Making a Pretty and Comfortable Apron
The more time I spend at home, the more I understand why aprons were so popular in years past. For one thing, they are so pretty that they make me feel pretty. (A happy delusion on my part…) They protect my clothes, especially when I bake anything that uses flour, which seems to get all over me somehow, and they protect from grease splatters, and are always handy for drying hands. Aside from these expected uses, aprons are wonderful for bringing in eggs from the chicken coop, or cradling baby chicks, or even for carrying flowers and vegetables in from the garden.
I love the romantic look of long, billowing aprons, but I wanted one that doesn’t tie around the neck, which always irritates me, and I wanted the high “empire-waist” style such as you see in the movie Sense and Sensibility. When I came across a leftover bit of my patchwork quilt made out of 5″ squares of floral fabrics, I thought it would make a perfect apron.
I started making the shoulder straps by taking two 20″ long strips of 3″ wide fabric and folding them in half length-wise right sides together. I sewed down the long side and across one short end. I then turned the strips right side out.
Next, for the bodice I cut two 14″ by 7″ pieces of green fabric. I laid them right sides together and sewed around all the sides, leaving a 2″ opening along the bottom for turning it right side out. (Whip stitch the opening closed after turning.) I then sewed the closed end of each shoulder strap on top of the top corners of the bodice.
For the waist band I took a 40″ piece of patchwork and cut it 5-1/2″ wide. I folded it in half length-wise right sides together and sewed across both short ends and about 5″ in along the long edge. Then I turned it right side out. Next I sewed the bottom edge of the bodice slightly on top of the top folded edge of the waistband. 
I stitched the skirt to the raw edge of the waistband.
My patchwork skirt piece is about 45″ wide. I sewed a hem around both sides and the bottom edge. Then I pinned the top edge, right sides together, to the bottom, raw edge of the waistband, being careful to leave the other raw edge free. (That edge will be folded down and whip-stitched to cover the raw edges where the skirt is attached.) I measured by eye and folded and pinned a few pleats near the middle of the waistband. You can gather the top edge of the skirt if you prefer.
I then took the other edge of the shoulder straps and sewed them to the top folded edge of the waist band at opposite ends of the waistband. I attached double-fold bias tape to the ends of the waist-band to serve as ties. Finally I folded over the remaining raw edge of the waistband and sewed it by hand to cover the raw edges where the skirt was attached.
Visit my Apron Page for lots of apron tutorials and links.
UPDATE July 2009: I have my very own blog now: chickenlady quilts on Blogger.
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Your apron turned out so pretty and nice! Thanks for sharing. Karen
Hi, Aprons are such usefull garments. More women should be wearing them. I like and wear a full apron daily.
Hi Karen, I found your website through http://roses-and-teacups.com/aprons.php. Your aprins are gorgeous! Nancy is lucky to have you on board! Beautiful garden too, btw!!
Best Wishes from a Fellow Native Californian,
Sandra
Many Horses Jewelry Supply
your apron is really pretty. Another thing you might try- get a jumper either size you wear or one bigger- Good Will has tons- On the slip over your head jumper you can cut it below where your pockets would go, then cut the side seams open- round off all four corners, sew ruffle lace- cotton- sew ties on the side. Watch my blog for when I post my remakes.
http://www.handmedownrose.blogspot.com
Thanks for your comments everyone.
Lynda: that is a fantastic idea. Thanks!
It has such a wonderful Holly Hobby vibe! I can see why it makes you feel so special!
(I can see one in my future…)
Thank you, Erica. I do love it.
What a nice apron! You did a great job on it.