Hey everyone. Today you will learn to make a sturdy kitchen apron with charcoal wool appliqué pockets and detail.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This is the LN06 - Charcoal Merino Wool Fabric, from WonderFil USA.
It is part of Sue Spargo's mill-dyed colors, 60 colors in all. This one is Charcoal, a deep, rich grey.
The fabric is 100% Superior Grade Virgin Australian Merino Wool. It is proficiently woven and richly dyed. It is raised to a perfect hand.
It feels soft and luxuriously felted, designed for ease of stitch penetration. Your needle slides through without a fight.
The color boasts an even and saturated dye. It also possesses unparalleled colorfastness.
Now the real numbers. This size is a Fat 1/8. It measures 18 inches by 14 inches. It is cut from a true 36-inch yard.
The listed usages include wool appliqué, rug hooking, quilts, apparel, crafts, and more. We are using it for apparel today.
A matching Ellana 28wt 50/50 wool/acrylic appliqué thread is available separately. Use it, or use what you have. Completely up to you.
The project: a charcoal appliqué apron
An apron is a simple front panel with ties. It protects your clothes while you cook or sew.
Our finished apron is about 28 inches long and 24 inches wide.
One Fat 1/8 will not make a whole apron. That is just fine, y'all. Sturdy cotton does the heavy work.
The charcoal wool becomes the pockets and the pretty detail.
Why does it suit an apron? Wool appliqué edges do not fray. Your pocket tops stay clean and neat.
Charcoal is forgiving in the kitchen, too. Flour dust and small splashes do not shout on it.
And remember the permission part. Your pockets do not have to match perfectly. You are your own worst critic. Take your time. This is not a race.
Materials list
- 1 piece of LN06 - Charcoal Merino Wool Fabric — Fat 1/8, 18 inches by 14 inches
- 1 yard of sturdy quilting cotton or cotton canvas, for the apron body and ties
- Optional matching Ellana 28wt 50/50 wool/acrylic appliqué thread, available separately
- All-purpose sewing thread for construction
- Freezer paper, a fine marker, and sharp small scissors
- Hand-sewing needles, pins, a ruler, a rotary cutter, and an iron
- Paper or a pattern sheet, about 28 inches by 24 inches, for drafting
Brief steps
1. Draft the apron. Draw a rectangle 24 inches wide by 28 inches long on paper. Angle the top corners in for the arm curves. Keep it simple.
2. Cut the body. Cut one apron body from your cotton. Cut two ties at 2 inches by 30 inches each. Cut one neck strap at 2 inches by 22 inches.
3. Hem the body. Fold every raw edge in 1/2 inch, then again 1/2 inch. Press well. Topstitch 1/8 inch from the folded edge.
4. Cut the wool pockets. From the charcoal wool, cut two rectangles at 7 inches by 6 inches. Cut two small hearts or stars about 3 inches across for detail. Cut slowly, or the points get ragged.
5. Stitch the detail first. Blanket stitch one heart onto each pocket rectangle, centered near the top. Aim for stitches about 1/4 inch apart and 1/4 inch deep. Keep the thread snug, not tight.
6. Place the pockets. Pin both pockets on the apron front, about 8 inches below the top edge. Space them about 3 inches apart. Check they sit level.
7. Attach the pockets. Blanket stitch the sides and bottom of each pocket. Leave the top open. Slow down on the corners, or the edge puckers. Backstitch the top corners twice — that spot takes strain.
8. Make and attach the ties. Fold each tie in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew with a 1/4-inch seam, turn, and press. Do the same for the neck strap. Stitch them firmly to the sides and top corners. Just like that.
Practical tips
Test your blanket stitch on a scrap first. Wool forgives a lot, but a test tells the truth.
I once sewed a pocket on crooked myself. Oh my goodness. The fix was easy. I unpicked one side and pinned it level again.
You have options here, folks. One wide pocket works instead of two. My preference is two pockets, but it is completely up to you.
Save every wool scrap. Tiny circles make sweet flower centers later. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper useful, and really really handsome in charcoal.
Thanks so much for stitching along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the LN06 - Charcoal Merino Wool Fabric at Linda's Electric Quilters.
