Even though the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen isn’t literally a culinary kitchen, I am definitely going to be cookin’ this semester. Therefore, making an apron was a fitting beginning to my EDES 210 journey.

I started my design process by brainstorming several apron ideas. I drew upon apron brands I had previously admired: Hedley and Bennett, Carhartt, and Red Hat. I isolated the key design components to incorporate — strong lines, detailed stitching, and dynamic straps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sketched a preliminary design for my apron on butcher paper, documented my measurements, and planned my casings and pockets. Then I made a quick list of deliverables I knew would take me from start to finish:

1. Cut out the pattern
2. Iron and hem the edges
3. Cut and attach the casing for the borders
4. Sew the straps
5. Assemble the apron

Then, I cut out my pattern. I made sure to leave extra room for seams and mistakes. Using an iron, I sealed my apron edges, and then hemmed the entire frame.

I then planned and cut the casing for my borders. I wanted to border the top of the apron using a stiff white cotton. I cut my strips and sealed them with an iron.

Then, I ironed and sewed each casing to the edges.

I then sewed the straps to the sides and top. The apron was done!

Reflection and Roadblocks:
Sewing this apron was a very fulfilling experience. I have loved sewing since middle school, when my abuelita would patiently sit with me and teach me all the sewing machine techniques. I never have the time to sew anymore, and this project provided me with the opportunity to relearn many of the sewing skills I had since forgotten. One thing I did not miss about sewing, however, was troubleshooting and fixing the machines. The time I had to spend troubleshooting my machine cut into my sewing time. Additionally, the needles available to us were not suited for sewing through several layers of cotton. I had to redesign several aspects of my apron to work with the machine, and I vetoed the pockets. My seams on my borders weren’t as neat as I would have liked, and the straps didn’t have straight stitching on some edges. However, I learned a lot about the nature of managing ambitious, iterative projects. Sometimes, one has to weigh their necessities and constraints against time and responsibilities.

Cost Analysis:
– 1 Yard of fabric – $5.00 – JoAnn’s Fabrics
– ½ Yard of cotton fabric – $2.50 – JoAnn’s Fabrics
– Thread – $1.00
– Labor – 6 hrs * $7.25 (hourly minimum wage of Texas) = $50.75

Total cost: $52