Friday, February 5, 2010

Soft Pleated Apron Tutorial

Happy Valentine's Day Sweet Readers.

My gift to you.
My first tutorial.

This pleated style body is based on a vintage apron I found when out treasure hunting. The waistband and ties are pieced using the technique from
Jona Giammalva's Apron in an Hour.


Fabric Required
Body 1/2 yard
Waistband Ties & Trim 1/2 yard
Thread to match fabric


Supplies
Basic sewing supplies
"Quick Turn" fabric tube turners by Dritz

Iron


Cutting Your Fabric:
First, remove all
selvage edges from fabric.
For apron body cut 1 piece of fabric 39" wide by 18" long
For waistband, ties & trim cut
4 strips 4 1/2" by width of fabric


Adding the bottom trim piece.
Take one of the 4 1/2" strips and iron in half.
Place this strip on the bottom raw edge of apron
right sides together.

Stitch, using a 1/4" seam. I like to zigzag the seam allowance.
You could also use pinking shears.

Trim strip even to match apron edges.
Iron seam upward.
Top stitch on front of apron.

Side Hems
Turn and press under 1/4" on each side edge.
Fold and press again.
Stitch.


I like to top stitch a second line of stitching.


Adding the pleats.

On the wrong side of the body apron piece
measure in 5" from the side edge.
From this mark measure every 2 inches.
Number your marks 1-2-3-4-5-6


Working on the wrong side of the fabric
bring line 1 to line 2 and pin.
Bring line 3 to 4 and pin.

Bring line 5 to 6 and pin.

Repeat for second side of apron.
Baste the pleats in place, keeping the top edge straight.

The folds of the fabric will be facing
toward the middle of the apron.


On the right side of your apron, the pleats
should be laying towards the outside edge
going away from the middle.

Adding Waistband and Ties
Take one 4 1/2" strip and lay on the top edge of apron.
Cut strip to fit adding 1/2" for seams.

Take one 4 1/2" x 44 strip and sew to one end of waistband.
Take 2nd 4 1/2" strip x 44 strip and sew to the other end of waistband.

Press seams open.
Smaller strip piece should now be in the middle.

Fold the waist tie strips right sides together matching raw edges.
Pin and stitch leaving the center above the main apron piece open.

Turn ties right side out.
Press, making sure the seam edge is flat.



Fold under 1/4' and press unfinished edge of your waistband strip
directly above the main apron body.


Fold the unsewn part of the waistband over so that
the folded edge covers
the stitch line.
Pin in place.

Stitch close to edge.

Top stitch waist band and ties.

YOUR FINISHED!!!
Now try it on and take a picture.
I'd love to see what you've done!


If you have any questions please email me.
The link is at the top of the page.

Now let's hear the hummmmm of those
sewing machines.

*P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment on the Vintage Inspiration post
to be entered into the drawing for the pink apron.

5 comments:

  1. Great tut...you made it look easy....
    thanks for sharing your talent...
    Sweet Blessings...
    Tonja

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love it! Your tutorial is great and I'll be making this soon!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the tutorial. I can't wait to make it. I'll send you a photo when I do.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You did a great job with the tutorial!! I'm very pleased to see this! I need to get busy and make one too!! Please sign me up for the giveaway!!!

    In everything, give thanks,
    GrandmaSoucie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ohhhhhh did you hear a loud squeal coming from the South!!!!!! It was me!!!! I got my beautiful apron today!!!! Ohhhhhh glory...it is me...it is me!!! I love it! The chickens..ohhhhh lordy I feel like Gollum on Lord of the Rings when he was reaching for the ring and yelling 'precious'!!!!! lol lol It is just beautiful...words cannot tell you how thankful I am sweetie...that was just the kindest and most sweetest thing for you to do...I will treasure it always...love how you shop step by step instructions like this...what a glorious talent you have girl...from the bottom of my heart I thank you so...~Picket~

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment!