A waist apron makes it easy to keep your equipment within hands’ reach. Use the multiple pockets to hold scissors, glue sticks, pencils, brushes…you name it! Gardeners can use the pockets for seeds, trowels, twine, cell phone…This apron is like the little aprons worn by waiters/waitresses, but with pockets customized for your needs. Great for holding your things at craft fairs or garage sales too. Mine even has a pocket just for business cards.
To make your apron, you will need:
Fabric ( a good weight cotton works well, such as quilting cotton – a great choice of lovely prints is available in the quilting section of your fabric store). You can piece together different fabrics, make it all the same fabric, or one fabric for the base, another for the first pocket layer – whatever you like. Denim or canvas would also work well if you wanted a sturdier version.
Notions (thread, marking pencil, scissors)
Sewing Machine
Iron
Measure and cut the following pieces (includes 5/8 seam allowance):
Base fabric – cut 1: 22 1/4″ X 10 1/4″ rectangle
Backing fabric – cut 1 : 22 1/4″ X 10 1/4″ rectangle
First Pocket Layer – cut 1: 22 1/4″ X 8 1/4″ rectangle
Second Pocket Layer – cut 1: 23 1/4″ rectangle (extra inch is for pleating; if you don’t want to bother with pleating, make it 22 1/4″!) X 7 1/4″
Waistband – cut 1: 22 1/4″X 3 3/4″ strip
Ties – cut 2: 45″ X 2″ strip
How to Make Your Apron
a. Make the Pockets and Attach to Base Layer
1. Take the First Pocket Layer, turn under 3/4″ and hem along the TOP edge.
2. Take the Second Pocket Layer, turn under 3/4″ and hem along the TOP edge.
3. Place First Pocket Layer face up on your work surface. Place second pocket layer on top – face up also, matching up bottom and sides; pin together. The Second (or top) pocket layer is a bit longer to allow pleating of some of the pockets for holding larger items. You can make as many pockets as you like, varying the size to fit the items you need to carry. Use a chalk marking pencil and ruler to draw your pocket lines.
****How to Pleat a Pocket****
Don’t be afraid, it’s easy! At the bottom of the pocket you want a bit more room in, just pinch and fold over about a quarter inch, and pin. When you sew the pieces together, the pleat will be sewn in.
4. Sew along the pocket lines, and along the sides and bottom, about 1/4 inch in (this will get hidden when you complete the apron with the backing.
5. Place Base Fabric face up on your work surface. Place your pocket pieces (now sewn together) face up on top, matching up sides and bottom edges; pin. To make the 3 big pockets, choose the lines of 2 of your smaller pockets and stitch along these again through all the layers, continuing up to the edge of the First Pocket Layer.
b. Sew Base Layer to Backing
1. Place base layer and backing RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER; pin. Stitch 5/8″ seam along sides and bottom. Leave top open. Trim corners and turn fabric right side out; press.
2. Stitch a line 1/4″ in along sides and bottom.
c. Attach Waistband
1. Place top edge of Waistband fabric right sides together with top of apron front. Pin. Before you sew, turn under and press side edges so that the Waistband edge is even with the sides of the apron. Stitch waistband and apron front together (5/8″). Press seam open. Measure 1 1/2 ” from seam, fold and press along length of Waistband.
2. Turn apron over. turn and press under hem on Waistband; stitch along edge of Waistband in the same seam as the front (alternately you could hand-sew the hem).
d. Attach Ties
1. Make 2 ties. Starting wrong side up, press a 1/2″ hem on each side lengthwise, then fold in half lengthwise and press. Stitch along the open edge and hem one end.
2. Tuck the unhemmed end of the tie in the side of the waistband, the stitch along the side of the waistband to secure the tie and close the waistband. Do the same on the other side. The ties are long enough to fit many sizes, and look nice crossed at the back and tied in the front.
I hope you enjoy making and using your apron!
