This Romantic Cottage Style apron is a classic beauty with spun sugar ties, triple tier skirt, and a detachable bib. We used a fabulous large motif floral fabric, pairing that with organza neck ties that are long enough to wrap scarf-like with a stylish side bow.

Sometimes you want an apron that is a hardworking, tough stain-protector. And, we certainly have many options for you to choose from in this category. Other times, it’s fun to have something from the old-school “hostess apron” category – something almost pretty enough to wear as an outfit.

The apron can be worn as a full length or remove the bib and wear it as a half apron. Simply wrap the long waist ties around to the front and cover the buttonholes with a pretty bow.

As with store-bought aprons, our design is meant to be one-size-fits-all. However, we realize you may still wish to make yours smaller or larger. As a reference, the waistband of this apron is approximately 20″ wide, the waist ties are each approximately 30″ long, the skirt length is 19″, and the bib is about 10″ at its highest points (from the top of the waistband to the top of each curve).

Sewing Tools You Need

• Sewing machine and standard presser foot
• Zipper foot

Fabric and Other Supplies

• 1 yard of 44″+ wide quilting cotton weight fabric for the apron bib and the middle tier of the skirt; we originally used Garden Rose Collection in Rose Mixed Bouquet by Rachel Ashwell for Treasures by Shabby Chic from P&B Textiles
• 1 yard of 44″+ wide quilting cotton weight fabric for the lining of the apron bib and the bottom tier of the skirt; we originally used Garden Rose Collection in Rose Ticking Stripe by Rachel Ashwell for Treasures by Shabby Chic from P&B Textiles
• ½ yard of 44″+ wide quilting cotton weight fabric for the top tier of the skirt; we originally used Garden Rose Collection in Rose Tonal Floral by Rachel Ashwell for Treasures by Shabby Chic from P&B Textiles
• ¾ yard of 44″+ wide quilting cotton weight fabric for the waistband and piping; we originally used Garden Rose Collection in Rose Solid by Rachel Ashwell for Treasures by Shabby Chic from P&B Textiles
• 1¼ yards of 44-45″ wide organza for the neck and waist ties: we used pink
• ½ yard of lightweight fusible interfacing
• 1 yard of ¼” piping cord
• THREE 1″ covered buttons; most packages contain two or more button kits
• Fray Check or similar seam sealant
• All purpose thread to match fabrics
• See-through ruler
• Seam gauge
• Fabric marker, pen, or tailor’s chalk for marking fabric
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Straight pins
• Hand sewing needle

Getting Started and Pattern Download

1. Download and print our TWO 8½” x 11″ pattern sheets: Apron Bib Part 1 and Apron Bib Part 2
   IMPORTANT: You must print these PDF files at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page. There is a guide rule on each page to use to confirm your printout is to scale.
2. Cut out the pattern pieces along the solid lines.
3. Following the arrows on the patterns, and the diagrams on the printed sheets, butt the two pieces together and tape in place. Do NOT overlap. You now have one complete bib pattern that will cut on the fold.
4. From the fabric for the apron bib and the middle tier of the skirt (Rose Mixed Bouquet in our sample), cut the following:
   ONE 15″ x 37″ rectangle
   Using the bib pattern on the fold, ONE bib front
   
5. From the fabric for the lining of the apron bib and the bottom tier of the skirt (Rose Ticking Stripe in our sample), cut the following:
   ONE 20″ x 37″ rectangle
   Using the bib pattern on the fold, ONE bib lining
6. From the fabric for the top tier of the skirt (Rose Tonal Floral in our sample), cut ONE 10″ x 37″ rectangle.
7. From the fabric for the waistband and piping (Rose solid in our sample), cut the following:
   ONE 4″ x 21″ strip for the waistband
   ONE 1½” strip, on the bias for the piping, it should be about 36″ in length
   NOTE: Try to cut it all in just one strip, but you can also cut multiple strips and seam them together end-to-end to equal 36″ in finished length.
8. From the lightweight fusible interfacing, cut the following:
   ONE 1½” x 20″ strip for the waistband
   Use the pattern to cut ONE bib piece on the fold, as you did above with the fabric
9. From the organza, cut EIGHT 31″ x 5″ strips for the ties, then layer the pieces and cut one end of all eight ties at a slight angle. I call this the “sash slash”. If you are worried about the organza sliding, you can cut each tie individually.
   
