I like a bit of cute occasionally.
I also like Spring.
I adore Tulips and my favourite colour combination is soft green, blush pink and white.
Please let me reveal to you ‘The Darling’
It’s my first apron (although I prefer the word Pinny) of 2011 and will lead the way in a rather kitsch, cute and darling year of apron making I believe. It is easy to make, comfy to wear and can be thrown in to the wash at a moments notice should you need to freshen it up.
It brings Springtime to your wardrobe whilst protecting your favourite skinny jeans from being splattered.
Thank you, Darling!
What you will need for this project:
- For the apron: Piece of fabric cut into an apron shape (refer to how-to photo) measuring approximately 50cm height x approximately 60cm in width at the widest part
- Frill: Strip of fabric measuring 10cm x 260cm (two pieces of fabric can be sewn together for this if necessary)
- Waistband: Contrasting fabric measuring 50cm width x 15cm height
- Ties (x 2) : In the same fabric as the waistband, 10cm height x 60cm length
- Pocket: In the same fabric as the waistband and ties, 15cm height x 14cm width with rounded bottoms, refer to how-to photo
- Bias Binding: 20mm x 3.5m (approx) – Colour to match according to your chosen fabric
- Pins
- Thread to match your fabric
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- Cut out your apron shape in your chosen fabric
- Cut the fabric for the frill, sewing two strips of fabric together if necessary to achieve the 260cm length
- Measure out a length of binding also measuring 260cm
- Iron the binding in half to allow for a clean edge
- Pin the ironed binding to the fabric frill
- Machine the binding in place
- To create the gathered effect for the frill, machine two parallel rows of stitching just under the raw edge of the fabric, approximately 1cm apart
- Pull the two top threads of the stitched rows (one from each row) and gently pull the fabric along the thread, creating a gathered effect as you pull
- When you are happy with the frill you have created and the frill looks even, wrap the ends of the thread around a pin and secure to the fabric leaving you with a pin at either end.
- Pin the raw edge of the frill to the raw edge of the apron so that the correct sides of the fabrics are face to face. Make sure that when you pin the frill on, the pins sit just under the two rows of stitching.
- Machine the frill in place to the apron whilst removing all pins as you go
- Cut out a pocket shape in contrasting fabric to the apron and frill
- Pin the binding all the way around the pocket and then machine on
- Set the pocket to one side for the time being
- To make the pleats along the top raw edge of the apron, measure in approximately 11cm from either side and fold in the two pleats which should measure around 1.5cm each. Pin the pleats in place ready for stitching.
- Measure out the contrasting fabric along the top of the apron for the waistband.
- When the fabric has been cut to the correct size, fold two flaps of fabric over, measuring 1cm, along the length of the waistband – then iron in place (do not machine up)
- Along the width edge of the waistband , do the same as above, but this time machine the edge up, creating a hem
- Finally, fold the fabric waistband in half (length ways with the fabric pattern facing out) and iron flat
- Cut out the two strips of fabric for the apron ties
- Fold in half length ways, so the correct side of the fabric is facing in
- Machine together the side and just one end, leaving you with just one end open
- Turn the apron tie back the correct way (you may need a pen to help you push it through!) and iron flat
- Repeat with the other apron tie
- Place the non-stitched ends of the ties between the fabric waistband at either end, approximately 2cm in
- Pin in place and then machine together using a small stitch
- The bottom of the waistband will still be open at this stage, but don’ worry as next it is time to attach the waistband to the apron
- Pin in place all the way along the top raw edge of the apron, then machine the waistband to the apron
- Pin the pocket you made earlier to the apron, ensuring it is in the correct place for you
- When you are happy with the pockets positioning, carefully machine the pocket on to the apron, using the stitching from the existing binding as guide.
- Iron the apron, stand back and admire your first Springtime project of 2011.
It’s just darling.
It’s The Darling.
I love you and thank you so very much for stopping by today. See you tomorrow.
