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Fushia Dot Apron

Hi everyone! I hope you had an amazing Christmas with lots of joy scattered between the moments of chaos and scotch tape! I am so excited to share with you my very first post, a free tutorial on this easy to make apron. I used Anna Maria's Clippings print from LouLouthi with Michael Miller's Ta Dot in Fuchsia. You can find these fabric and a whole lot more amazing prints at my friend Andrea's online fabric store http://www.fabricenvy.com/.


This apron is basically made up of rectangles.
Top- 11" 1/2 L x18 1/2" W
Bottom-19" Lx 22 1/2" W
Waistband- 4 1/2 L x 18 1/2" W
Apron strings- 4 1/2 L x 43" W (cut 2)
Neck tie- 43" W x 4 1/2L +24" W x 4 1/2" L


1. Hem the sides of the top, bottom and apron strings. Fold up a 1/4" and iron. Then another 1/4" and iron. Sew with at 1/8" seam allowance. After hemming the apron strings attach to the waistband either serging or stich with a 5/8" seam and then zigzag the seam so it doesn't unravel.


 2. Create a drawstring type hem at the top of the top piece by folding over 1/4" (or serge it) and then another 1" and sewing a 1/8" seam allowance along the bottom.


3. Make a hem on the bottom piece. Fold up 1/4" and iron then fold up 1 1/4" and iron. Sew at a 1/8" seam allowance. 


4. Create the pleats in the bottom piece then sew to the waistband.  Find the center by folding it in half and putting a straight pin in it. To make a pleat measure 2" from the center mark with a fabric pen. Then make another mark 3" from center. Make two more marks at 7 1/2" and 8 1/2". Bring the 2" mark and the 3" mark together with the excess fabric going toward the side (if you fold them with the excess toward the middle it adds bulk to just the place you don't want...the cookies you make in this apron are already going to try to threaten the sit-ups you did so no need to add more bulk then is necessary!) Do this for the 7 1/2" mark and 8 1/2 " mark on both sides. 
Fold the waistband in half and mark it with a straight pin. Match it up with the straight pin center of the bottom. With right sides together sew a 1/4" seam (or baste then serge).


5. Sew the top to the waist band. Find and mark the centers and align and pin with right sides together. Sew with 1/4" seam allowance.


6. Make the neck tie. Sew two pieces together. Fold in half with right sides together. Sew with !/4" seam allowance across the bottom and one side. Use a long handle or pencil to flip right side out. Fold the open end inside 1". Sew across to close at 1/8" seam allowance.
Thread the neck tie through the top with a safety pin. Tie it into a bow. 
   
Enjoy making lots of delicious foods in this darling apron!