So this project is actually my third for this course as I couldn’t move my travel date after learning of the in person start for this specific class. After having a 1 on 1 demonstration with Douglas, this project went quite well in my opinion.

Ultimately my product rests somewhere between the beginner and intermediate assignments, with sewed edges to improve the look but without a pocket, in part because I wasn’t crazy about how one would look with the given materials.

Starting with planning and templating, measurements suggested that I should go with around a medium size.  One measurement that was unclear in this process was the height at which the apron begins to thin towards the neck. Measuring off of the template in the book, I decided to place this 1/4th down the length of the apron.

Additionally, I considered the suggested neckline width as a maximum, waiting to see how it actually may look once the template was actually cut out.

One surprising factor was likely due to making up this project, which was not exactly having a choice in material. Only one or two rolls of fabric had a continuous rectangle large enough for an apron. Even if there was enough area, it was in an L shape or otherwise far too thin. I placed my template on the edge of the fabric to ensure room for another apron.

To that end, my technique for preparing the template was simple but ultimately effective. First, knowing that I wanted to fold the edges over, I added a 1″ edge around the apron template. Additionally, after seeing the length-width ratio to scale, I decided to make the taper more dramatic, reducing the neckline width to 16 inches.

After cutting this pattern out, I tried to be intentional in my technique for cutting it out. After applying perhaps too much tape to prevent movement, I found some fabric scissors and proceeded slowly. I would fold the fabric up towards my hand while holding the scissors down in order to cut at the formed corner, as close to the table/paper as possible.

Though this approach was largely effective, it would occasionally cut the paper along taped segments as pulling the fabric up would bring the paper with it. Additionally, the paper did rise a bit above the table as it was still recently kept rolled up. This may have created some inaccuracy even with the tape mitigating it.

From here, initial folding, pinning, and sewing to create even edges could begin. After having to follow video tutorials to set up the Singer heavy duty machine at Douglas’s recommendation, the process itself was not too bad. I did two test box stiches on some fabric scraps and felt ready to proceed.

One major intention behind the sewing process was to ensure greater protection than required in the project description (beginner or intermediate). This was done by performing a ‘dual box stich’, performing a box stitch at one corner of the folded top edge, starting in a way so I could continue one stich down the edge of the length of the edge, performing a box stich at the other corner, and coming back to the first to finish it.

After this was done on the top edge, I then folded down the ‘diagonal’ edges over each end of the neck strap, measured to be about 24 inches long (at first, did not mark down adjustments made). This step was also why I had designed the 1″ edge to fold over as that was just over the width of the strap. Unfortunately this folding of the diagonal edges second covered up what I felt were some of my better box stiches. Those box stitches did ultimately top openings for the neck strap look cleaner.

This was the first step that required many pins to keep the straps in place, as well as a measuring tape to keep the strap placements ‘level’, about 5″ from the top of the apron.

At this point, I was largely comfortable with the process. After sewing along the perimeter of the trapezoidal regions formed by folding the sides by 1″, the bottom was folded and a second ‘dual box stitch’ was performed. These longer stretches of continuous sewing were very calming at this point. Especially when listening to music, sewing was probably the most immediately satisfying since it was both manual and guided. I suppose that perspective is unique to having done this project after both the woodworked and laser cut boxes.

After attaching the back straps (24 in each) with box stiches, the apron was largely complete. I did follow the advice to add box stiches to the folded-over end of the straps. I am not sure if it was due to the fragility of the straps or having gravity from the apron pull the strap in certain ways but these box stiches were disappointing.

Cost Estimate
Fabric – 1 yd (minimum unit) at an average of $10 per yd = $10 (JOANN, looked at similar products, different patterns)
Cotton Strapping – 2 yd (minimum unit) at $2.95 per yd = $5.90 (Online Fabric Store)
Labor – 6.5 Hours at $20 per hour = $130

Total Cost: $145.90

MARKED OFF AS COMMON RESOURCE.
Thread assumed negligible as pricing for a single spool is hard to estimate, much less a small fraction of a spool. Can lump into the OEDK ‘shared resource’ as unlike the fabric and strapping, my usage didn’t make a dent in supply.
Singer Heavy Duty Machine – $209.99 (Office Depot)

Concluding Thoughts/Reflections
Ultimately, this project went far better than I had anticipated, perhaps since paper tests didn’t well reflect how stitching would look on actual fabric. Though some box stiches were rough and I had some excess bunches of thread at points where I didn’t bring the foot down when rotating the piece, those issues aren’t very apparent. The only major/evident problem in the final piece was making the strap a bit too long, causing the top of the apron to hang outwards. Past all that, this project was also probably the most enjoyable so far (though that may be due to some personal failings on other projects).