Make Do Apron Tutorial - Part Two

Good morning everyone. Do you have your coffee brewed? We're ready to get started with the sewing portion of Mary Jane Butter's Make-Do apron pattern. If you missed the first part, you can find Part One here. I know some of you have done your homework and that's a good thing.

For those of you who don't sew, stick it out because there's something for everyone at the end of this post.

Let's get started. You've got all your pattern pieces cut out of your men's shirt. The first pieces we're going to work with are the ties. In order to finish the edges we're going to fold over the point and press it down.



Fold over the other edges and press as you go. Keep folding and pressing until each side has been turned over twice, encasing the raw edge.



Run a line of stitching around the tie. Put these pieces aside.

Take the neck strap piece, fold it in half lengthwise and stitch together on the long edge. Turn inside out and press.

Next we're going to apply bias tape to the tab piece. You will notice that when you unfold the bias tape it has a narrow side and a wider side.



Position the narrower side of the bias along one edge of the point with right sides together. Stitch 1/4 inch seam, turn and press.



Do the same to the other side of the point, remembering to leave some extra to tuck under when you turn it over. Press everything flat.



Determine which is the right side of your main pattern piece. Lay this pattern piece on your work surface with the right side down. Take your neck strap piece and position the two ends one inch from each side of the top edge.



Lay your tab piece on top, right side down. Pin and stitch layers together with a 1/4 inch seam.



Flip the tab over to the front. See, your neck strap is enclosed in the seam.



In order to keep the tab in place we're going to sew it to the apron by "stitching in the ditch". You're going to run a line of stitching exactly where the two fabrics meet. I'm pointing with my handy crochet hook.



Now we'll start applying bias tape to all the edges, starting with the underarms. It's the same as before. You're going to stitch the bias tape to the apron, turn, press and stitch in the ditch.





After you've finished that, apply bias to the two sides, and then the bottom.



I like a sturdy pocket so I cut two pieces. Sew them right sides together, leaving a opening for turning inside out. My grandmother always said that less is less and so I decided to decorate the pocket with a piece of doily from my stash. I made several rows of stitching around the doily to secure it and then applied some bias tape to the top of the pocket and added a button.



Pin the pocket in place on the apron and run a single or double row of stitching around the edge.

Attach the ties on the sides...and you're done!

Here's the finished apron.



I paid $1.99 for the shirt and the other fabrics, the doily and a button were from my stash.

I really loved how this apron turned out. But I promised myself I wasn't going to keep this one.

Everyone who stuck it out through the whole tutorial now has a chance to win this apron. Just leave me a comment and you'll be entered. Only one comment per person please. I'll close the entries at 10 p.m. on Saturday evening and announce the winner first thing on Monday morning. As in the past I'll use the old school method of having the Farmer draw the lucky winner.

Please feel free ask questions. I think I've explained everything pretty well, but you just never know. Thanks for visiting. I appreciate that fact that you take time out of your busy day to stop by.

NOTE: Oooops, It was late and stormy last night when I scheduled this post and I forgot to mention the BIAS TAPE. Next week I'm going to show you how to make your own bias tape. There's a trick I learned in a quilting class years ago that makes it really easy. It's so much fun to be able to have different tapes for your projects. So, stay tuned!! Hopefully the electric won't go off again and I'll be able to edit the photos!