This apron is another Sew4Home design original, complete with a free downloadable pattern. Love, love, love the sweetheart neckline and matching mini-sweet pockets. And the happy bottom flounce will have you skipping around your kitchen, just like when you used to twirl in your big-girl-fancy-party-dress... oh, don't even try to tell me you didn't do that! The Simply Sweet floral fabric has the perfect vintage feel, while the big polka dot accents add a modern zing. Clever knotted ties allow infinite adjustability for the neck and waist so you can make a Retro Fun: Vintage Style Apron for every shape and size of family member and friend.

This project is a bit more advanced than many we offer here at Sew4Home, mainly because the whole darn thing is edged with mitered bias tape binding. But, you can do it. I know you can. Practice makes perfect, right?

A BIG thanks to our new friend, Barbara Jones, the designer of the beautiful Simply Sweet fabric collection for Henry Glass & Company. She very generously provided all the fabric for our retro kitchen projects, and has it all in-stock and available for order on her site, QuiltSoup. We looked at a lot of fabrics for this series, but Barbara's designs are the ones that jumped right off the page as the perfect vintage kitchen combo. There are additional colorways and designs within the collection. Check it out.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome 3160QDC)

Fabric and Other Supplies

All Simply Sweet fabric is available at QuiltSoup.

• ¾ yard of 44-45" fabric for apron front and pockets front: we used Barbara Jones' Simply Sweet in #5116-8 Floral Diamonds for Henry Glass & Co Fabric
• 1 yard of 44-45" fabric for apron back, pockets back and apron flounce back: we used Barbara Jones' Simply Sweet in #5122-8 Tiny Red Dot for Henry Glass & Co. Fabric
• ¾ yard of 44-45" fabric for apron flounce front, waist ties and neck loop: we used Barbara Jones' Simply Sweet in #5120-82 Jumbo Pink Dot on Red for Henry Glass & Co. Fabric
• Two 3-yard packages of extra wide double fold bias tape: we used bright red
• All purpose thread to match bias tape
• All purpose thread to match all fabrics
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Straight pins

Getting Started

1. Download and print the Retro Fun Apron Body And Pocket Pattern.
   IMPORTANT: This pattern consists of SIX 8.5" x 11" sheets. You must print this PDF file at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page.
2. The first page is the pocket pattern. Cut it out along the solid line.
3. Pages 2-5 are the Apron Body pattern pieces (page 2 is row one all by itself, pages 3 and 4 are row two, and pages 5 and 6 are row three). Butt the pages together, matching the lines, to create the full pattern. Do NOT overlap. Tape together.
4. Cut out the pattern along the solid line.
5. Download and print the Retro Fun Apron Flounce Pattern.
   IMPORTANT: This pattern consists of TWO 8.5" x 11" sheets. You must print this PDF file at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page.
6. Butt the pages together to create the full pattern. Do NOT overlap. Tape together.
7. Cut out the pattern along the solid line.
8. From the fabric for the apron front (Simply Sweet Floral Diamonds in our sample), use the pattern pieces to cut one Apron Body and two Pockets.
9. Following the guides on the pattern piece, use your fabric pen or pencil to mark the placement for the pockets on the Apron Body fabric piece.
10. From the fabric for the apron back (Simply Sweet Tiny Red Dot in our sample), use the pattern pieces to cut one Apron Body, one Apron Flounce and two Pockets.
11. From the accent fabric (Simply Sweet Jumbo Pink Dot on Red in our sample), cut three strips 4½" by the width of the fabric, and one Apron Flounce.

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Pockets

1. Match the two pocket fronts with the two pocket backs, right sides together. Pin in place.
   
2. Sew the pocket front and back together, using a ½" seam allowance. Start from the top corner point of the pocket and stitch around to the opposite corner point. Leave the top edge open.
3. Trim seam allowance to ¼" and turn the pocket right side out. Press.
4. Repeat to create the second pocket.
   
5. The upper edge of the pocket is finished with bias tape. Open the end of the bias tape so it lays flat. Sew the bias tape to the upper edge of the pocket along the tape's fold line, lining up the raw edge of the bias tape with the raw edged layers of the pocket. Leave an extra ½" at the start.
6. Stop at the center point of the pocket. Turn the hand wheel of the machine to make sure the needle is down in the fabric.
7. Pivot the pocket and gently pull up the bias tape so it matches the edge of the fabric. Continue sewing along the fold line of the bias tape.
   
   NOTE: If you're new to working with bias tape, the number one rule is 'slow and steady wins the race.' You're sewing along a curve, which is trickier than a straight line. For more hints, check out our tutorial: Bias Tape: How To Make It & Attach It.
8. Back tack at the end of the bias tape seam and trim the tape to leave an extra ½" tail (to match the ½" ‘head' you started with).
9. Turn the extra ½" ends toward the pocket lining at each side and pin in place.
   
