Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to sew a festive holiday apron that protects your clothes and looks really pretty doing it.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
We're working with Adorn Garland Stripe Burgundy. It comes from the Adorn Collection. Makower UK designed it for Andover Fabrics.
This is 100% premium cotton. It is 44 to 45 inches wide. It is sold by the yard.
This colorway is the burgundy one. Burgundy is deep, rich, and warm. The collection colors run green, cream, red, and burgundy.
Look closely at the print. You get beautiful poinsettias and holly leaves. You get delicate blooms and sparkling snowflakes. You get classic ornaments and graceful scrolls. Then metallic gold accents run through it all.
And it is a garland stripe. A stripe gives you direction and rhythm. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Let that garland lead the eye right down the apron.
Why this fabric suits an apron
An apron is a cloth cover you tie over your clothes. The bib covers your chest. The skirt covers your lap. Two pockets hold tools close at hand.
This fabric suits an apron so well. The burgundy ground hides splashes and flour dust. The stripe looks tailored, not busy. And cotton presses crisp, washes easy, and holds its shape.
Best part? An apron is mostly straight seams. No zippers, no curves to fight. Super duper fun, and super duper cute in the kitchen.
Materials list
- 1 yard of Adorn Garland Stripe Burgundy, 44/45 inches wide
- 1/2 yard of plain cotton for the lining and ties, or use more of the stripe
- 50-weight cotton thread to match the burgundy ground
- An 80/12 needle for sewing
- Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips, and an iron
- Optional: 1/4 yard of light interfacing for the bib top
Finished apron is about 28 inches wide by 32 inches long. That fits most adults comfortably. Want it longer? Add two inches to the skirt. Completely up to you.
Brief steps
Step 1: Press and plan your stripes. Press the fabric flat. Decide which way the garland stripes will run. My preference is vertical, top to bottom. Mark that direction with a pin before you cut.
Step 2: Cut the body. Cut one apron body at 29 inches wide by 33 inches long. Keep one nice garland stripe centered. A centered stripe makes the whole apron look planned.
Step 3: Shape the bib. Fold the top corners in at an angle. Cut from about 9 inches in from each side, down about 10 inches. Save those triangles. They make perfect pocket backs.
Step 4: Cut ties and pockets. Cut two waist ties at 3 inches by 28 inches. Cut one neck strap at 3 inches by 24 inches. Cut two pockets at 7 inches by 8 inches.
Step 5: Make the ties. Fold each tie in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew at 1/4 inch, at about 10 to 12 stitches per inch. Turn right side out and press flat. Just like that.
Step 6: Hem and pocket. Hem the top edge of each pocket at 1/4 inch, then again. Place pockets on the skirt, pin, and topstitch the sides and bottom. Leave the tops open.
Step 7: Finish the apron. Hem all the outer edges at 1/4 inch, then again. Attach the waist ties at the sides and the neck strap at the bib. Press everything flat and try it on.
I will be honest with y'all. My first apron had the stripe running sideways. Oh my goodness, it looked like a tablecloth with ties. The fix was simple. I laid it out, checked the direction twice, and pinned a little note to the top edge.
Practical tips from my sewing room
Go slow near the metallic gold accents. Thicker printed areas can deflect a dull needle. Slow down or the needle snaps, and nobody wants that near the finish.
Double-stitch where the ties meet the body. Those joins take a real tug. A few extra stitches there save you a repair later.
Press each hem before you sew it. A pressed hem sews straight. An unpressed one wanders, trust me.
Take your time, it's not a race. If a pocket sits a hair crooked, it is still handmade. It does not have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic, I promise you that. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks for sewing along with me. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Adorn Garland Stripe Burgundy 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
