Hello Sewing Friends, 

I am so excited to share this Apron tutorial with you using AGF’s Midsummer fabrics by Sharon Holland! The star of the show is the 2.5 Edition binding fabric offered in Midsummer! Using it for my neck ties, pockets, ruffle, and waistband embellishment, it shows how versatile our binding fabric is and how it can also be used in so many different ways other than binding quilts. 

Aprons have been around for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting their use as far back as 1600 BCE. Many people still use this practice today such as chefs, housekeepers, hairstylists, physicians, and artists to name a few. With a quick google search I found out there are quite a few different styles of aprons and are made with different types of fabrics. 

Aprons became more of a fashion statement in the 16th century, when they were adorned with lace and embroidery for decorative purposes rather than just protection. I have to admit before this tutorial I haven’t worn an apron too many times but will start this practice to help minimize stains, burns and to protect my clothing. Also with the addition of two pockets to the front of this apron I know I will always have easy access to my small sewing tools I use frequently, such as my seam ripper, snips, and measuring tape.

Cutting Directions: 

Fabric A – MID38314

1 (One) 14” x 24 ½” rectangle (top apron) 

1 (One) 23”x 27” rectangle (skirt) 

Fabric B- MID38315

2 (Two) 6” x 13” rectangles (pockets)

1 (One) 6” x 27” strip (ruffle)

6 (Six) 2 ½” x WOF strips (waist band and ties)

Fabric C- BINMID38 

6 (six) 2 ½” x WOF strips 

• Two for neck ties
• One for Waist band embellishment
• One for ruffle and excess for binding top of pockets) 

Step By Step Instructions: 

To Create Straps: 

Take two 2 ½” strips from Fabric C and fold in half right sides together and sew on the long side of the fabric at ¼”. Attach a safety pin to the end of your strap and feed fabric through to turn your fabric right side out. Or use a turning tool if you have one. I have yet to purchase one but love my trusty safety pin because I always have one laying around. Press your strap flat with the seams on the side of your strap and topstitch 1/8” on each side of your straps. Once your apron is complete and you tried it on, feel free to trim to desired length and turn raw edges under a ½” and another ½” and top stitch edge down to finish off the ends of your neck ties. 

To Create Apron Top: 

Take your 14” x 24 ½” rectangle from Fabric A and fold in half. Measure 1” in on each side on the top of your apron piece. Take your straight edge and line up your ruler with the bottom edge (the fold edge) of your apron to the  1” mark and cut on each side of your apron. 

Pin your straps to your top apron ½” in on each side right sides together and sew at 1/4” to secure your straps in place. Fold your top apron right sides together and make sure straps are tucked inside. Sew around the entire top apron at ½” leaving a small unsewn portion to flip piece through on one of the side seams. Flip the right side of the apron through and poke out each corner with a point turner or I use the tip of my scissors, just be careful not to poke too hard and create a hole or cut anything. :) 

Stitch around your top apron at ⅛”. 

To Create Pockets:

Take your 6” x 13" rectangle from Fabric B and fold the right sides together and stitch on each side, flip piece through and poke out your corners. Take a 2 ½” x  6 ½” strip from Fabric C and fold in sides at ½” and press. Fold your strip in half and bind the top of your pockets so the floral detail ends up on the top edge of your pocket. Repeat this process to create your other pocket. 

To Attaching Pockets to Skirt: 

Find your center skirt by folding your skirt in half and making a mark. Place your pockets 6” down from top skirt, 2” out from the center skirt and 5 1/2” in from the side skirt. Topstitch your pockets in place. 

To Create Gathers and Finishing off Skirt Edges:

Take your skirt piece and sew stitches at  ¼” and ½’ across the top edge using a long stitch length. Pull the top threads on each side to create gathers. Gather piece as desired. I gathered mine to where my top skirt measured 20”. Now on each side of the skirt fold raw edges under at ½” and ½" again and press. Topstich edge down as close to the edge as possible. 

To Create Ruffle and Trim: 

Take your 6” x 27” strip from Fabric B and use the same gathering technique we used for the top skirt and finish of edges and hem in the same manner as we did the side skirt. 

Sew your ruffle wrong sides together to your bottom skirt at ½”. Take a 2 ½” x length of your skirt plus add a ½” on each side to be able to fold raw edges in and press the binding strip in half. Sew to the raw edge the skirt and ruffle make, binding the raw edge showcasing the floral design and hiding the raw edge inside. 

To Create the Waist Ties: 

Take two 2 ½” x WOF strips from Fabric B with pieces right sides together,  sew on each long edge at ½” to create a tube. Flip tube right sides out to reveal one waist tie. Press flat with side seams on each side. Repeat this same process with another set of 2 ½” x WOF strips from Fabric B. Trim straps to desired length (I left mine long so I can wrap it around my waist twice and tie it in the front so I  don't have to fuss with trying to tie the tie behind my back. Once you are satisfied with the length of your straps, turn the raw edges inside of one of your waist ties and top stitch ends as close to the edge as possible. 

To Create Waistband and Adding Top Apron: 

Take two 2 ½” x WOF strips from Fabric B and press raw edges in at 1/2" on each long side, find the center of the strips and the center on your top skirt pin both strips to each side of your top skirt encasing the raw edge and stitch at ½” to encase the seam. 

Since our apron top has a finished bottom edge already, feel free just to turn your raw edges under at ½” on the rest of your waist band and topstitch into place or you can tuck the top into the waistband seam finding the center of your top and top waist band. Before stitching down the end of the waist band make sure to tuck in each waist strap and fold the raw edge of your waist band in. 

To add the waist band embellishment sew a 2 ½” x WOF strip from Fabric C by pressing it in half right sides together and sew at ¼”. Flip the piece through and press the strip so the seam is in the middle of your strip. Pin your embellishment to the center of your waist band and trim leaving a small portion to tuck inside the seam where the waist band ties meet the waistband. Top stitch embellishment strip down sewing as close to the edge as possible. 

I enjoyed creating this apron so much, I hope you give this tutorial a try and let me know what you think. I am dying to make this apron again but in Bari J's Anthology collection! So if you want a Full YouTube Video tutorial with this apron let me know! 

My sister was the lovely model for this apron and fell in love with how cute it made her feel. I can definitely see more nights cooking at each others homes in matching aprons! I will also have to figure out the measurements to make one for my 4 year old daughter and 2 year old goddaughter. It really isn't a girls day if we aren't all matching! 

Please share this tutorial with a sewing friend that you know would love to sew up this project! Make sure to share your apron on social media using the hashtag #artgalleryfabrics and #AGFMidsummer! 

Happy Sewing, 

Melissa