10. Fold the bias tape and wrap it to the back over the stitching line. Pin in place.
    
11. Place a pin at the pivot point. Then, continue pinning in place along the stitching line. The bias tape will create a natural tuck at the pivot point. Adjust this tuck to create a uniform miter on both sides of the pocket.
    
12. Flip the pocket over, and from the right side, edgestitch the bias tape in place. Press.
13. Repeat steps 2- 12 to create the second pocket.
14. Pin the pockets in place on the Apron Front, matching the guide marks you made earlier to the corners of the pockets. You can shift position slightly as needed to match the pattern on the pockets with the pattern on the apron front.
    
15. Edgestitch both pockets in place with matching thread. Remember, just stitch from pocket corner point to corner point. Leave the top bound edge open... that's where your hand goes.
    
    NOTE: If you want to be super fancy and really hide your stitching, start from just below the binding and sew around the pocket, stopping just below the binding on the opposite side. Change your thread to a color that matches your binding, then edgestitch just the top of each side of the pocket along the binding, matching your original seam .

Apron flounce

1. Match the Apron Front Flounce and the Apron Back Flounce WRONG sides together. Pin along the upper edge.
   
2. Sew along the upper edge, using a ½" seam allowance.
   
3. Clip along the stitched edge, making your cuts about 1" apart. Be careful not to cut into the seam.
4. Pin the clipped upper edge of the flounce to the lower edge of the Apron Body Front. Match the front of the Flounce against the right side of the Apron Body Front.
   
5. Place the Apron Body Back over the flounce, right sides together (right sides of the two Body pieces) and with the Flounce sandwiched in between. Align all raw edges and pin in place just along the bottom.
   
6. Sew all the layers together, using a ½" seam allowance. Fold the Flounce down and press the seam toward the Apron Body.
   

Bias tape binding

1. Bring the Apron Body Back up behind the Apron Body Front and match ALL the outside edges. Front and Back should be wrong sides together and all edges raw. This is correct as all the edges will be bound.
2. Set your machine for a long stitch length and machine baste along ALL outside edges.
3. Finish the entire edge of the apron with bias tape, using the same technique used for the pockets. Start at a curved edge (along the upper side) and stop and miter at each corner. Fold the bias tape to the wrong side, pin in place. and edge stitch in place on the front side.
4. This is a lot of binding, but the finished look is fabulous. Again, take a look at our binding tutorial if you need a refresher on attaching bias binding and/or mitering the corners.
   

Waist ties and neck loop

1. Find your three 4½" wide strips of tie fabric.
2. Cut each strip to a length of 36".
   NOTE: This measurement is for a standard-size adult apron. It can be adjusted according to the finished size you need... longer for larger, shorter for smaller.
3. Fold the strips in half lengthwise, right sides together, matching the edges. Pin. At each end, draw a point.
4. Sew along the edges, using a ¼" seam, and along your drawn points at each end. Leave a 3" opening for turning.
   
5. Trim the excess fabric around the point seams to ¼".
6. Turn right side out, pushing out the points. Press flat, turning in the raw edges of the opening ¼" so they are flush with the sewn seam.
7. Slip stitch all the openings closed with matching thread. Press again.
   
8. Following the manufacturer's directions for your machine, make four ¾" button holes.
9. Place a vertical buttonhole at each top corner point of the bib with the top just below the bias tape and the side approximately ½" in from the bias tape.
10. Place a horizontal buttonhole at each waist corner with the side just below the bias tape and the top approximately ¼" in from the bias tape.
    
11. Thread one tie through the two bib buttonholes to make the neck loop. Holding the ties in place, slip the loop over your head and adjust the tie ends until the bib hits comfortably against your chest but is still loose enough that it can be pulled off over your head.
12. When you have it just the way you want it, tie a knot in each end to secure.
13. Thread one tie through each waist buttonhole. Leave about a 7-8" tail and tie this into a knot to secure each tie in place.
    

No pockets, but you can turn the apron lining side out for another cute look:

Contributors

Project Design: Alicia Thommas
Sample Creation and Instructional Outline: Michele Mishler

Other machines suitable for this project include the Elna 7300 and the Brother QC-1000.