   NOTE: If you are new to working with sheer fabric, like organza, check out our tutorial for some tips and tricks. For example, when cutting the organza, it is best cut as a single layer and once you get it straight on your mat, tape it in place so it doesn’t shift. You could also use push pins or fabric weights, depending on your cutting surface.

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Organza neck and waist ties

1. This apron has four ties, two for the neck and two for the waist.
2. Stitch the tie strips right sides together along both sides and across the angled ends.
3. Turn right side out and topstitch.
   
4. Turn wrong side out, trim back the seam and apply seam sealant.
   
5. Turn right side out again, topstitch and press flat.
6. The final step of the ties is to make two pleats in each raw end, bringing the sides in to the center so the organza tie will now be 1½”, the correct width to insert into the waistband.
   

Bib

1. Following manufacturer’s instructions, fuse the interfacing bib piece to the wrong side of the front bib piece (Rose Mixed Bouquet in our sample).

Piping

1. We had you cut the fabric for the piping on the bias to allow it to more easily curve it around the bib.
2. If you cut more than one strip to get to the 36″ length, stitch the ends together now.
   
3. Wrap the piping fabric, right sides out, around the cord, keeping the cord centered and matching the raw edges of the fabric.
4. Use a zipper foot to stitch in place. When stitching, keep your seam line as close to the cord as possible so the seam allowance stays consistent.
   NOTE: If you are new to the technique, check our our step-by-step tutorial: How To Make And Attach Your Own Piping.
5. Pin piping to the right side of the front bib piece you just interfaced. It goes along both sides and across the top curve, but does not go across the bottom. The raw edges of the piping should be flush with the raw edges of the bib. At the bottom corners, trim the piping flush with the bib.
   
6. Pin the piping place, then baste the piping to hold it in position during the remainder of the steps.
7. Find the bib pattern and place it on top of the piping/interfaced bib front.
8. Using the guide dots on the pattern, mark with pins where the ties go.
   
9. Pin the ties in place on top of the piping. The bib/piping piece should be right side up and the tie should be pleat down with the raw edges of both aligned.
   
10. Pin in place then stitch the ties in place, running the seam in line with the edge of the piping.
11. Gather the ends of the ties and pin them to the center of the bib so they don’t get caught in the seam.
    

Assemble the front and back of the bib

1. Find the bib lining (Rose Ticking Stripe in our sample). Place it right sides together with the bib/piping piece, sandwiching the ties in between.
2. Using a ½” seam allowance and your Zipper foot, stitch around the entire bib (leave an approximate 4″ opening along the bottom to turn), staying as close to the piping cord as you can. Pivot at the bottom corners and go slowly across the top to keep your curve nice and smooth.
   
3. Press seams open. If you feel your apron will be laundered often, consider finishing your seams with a serger or with a zig zag or overcast stitch on your sewing machine. We have a full series on Machine Sewn Seam Finishes.
4. Trim corners, clip the curves (in both cases being very careful to not clip through your seam).
5. In addition, at the top center where the bib curves in to a point, we clipped a little slit on the outside of the trim so it would lie nicely in the “V”.  We then stitched again along the edge of the trim to secure.
   
6. Turn the bib right side out and free your tie ends. The ties should extend up and behind the piping.
   
7. Turn in the raw edges along the bottom opening so they are flush with the sewn seam and press this as well. Hand stitch the opening closed across the entire bottom edge of the bib.
8. Find the bib pattern piece again and lay it on top of the finished bib to find where the three buttons go. Mark the three positions with a pin.
   
