Ingredients
- 1 dish towel – purchased from your local dollar discount store – make sure it’s wide enough to cover across your hips. I purchased mine at Dollar General for $2.00
- ½ Yard of fabric for the ruffle and the sash or ¼ yard if using two different fabrics for the ruffle and the sash.
- One 5”x6” piece of scrap fabric for the pocket
- One 1 ¾” x 6” piece of coordinating scrap fabric for the top of the pocket
- Four 4”x4” scraps of fabric – 2 of the same print, 1 of a coordinating print and 1 contrasting print for the flower.
- One button for the flower center
- One pin back for the back of the flower.
Step1 – Prepare the sash
Take ¼ yard and cut in half lengthwise – then take one of the cut halves fold to find the center and cut at the center fold to create two short halves. Sew each short half at short ends of the remaining long strip to create one long sash.
Step 2 – Determine mark sash placement
Fold the sash piece in half lengthwise, right sides facing – press and then fold the sash in half to find the center and press. Open the fold and place onto the top of one long side of the towel – mark the sash piece at both ends of the dish towel for sewing.
Step 3 – Sew the sash
Remove the sash from the dish towel and fold again right sides facing. At each end of the sash fold one corner of the short end up at a 45 degree angle and press and open.
Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew from the mark you made in Step 2 to each outer end – and along the fold to create a mitered end.
Step 4 – Attach the Sash to the Dish Towel
Trim excess fabric on each end and turn sash right side out. Press under exposed raw edges ¼” and place the sash back onto the top of the dishtowel. Pin in place and edge the sash onto the dish towel from end to end.
Step 5 – Make the Ruffle
Take your remaining ¼ yard of fabric and cut it in half lengthwise, match short ends on one side and stitch as in Step 1.
Fold raw edge under ¼” and then ¼” again along one long side of your fabric strip and stitch.
To create the ruffle, sew two rows of basting stitches ¼” down from the remaining raw edge of the long side and pull the threads on one side to gather the fabric and create the ruffle.
Adjust the width of the ruffle so that it spans across the bottom long end of the dish towel and pin in place.
Step 6 – Finish the Ruffle
Fold under the raw short ends of the ruffle on each side of the dish towel and edge stitch folded ends.
Use a zig zag stitch to sew the ruffle onto the bottom of the dish towel.
Step 7 – Sew the pocket
Match the 5” sides of both the top and bottom pocket pieces and stitch using a ¼” seam allowance. Fold down the top raw edge ¼” and edge stitch. Fold remaining sides under ¼”.
Mark pocket placement about 5”in from one short side and about 4” up from the bottom edge of the towel, not the ruffled edge. Pin the pocket in place and edge stitch around all three sides.
Whalah! Your apron is now complete – feel free to add a flower broach for an added feminine touch! You can find my tutorial on how to make this here.
Note: Finished length of sash is roughly 86 ½” – based on doubling the length of the typical 44” wide fabric – sash length can be increased by using decorator fabrics which are typically wider than 44”.
My apologies for the change in fabric throughout this tutorial - the yellow and grey apron was the first one I made for my newly remodeled kitchen - post coming soon!
I loved it so much I couldn't bare to give it up as the sample for my class. If you live in the Charleston area and would like to learn more about how to make this apron, go to the Classes tab on my site.
Don't Forget to Make Coordinating Kitchen Linens!
Want to create your own fabulous coordinating kitchen linens, try using the same fabrics you used on your apron and sew to the middle of a dish towel; create a monogrammed towel using machine or hand embroidery...
Or you can also make coordinating pot holders – you can find the tutorial for it here:
Try decorative stitches or quilting for a more personalized effect.
