Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to sew a simple, sturdy kitchen apron, finished at about 27 inches wide by 32 inches long.
The fabric is Black Nosegays, from Scarlet's Treasure. It's by Henry Glass. The collection is by Color Principle. It's 100% cotton. It runs 43/44 inches wide.
A nosegay is a small bouquet. That's exactly what you get here. Little gathered bouquets sit across a black ground. They repeat in a tidy, tossed layout. Nothing feels crowded. The print stays clear and readable.
Scarlet's Treasure works in a timeless palette. Red, black, and white. The collection names peonies, poppies, and daisies. On black, the bouquets really pop. It reads modern and fresh. And these flowers never need watering. Super duper cute.
The project: a kitchen apron
An apron is mostly straight lines. That's honest beginner sewing. You cut a few rectangles. You hem the edges. You add ties and a pocket. Just like that, you have something useful.
Why does this fabric suit an apron so well? First, it's quilting cotton. It presses crisp and holds a hem nicely. Second, that black ground is practical. Most cooking splashes hide kindly. Third, the small bouquets give you freedom. No big motif to center perfectly. That takes pressure off your cutting.
Here's my sizing, so you can check me. The body finishes 27 inches wide. It finishes 32 inches long. That covers most cooks comfortably. Want it longer? Add length before you cut. Completely up to you.
What you'll need
- 1 yard of this Black Nosegays cotton for the apron body
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating solid or print for ties, pocket, and top band, or use more of the same fabric
- Matching all-purpose thread
- An 80/12 universal needle in your machine
- A ruler, pins or clips, and scissors or a rotary cutter
- An iron — your best friend on this one
Here's the cutting math. From your yard, cut the body 28 by 33 inches. That allows 1/2-inch hems all around. Cut two waist ties at 3 by 36 inches each. Cut one neck strap at 3 by 24 inches. Cut a pocket at 7 by 8 inches. One yard handles the body easily. The ties can come from your second fabric.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Square up the edges. Then cut your body piece, 28 by 33 inches. If a bouquet lands upside down, don't panic. Turn the fabric before you cut, not after.
Second, hem the sides and bottom. Fold each edge in 1/2 inch. Press. Fold in another 1/2 inch. Stitch close to the fold. Use a 2.5mm stitch length, about 10 stitches per inch. Slow down at the corners or the needle balks.
Third, finish the top edge. Fold it down 1/2 inch, then another 1/2 inch. Stitch it down. This top band is where the neck strap attaches. Keep that seam straight and neat.
Fourth, make your ties and strap. Fold each strip in half, lengthwise, right sides together. Stitch the long edge with a 1/4-inch seam. Turn it right side out. Press it flat. Topstitch along both edges. I do this on every tie. It really really helps them lie flat.
Fifth, attach everything. Pin a waist tie at each side, about 10 inches down from the top. Stitch them in place. Backstitch twice there — ties take a lot of tugging. Attach the neck strap ends to the top corners. Try it on and adjust the length before you stitch. Then hem three sides of the pocket, fold the top edge down, and stitch the pocket to the front, centered about 8 inches below the top.
Practical tips
Pre-wash your cotton if you can. Aprons get washed a lot. Shrinking should happen before you sew, not after. Press every hem before you stitch it. A pressed fold is a straight fold. And check your pocket placement wearing the apron. A pocket that sits too low is just decoration.
Now the permission beat, y'all. Your hems do not have to be perfect. A wobble on the inside hem bothers nobody. You're your own worst critic here. Nobody at the stove is inspecting your stitching. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Want a second version? Make it reversible with two prints. Or skip the neck strap and do a waist-only half apron. Or add a second pocket for a phone. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Pick the version you'll actually wear.
Thanks for sewing along with me, folks. Tie it on and cook something good. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black Nosegays Scarlet's Treasure 44"/45" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
