June -- Clothspin Apron

June has been just the busiest of months. All 4 of the big kids are in summer school so I should have tons of time on my hands. However, I have to work more hours at the health dept and I decided to teach 4 after school classes this summer. Soooooo ...., my time is just gone. Also my FIL is getting re-married today and has sent all of my MIL's things here this past week and I am up to my eyeballs trying to sort through it and return my home to some kind of normal before the family reunion next week.
I have had this apron in my head for a long time and really wanted to make it. I saw a picture of one in the Apron Book and just loved the idea. So I thought about dimensions and drew up a pattern. I would show that but Jeddie did some art work on it yesterday and tore it to shreds. I will have to make another one now but didn't want that to delay this posting any longer.
Here are the dimensions of the pattern pieces so you can make your own.

The apron skirt is made of 2 pieces, a front and a back. The whole apron is a pocket.
To make the pattern, the dimensions are for half the apron (as you would place it on the fold).
The apron skirt is 16" tall, 10" wide at the top, and 12" wide at the widest point.
The front, or pocket, is the same size as the back and has the pocket holes cut out of it. To make the pocket holes, measure out 5" from the center and draw a vertical line. Now measure down 7" from the top and draw a line. This is your cut out area. I curved mine using a bowl or plate as a template.
The waist band is 3 1/4" tall in the center and 2 1/4" tall at the ends. I made a curve near the middle of that just for looks. You can do this any way you wish. The waist band should be 10 1/2" long. (I forgot to add the 1/2" and had some troubles fitting it on.)
The apron strings were cut with the rotary cutter. I cut them 3" by the width of the fabric. I cut one end at a 45 deg. angle for looks. (I thought this would be wide enough to gather at the waist band but it just fit. I would make the next one wider 4-5" maybe.)


Fabric Needs- (this is a great way to showcase a novelty fabric!)
½ yd of theme fabric
½ yd of backing fabric
¼ yd contrasting fabric for the ties and waistband (use some scraps you love)
Double fold bias tape


Cutting Instructions
Cut one front pocket piece on the fold
Cut one back piece on the fold
Cut 2 waist band pieces (you can make this sturdier by also cutting an inner lining out of pellon or some such stuff)
Cut 2 ties (3”X the width of your fabric)


Sewing instructions:
1. Sew the bias binding along the curves of your pockets.



2. Sew the bias binding along the outside edge of the apron with front and back pinned together. It really helps to pin the front down all over the place to keep it from shifting.



3. Pin the waist bands to the apron top. One in front and one in back, right sides together. They should overlap ½ ” on each side. Fold this overlap in so the waistband is flush with the top of the apron skirt. (remember I forgot to add the ½” on each side so mine won’t show this.) Sew a quart inch seam. Fold the waist band up and press.



4. Trim the top of the waist band with bias tape. Sew in place.
5. Fold the ends of the waist band to the inside ½”.



6. Fold down the edges of the apron ties ¼” and then again ¼” and press. Top stitch. Be sure to leave the strait short end plain.



7. To attach the apron strings, insert them into the waistband on the ends that are folded in. Gather the strings as needed to fit them in. Pin them in place and top stitch to secure them inside. (remember that I made mine wrong so I had to attach them from the back.)


Now you are done!! This was so fast and easy (for me). I hope my instructions were clear enough.

I haven't made any extras yet. If I do I will put them in my Etsy account.