Over the past week, I have been spending time designing and sewing an apron (and through much struggle).

My design first started by specifying the dimensions of the apron using pattern paper. Based off of measuring my dimensions and repeatedly holding the paper to my body to see how it would fit, the cutout for the apron was made.

This pattern paper was then used to mark out an outline on a sheet of maroon fabric using fabric chalk. Then a two inch buffer was marked out from this outline for the hemming. This was also where I decided to use the color scheme of maroon and white, as I felt these colors suited each other.

The shape was then cut out. Using pins and the iron, the hemming was made using a double fold going one side at a time. A single fold would take up an inch of fabric. At each corner, a back-stitch was used in order to ensure that the thread wouldn’t come loose. I chose to use white thread in order to comply with the color scheme I decided on. A common mistake that I would continue to make was that I would forget to make sure that the presser foot was down on the fabric so when I pressed down on the foot petal, the sewing machine would fail to advance the fabric forward. So the sewing would get tangled in one spot.

This process was repeated for each side until the apron was fully stitched.

Before stitching the straps, I practiced using some scrap material and fabric.

After gaining confidence after this practice round, I measured out a length of strap material and box stitched the straps on. I had measured out the lengths of the straps that I would need, first by holding up the apron and using the material to see how much I would need to wrap around my neck, second by seeing how large my waist was. For the straps that would tie around my torso, I wanted them to come around the back and tie in the front. I chose this because I felt that this for me is an easier and more comfortable way to tighten and adjust the apron.

I noticed that the end of the straps had started to fray so I decided to fold them over twice and stitch them across so that the thread wouldn’t become undone. Similar to how straps on a backpack are folded and stitched.

I then decided to sew on a patch pocket. I used pattern paper to draw out a 6 inch by 6 inch pocket that was slightly flared in order to give the pocket a little more room. However when I initially sewed it in, I didn’t notice that some of the back of the apron had gotten underneath the needle so the pocket was sewed to the front of the apron and some of the back. I had to rip out all the threads, however in this step I wasn’t careful enough and ended up making a hole in the apron. First, I went back to the pocket and finished sewing it on to the apron.

For the hole, I decided to make a cutout of a heart and sew it on over it so that it could not be seen from the front. Although ironically when I sewed the heart on the same issue happened where I accidentally sewed the strap onto the back of the apron by accident. Being very careful with the thread ripper this time and where my straps and material were, I carefully removed the thread and went back to sewing and finished the apron.

I finally finished this apron with a neck strap, waist straps, a patch pocket, and a decorative heart!

The sewing machine area and table used were cleaned afterwards.