Comments (23)

jodieth said:

	... This is so cute!
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 26, 2010
Votes: +1

boblosan said:

	... Thank you for this beautiful pattern!
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 26, 2010
Votes: +1

peggyann said:

	... totally sweet, I would really like to see your instructions in a pdf file, as at my mountain lake cabin, I don't have internet (I can get alot of sewing done there LOL) Would the pdf be available in the future? Thanks
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 26, 2010
Votes: +1

Amy Hadley said:

	... So cute!! I LOVE vintage aprons! I was lucky enough to inherit a handful from my great aunt, and love them so much I made a video with them (http://bit.ly/3FQizt). I think someone should start a movement of wearing aprons as part of outfits.
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 26, 2010
Votes: +1

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... Thanks to everyone who loves our apron... we love it too ! Peggyann - no money in the budget yet for pdf versions of our tutorials... maybe someday soon; it's certainly on our wish list, but so is a pony. Amy - Love, love, love your video. It is the most awesome "Happy Apron Dance" ever.
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 26, 2010
Votes: +2

cute stuff inside said:

	... Thank you! S.W.A.K.
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 27, 2010
Votes: +0

Amy Hadley said:

	... Thanks, Liz! Add a camera to my weakness for aprons and happy French music and I just go crazy! Glad you liked it! I thought it a fitting homage.
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 27, 2010
Votes: +0

Savitar said:

	... This looks great! Can't wait to select some fabrics for it. I look forward to seeing more projects like this. Even though it's sewing for home, clothes and accessories are worn in the home, aren't they?
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 28, 2010
Votes: +1

sewyoucan said:

	... Love it! As for creating PDFs - I use PrimoPDF - it's FREE!! and it converts files to PDFs rather than printing (so you click "print" and it's an option). It's a life-saver!
	report abuse vote down vote up

April 28, 2010
Votes: +2

pongrac15563 said:

	... I just made this today!!! So excited because it is soooo cute!!! Great tutorial...the binding was a little tricky at the corners but gave me great practice! I can't wait to whip up something sweet wearing this awesome apron!!! Thanks for the great lesson!
	report abuse vote down vote up

May 13, 2010
Votes: +0

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... hi pongrac 15563 -- that is so awesome - and good for you for pushing ahead through the tricky parts -- it's not really so tricky once you get going . Send us a picture (through the contract form) - we'd love to see you in your styling apron.
	report abuse vote down vote up

May 13, 2010
Votes: +0

Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute said:

	... Thank you so much for sharing this. I was looking at apron patterns at the store just today and didn't see anything interesting. This is perfect. Just what I needed. I can't wait to make this. I just love the fabrics you chose. Have a wonderful weekend....Tracy
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 04, 2010
Votes: +0

Mo said:

	... This is very cute and I am trying to make it- as a total novice- I want to ask what this step does to improve the design of the apron? "Clip along the stitched edge, making your cuts about 1" apart. Be careful not to cut into the seam." Does it just make it hang nicely? I'd like to understand why I'm doing it before I cut my fabric Thank you for the tutorial!
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 07, 2010
Votes: +0

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

... Hi Mo ... so glad you're making our apron. The step you're referring to above is attaching the flounce to the bottom on the apron. When you do this, you're attaching the very curvy edge of the flounce to the nearly straight edge of the apron's bottom edge. Similar to the old "square peg in a round hole" problem, aligning curves and straight edges takes some finesse. Clipping the along the curved seam of the flounce provides some "give " along its edge (the clips can spread apart, and they almost give the woven fabric a kind of "stretch" to help it straighten out). This makes it easier to match the curved flounce to the apron's edge. Good question; I'm sure you've helped others .

report abuse vote down vote up

June 07, 2010
Votes: +1

Brlynn said:

	... i love this, it's so cute
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 13, 2010
Votes: +0

Peachy said:

	... I love this! I might try it myself on my next day off. If i do, may i post it on my blog? peachytease.blogspot.com. I'm new to this and find blogging very relaxing.
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 14, 2010
Votes: +0

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... Hi Peachy -- I DO hope you give it a try, And, yes, please post your adorable version of the apron on your blog. We would love to have your friends and followers know about Sew4Home.
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 15, 2010
Votes: +0

Yuveria said:

	... Love Love Love it !!!! Gonna make it with my mother ^-^ Thank you so much!! it's my first time sewing .. it looks easy =)
	report abuse vote down vote up

July 09, 2010
Votes: +0

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... Hi Yuveria -- first time sewing ... long time visiting Sew4Home... we hope!! Have fun.
	report abuse vote down vote up

July 09, 2010
Votes: +0

Shirl said:

	... This is a really sweet apron. Great step by step instructions and pictures.
	report abuse vote down vote up

July 20, 2010
Votes: +0

melnix said:

	... I love this! I got my fabric today...then came home to download the pattern and can't open it anyone else have this problem, or is it just me?
	report abuse vote down vote up

August 14, 2010
Votes: +0

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... Hi melnix, we have double-checked the .pdf downloads and everything is working correctly.
	report abuse vote down vote up

August 15, 2010
Votes: +0

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it said:

	... Love this apron, thanks for the free download!
	report abuse vote down vote up

August 17, 2010
Votes: +0

Name

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment Preview