Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to cut and sew a sturdy kitchen apron, starting with a handle that makes the cutting easy.
First, let's talk about the handle. This is the 460RT 60mm Rotary Blade Handle from Famoré. It is listed for quilting, and the tags tell you its jobs plainly. Fabric cutting. Batting cutting. Thick layers cutting. Trimming. Sewing, too.
What sets this handle apart is Famoré's patented ball bearing design. That design is built to reduce friction. Less friction means less hand and arm fatigue. I feel that difference on a long cutting day, and I bet you will too.
Because of that smooth roll, you won't need to exert excessive force to glide through multiple layers of fabric. Push less. Cut straighter. That is the whole idea here, folks. Famoré also says it was designed with quality and affordability in mind. And the tags note it is left handed friendly, too.
A 60mm handle is the big-wheel option at my table. I reach for it when the stack gets thick. Long straight cuts are where it shines.
The project: a sturdy kitchen apron
Our project today is an apron. One size fits most home cooks. The body finishes at about 28 inches wide by 32 inches long. Ties make it adjustable at the waist and neck.
Why does this handle suit an apron? An apron starts with long cuts. Then a pocket. Then straps and ties. A 60mm rotary handle that glides without extra force keeps those long edges clean. Clean edges sew together so much easier.
We are keeping the shape simple. A flat body. One big divided pocket. Two waist ties and a neck strap. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
What you will need
- The 460RT 60mm Rotary Blade Handle, fitted with a 60mm blade
- 1 1/4 yards of quilting cotton for the apron body and pocket
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating cotton for the ties and neck strap, or use leftovers from the body fabric
- Thread, a machine needle in size 80/12, and pins or clips
- A cutting mat, a long clear ruler, and an iron
- A safety pin or loop turner for turning the ties
Brief steps
Start with your cutting. Cut one apron body at 29 by 33 inches, including seam allowances. Cut one pocket at 14 by 9 inches. Cut two waist ties at 4 by 36 inches each. Cut one neck strap at 4 by 24 inches. Roll slow and steady, and keep the ruler firm with your other hand.
Fold each tie and the strap in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew down the long edge with a 1/4 inch seam. Turn them right side out, then press them flat. Set your stitch length around 2.5 millimeters. That is roughly 10 to 12 stitches per inch.
Prep the pocket next. Fold the top edge down 1/2 inch twice and stitch it. Press the other three edges in 1/2 inch. Pin the pocket centered on the body, about 8 inches down from the top. Stitch around the sides and bottom. Add one line of stitching down the middle, and you have two pocket sections.
Hem the body. Fold the sides, top, and bottom in 1/2 inch twice. Press well, then stitch close to the inner fold. Tuck the raw ends of the ties and neck strap under the side and top hems as you sew, or attach them right after with a short box of stitching. Backstitch at the start and end of every strap join. Those joins take the strain.
Tips from my table
Here is my warning at the moment of risk. Slow down when you cut layered fabric, or the bottom layer can creep and your edge comes out wavy. Let the handle roll. Do not muscle it. The ball bearing design is doing work for you, so let it.
Close the blade guard or retract the blade every time you set the cutter down. Every time. That habit protects fingers, fabric, and the blade itself.
Press every hem before you stitch it. I know it feels skippable. It is not. A pressed fold stays put, and your stitching lands where you aimed it.
And here is your permission beat, folks. If a tie sits a little crooked, it is still a good apron. You are your own worst critic here. Nobody at the stove is measuring your hems. Take your time. It is not a race.
Made a wobbly cut? I have too. Trim it straight, sew on, and move on. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 460RT 60mm Rotary Blade Handle at Linda's Electric Quilters.