9. Using scraps from one of the skirt tiers (we used scraps from the Mixed Rose Bouquet) make three covered buttons. If you are new to this technique, we have a tutorial on making button kit buttons.
10. Hand sew the covered buttons in place.
11. Set the completed bib aside.

Skirt tiers

1. On EACH of three skirt tiers, make a narrow, double turn hem on both sides and across the bottom. To do this, turn under the raw edge ¼” and press. Turn under an additional ¼” and press again. At each corner make a ¼” clean mitered corner. Pin in place and stitch close to the folded edge.
2. If you are new to this technique, check out our tutorial on these narrow hems and clever corners.
   
3. Lay the skirt tiers, right side up, on top of one another. The third tier goes down first, then the middle tier, then the top tier. Make sure the hemmed sides and top raw edges are perfectly aligned. Pin the three layers together along the top edge.
   
4. Using a zig zag stitch on your sewing machine or using a serger, stitch the three layers together and finish the raw edges. We used a serger.
5. Run a gathering stitch along the top of the skirt through all three layers. To do this, stitch one or two lines of machine basting approximately ⅜” from the top edge.
   
   NOTE: If you are new to gathering, take a look at our tutorial.
6. Pull the row(s) of machine basting to gather the skirt to approximately 20″. Adjust the gathers so they fall evenly.

Waistband

1. Find the 4″ x 21″ waistband strip and the 1½” x 20″ interfacing strip.
2. Press the fabric strip in half lengthwise (2″ x 21″). Unfold so the middle crease line is visible.
3. Along the top half of the waistband strip, align the interfacing strip with the center crease and, following manufacturer’s instructions, fuse in place. The interfacing will stop ½”from the raw edge.
   
4. Along the bottom half of the waistband strip, turn up the 21″ side ½” and press well. This will be the finished edge of your waistband.
   
5. Pin the 21″ raw edge of the waistband, right sides together, to the gathered top raw edge of the skirt tiers.
6. Center the waistband so there is an extra ½” at each end.
7. Using a ½” seam allowance, sew across the width of the skirt through all the layers. Start and stop at the exact hemmed edges of skirt tiers. Sew with the gathered skirt layers on top so you can see the gathers and make sure they stay even and don’t fold over on themselves.
   
8. Press the finished seam up towards the waistband.
   

Attaching the ties to the waistband

1. Working from the right side of the skirt, and with the right side of the waistband open, there should be two free “tabs” sticking out ½” at each end.
2. On one of these ends, measure ½” down from the waistband’s center crease and mark this point with a pin.
   
3. Place the pleated raw edge of one tie against this tab. The pleats should be facing down and the raw edges of both pieces aligned. Pin in place, using the pins to center the tie against the tab.
   
4. Repeat on the opposite side of the apron. The finished ends of the ties should be facing one another towards the middle of the apron.
5. Fold the waistband down so it is right sides together and the ends are flush – the tie is sandwiched in between. Pin in place through all the layers (the two layers of the waistband and the pleated end of the tie).
6. Using a ½” seam allowance, stitch across the tab. This seam should flush with the hemmed edges of the skirt tiers.
   
7. Trim the seam allowance back and put Fray Check or a similar seam sealant on the trimmed edges.
8. Turn the waistband right side out. Bring the folded edge of the waistband down so it covers the gathered seam along the back of the skirt. Each seamed end should now align with the hemmed edges of the skirt tiers.
   NOTE: You’ll notice we serged the inside edge of the single-fold waistband hem. This is optional.
   
   
9. Thread a hand sewing needle and hand stitch the waistband in place across the entire back edge.
   

Buttonholes

1. Place the finished bib against the top of the finished waistband, centering it exactly side to side. Using the buttons as your guide, mark the placement for the three buttonholes.
   
2. Following the directions in your sewing machine’s manual, make three horizontal buttonholes to fit your buttons.
   

Project Design: Alicia Thommas
Sample Creation: Debbie Guild