Condo Blues: How to Make a Petal Skirt Craft Apron

Thursday, March 27, 2014

How to Make a Petal Skirt Craft Apron

Spilling food, paint, and random beverages on myself is my superpower. It has been all of my life. Lucky Me!

I ruined more clothes than I should because only until recently did I clue in that aprons protect clothing from spillage and splotches. Smart > me.

 I made this craft apron longer in the front and sides because that's where most of the paint splotches end up on my clothes.



I made a Handy Ma’am apron to protect my clothes from sawdust, paint, and such when I work in my workshop. Once I realized how nicely an apron kept me clean while DIYing (because, DUH, that’s what aprons do) I started wearing it while crafting too.


Last night, I wanted to do some quick paint touch ups to a craft project and realized my paint apron is somewhere in the garage on the other side of the house. “It would be nice to have an apron to keep in my craft room,” I said out loud to no on in particular, uh, to Lacey (because doesn’t taking out loud to no one in particular classify you as a crazy person? I think it does.)

Don't fall for Lisa's trick. She's crazy. I had her tested.

I took the opportunity to poke through my fabric stash and make a cute craft apron.

I didn't have enough printed fabric in my stash to make a one piece butcher’s style apron like my workshop apron. Instead I went with a girly 50’s style apron that I made up as I went along and influenced by the shape and amount of fabric I used.

You will need:

Christmas tree skirt pattern similar to this McCall's pattern (the one I used is out of print. This is the closest I can find to what I have.)
Fabric for the front – I’m using two different fabrics. You can use whatever amount you like)
Fabric for the back lining (I want a double layer of fabric to protect my clothes from craft paint, Mod Podge, and other messy liquids.)
Fabric or ribbon for the ties
Fabric for pockets
Scissors
Pins
Coordinating thread
Sewing machine
Iron and ironing board (If I don't remind you to press your seams open after you sew, my mom will yell at me and tell me she taught me better than that. Press your seams. Don't make my mom get mad at me.)

Make it:

1. Use the panel pattern to cut three petals from your pretty front fabric and three panels of your lining fabric.


apronpetalpattern

2. Pin the front panels together side by side.

3. Use the sewing machine to sew the front panels together, removing the pins as you sew.

sewapronpanels

4. Pin the back panels together side by side.

5. Use the sewing machine to sew the back panels together, removing the pins as you sew.

6. Press all the seams you sewed flat with the iron and iron board. This will allow them to lay flat and you want this in the finished product. See Mom? I listen (sometimes.)

7. Cut two rectangle that is 16 inches wide by 9 inches long for the top of the apron. Cut one rectangle from your pretty front fabric and cut one rectangle from your lining fabric.

8. To add interest to the top of the apron, fold each rectangle in half and cut a small angle from the top center fold of the fabric. This will make the divot in the center of the finished apron.


aprontoppattern

9. Pin the pretty front top  to the pretty front bottom of the apron and sew them together with the sewing machine. Remember to press the seam after your sew it!


sewaprontoptobottom
I’m trying to resist the urge to tell you to sew your top on. Hee!

10. Pin the lining back top  to the lining back bottom of the apron and sew them together with the sewing machine. Guess what? You should press this seam after you sew it too. Whoo!

11. Make the top apron straps by cutting 2 front straps from your fabric or ribbon that are 22 inches long by 2 inches wide.

12. Fold each strap in half and pin the sides together. Sew sides together to make a tube. (Skip Steps 12 - 14 if you are using ribbon.)

13. Turn each strap/tube right side out so the seam is inside the tube. Press the tube flat with the iron.

14. Top stitch along the sides of each apron strap. This is optional but I think it makes it look more polished and allows the straps to keep their shape when you wash it.

15. Pin each strap right side (the long part) facing in to the top corners of the front of the apron.

sewapronstraps

16. Pin the front of the apron to the back of the apron right sides together (the pretty fabric you want to show in your finished project.)

17. Sew the front of the apron to the back of the apron leaving a hole in the seam you will use to turn the apron right side out.

sewapronfrontandlining

18. Turn the apron right side out and press it with the iron.

19. Pin the hole in the seam together and top stitch along the outside edge of the apron to sew the hole closed and keep the lining from acting wonky when you wear the apron.

topstitchapron
The green and blue arrows in Steps 17 and 19 are to give you an idea of the difference between sewing the front to the lining and top stitching the gap closed with the rest of the apron. Obviously your sewing will be more even and consistent than my wonky arrows.

20. Pin and sew a 2 inch wide by 92 inch long (approximate) ribbon along the front of the apron were the top and bottom of the apron meet.

sewapronpocketandtie
You can make your apron tie as long or short as you want. I went with 92 inches because that is the length of ribbon I had on hand.

21. If you want pockets, cut two 7 inch wide by 8 inch long pieces of fabric (I rounded the edges after I cut mine but you can do what you like), fold over the top of the pocket and sew it to make the top of the pocket. Pin the pockets to the front of the apron and sew them on with the sewing machine.

22. Give the apron one last pressing with the iron and tie one on!


craftapron
That's money.

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