Cherry x
******************************************
Don’t forget you can join my Facebook page!
Feel free to add me to your links list. Here it is ! - http://www.cherrymenlove.com/
Twitter – please feel free to follow me
Related posts:
I’ve been looking to try making an apron. This pattern looks like one I can handle! Thanks for posting!
Oh I forgot, I making your patchwork cover for my piano stool..thanks for the idea!
Cherry
Oh my..I almost fell off my perch when i saw this. i was really looking forward to following you in this craft. The when I saw it I was amazed to find that my favourite apron that I made a few years back is virtually the same type!!! I love mine and made it with brown and pink flowers as a main and brown and pink polka dots as the frill. It is so gorgeous that our local theatre borrowed it for The Darlings buds of may for Ma to wear!! (My eldest was a daughter). SO my apron had its hours of fame on the boards!!
Love to see what else youre up to. Summer is still burning long and bright here we are not going to give it up easily to the northern hemisphere so you may have to wait a bit longer!! Love Cherry( A Kiwi Cherry)
that is a darling pinny and i really like your top. have a great week.
cherry – you look ‘darling’ in these photographs…what a beautiful mummy! xxx
I’m getting my first sewing machine this weekend and I think this will be the first thing I try! I don’t even care that its probably a little too ambitious for a newbie – its just so darling!!!
I am the world’s most cackhanded sewer…but I lovedreading this and looking at pictures of gorgeous YOU! happy Monday xo
Oh, the apron is lovely with the floral, stripe, combination!
the pinny is a gem and i love your tiffany coloured head-scarf. did you make that too? gorgeous colour. Miranda.
Love the apron. Probably won’t be able to make it but I’d love to buy one. Are they for sale?
Beautiful Colours, such a pretty pinny. Tulips are my favourite flower.
I love aprons as they remind me of baking with my grandma (and having to have the ties wrapped around my waist twice as a child)… but I am just so bad at remembering to wear one now I am an adult. I still love them, but I’m just a Messy Minnie without a Pinny most days!!
Just adorable! I can’t believe how tiny your waist is. Not only do I love the color of the pinny, but your hair bow as well. Whenever my two eldest granddaughters bake with me, the first thing they do is tie on their little aprons. I’ve longed to make them one. You make it look uncomplicated.
I love it! You look fab! Did you use the kids pattern for yourself?
Seriously though, I just rearranged my patterns and came across one very much like this for a little girl, and that was going to be my little project for this week, besides making “Red Riding Hoods” cape for a fairy tale play my daughter is in. Have a great week!
I love the apron Cherry but I also love the blouse, your hair and the Tiffany bracelet!!
I like reading your Blog at lunch time. It’s my ritual. I’m sat at my desk with a sandwich and cup of tea. It feels like SPRING already.
Sx
Gorgeous Apron. I’ve read a few of the comments below about you selling The Darling on your website. You could have a little money spinner selling your crafts to those who like the idea of making but haven’t got the time.
I do hope you’re having a Happy Monday. It’s meant to be the happiest day of the year.
Love, Trudie
Very Pretty,,,
That is an adorable apron, thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful craft with us, the how-to looks very easy to follow.
H x
Wow, loving the apron Cherry.
Sue
Eeeeeeeeeeee Cherry I’m SO excited!
I’m just about to join a sewing class at Just Sew in Brighton and I need to bring my own pattern!
I had absolutely no idea what to make but now I do! *gets giddy and does a dance*
Thaaaaaaaaaanks!!!!
xxx
I’m addicted to your website Cherry. Please can I buy a pinny from you? Mx
a very sweet pinny. Perfect for spring
x
Cherry, Jasnmine beat me to it……I ADORE the pinny, but alas I cannot sew to save my life
can I not buy one from you….:)??????? Love, love, love your website!!! Lisa xx
I LOVE The Darling. Do you sell these Cherry? Jx
Put me down for one if you’re selling!
Gill x