Half pattern traced on to folded fabric.
Apron Creation
After fist hearing about the workshop apron assignment, I immediately had three goals for my apron. First and most important in my book was finding a way to flatten the “saggy front” of the apron, I also wanted to incorporate my favorite color (dark green) in this apron, and last of all I wanted a specific place to put my hands as well as a perfectly sized phone pocket. With those three things in mind I got to work making a pattern based on my measurements. This involved lots of drawing, holding the apron up in front of a mirror and redrawing. When I was happy with the shape I cut it out and did some final trimming. I made my pattern and cut the apron out on a fold to eliminate some extra cutting and to ensure my apron was symmetric.
Close up view of the hammer loop sewn under the kangaroo pouch pocket
Finished kangaroo pouch pocket
I got approximately 10 inches of the top seam sewn when I transitioned to the OEDK’s more professional sewing machine. With the hobby machine, I had trouble gradually starting stitching. the machine would jump forward a few stitches usually resulting in a crooked line or a snapped thread. The more professional machine on the other had worked great. I was able to gently start seams and I even used a dark green thread to add contrast to my cream colored apron body. From there the first thing I added was a kangaroo pouch style pockets for my hands. While sewing the pouch on, I slipped the hammer loops under the pocket fabric and sewed back and forth to reinforce the loops.
Close up view of the reinforced strap attachment
After measuring the size of some pencil pockets with different writing utensils, I sewed them on in a convenient location. I did the same with the phone pocket as well as the pocket on top. After the pockets were complete it was time to sort out the straps. I had seen some kitchen aprons with straps that cross in the back. This eliminates the sag in front of the apron which I really like. To implement this, I sewed the straps to the top using a box stitch for reinforcement. Then I crossed the straps in the back and, through lots of trying the apron on, found the perfect height for the horizontal back strap. The part where the straps cross through the apron body is reinforced with a section of strap cut and sewn on to avoid tearing the cream fabric as I use it. From there, to finish the apron off I added a clip with another box stitch and then I had a finished apron that I am proud to wear around!
Cost Analysis:
1 yard of cream colored fabric: $10.50 (cotton fabric from Walmart)
scraps of dark green fabric: free from OEDK supplies
3 yards of cotton strapping: $9.99 for 10 yards (Amazon), $3 for this apron
Plastic Buckle: set of 10 for $13.99 (Amazon), $1.40 for this apron
Green Thread: $2.27 (Walmart), used approximately 30 yards: $0.47
I spent 3 hours and 17 minutes making the apron. If I value my time at an average hourly rate for a sewer of $15 per hour, This apron costs $47.55 in labor costs.
The total cost estimate for this apron is $62.92
Finished apron!
