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    1. Andrea, I think this would be appropriate for a skirt for her. This one is on the lighter side, compared to other home dec fabrics I've used. I really loved how the colors came in reverse as well, for contrast. Also, it has a bit of stretch!

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