I love making aprons, potholders, counter and dish mats! But when it comes to most things, I wing the patterns on my own, publish tutorials for my own versions that usually combine techniques and ideas, and then include those ideas in all of the links to free patterns that I collect and share!
An apron is not something you might ordinarily make yourself, but its wonderful to have on hand when you need one! And they are way cute to wear when you're cooking for company... or just are wearing something new or nice that you don't want to get a spill on! And best of all, they've been a big hit as gifts!!
For Christmas, I love to make a complete set...an apron, some hotpad/potholders, serged edged cloth napkins, and a simple little tea cozy ...the simple cozy is the one at the top left of the photo above
(see its little lifting up and down pull tab?). Once I get one set designed and made, I can't help myself...I have to make more and I create multiple sets in no time at all!
So, one year...three sets, another year...a repeat for anyone who has really used their apron or potholders and needs a new set...you get the idea!!!
And when I'm in a hurry, it's lovely to have a simple printed panel from a discount fabric store on hand. This one was from the Daisy Kingdom line and it was sooo popular one Christmas in Alaska, that I had two sisters-in-laws literally fighting over it!
The victor wore it quite literally all day long, even when she was eating Christmas dinner and just visiting with our big family. Oh, yes! Show off your victory big time, Becky!That's the year I knew I had a great gift that was truly appreciated!
Unfortunately, Daisy Kingdom closed a number of years ago, but you can still find their various pre-printed pieces online, at tag sales, and often in free share fabric tables.
My Own Alaskan "Kuspuk" the original Apron in Alaska
(How To Make A Kuspuk)
(How To Make A Kuspuk)
I grew up in Alaska, and the native Alaskans especially of the northern and north western areas make and wore kuspuks. But what most people don't realize is that this is not a 'dress' or a 'jacket' as most people assume. It was actually an apron of sorts.
Women and girls wore the long version...with a skirt ruffle..over their other clothing to protect that clothing from the hard work of cleaning fish, seals etc. for food, clothing, lamp oil and other means of survival. For many years, I helped a SIL teach grade school children(and their parents) how to make these, designing our own non standard math 'non patterns'...measuring lengths and cutting to size.
My other links included in that post show many years of this great project, our wearing of them to visit the Governor and his family in Juneau Alaska, and how we were not only featured in the Alaska Daily Empire but online and referenced during a legislative session for Kuspuk Friday...when all of Alaska's legislator' literally wear kuspuks to work!
Baby Nursing Cover-Up Apron Tutorial
And last but not least, nursing aprons or baby coverups that I have made for several wonderful mom's who have chosen natural baby feeding, but still want to be discrete in public for others! I created my own patterns and they are both reversible and can be pocket pouched just like a quillow so they fold up for carrying and look like a little pouch!
And here is my ongoing list of links, tutorials etc for making a variety of aprons...from full length bib aprons, to simple skirt front aprons, to nursing cover up aprons for feeding baby discretely.
I'm still in the process of finding links and don't have all of the photos yet..but you can surely find something that will work for you and if not...be inspired to come up with one of your own!
Free (Full-length w. bib) Apron Patterns
Smock Apron
Butcher Style Apron Pattern
Crafty Gal – Dressing For Success
jcaroline Creations Apron Instructions
Martha Stewart – Bakers Apron, template is here (pdf)
Apron Tutorial – Jeans Apron
Free Apron Pattern
Taly’s Very Easy Apron
Suzy Homemaker Apron – Tutorial
Make a Plain Apron (updated dead link)
Apron Pattern (not English, Japanese? but is fully illustrated) download file is here
Free Lined and Reversible Apron Pattern
Nana’s Reversible Half Apron (with tutorial)
Free (Made From Dishtowels) Apron Patterns
Quick and Fun Apron Made from Two Dish Towels
Martha Stewart’s Dish Towel Apron
Homespun Apron
Towel Turned Apron
Free Craft Project Friendly Apron Patterns
Crafty Tool Belt
Martha Stewart’s Crafter’s Apron
Free House work/ house keeping Apron Patterns
Martha Stewart’s Carryall Apron
More Apron Patterns and Ideas and Tips!
Shimmy, Shake, & Bake Apron pattern download is here (pdf)
Pleated Embroidered Apron
Jeans Apron and another similar concept here
Valentine Ruffle Apron
Keeping it Real Sewing Series: Apron Tutorial pattern downloads: Part 1 and Part 2 (both pdf)
Half Yard Apron
Scalloped Apron the pattern download is here (pdf)
Knit and Crochet Aprons
Daisy Apron
Party Apron
Kitschy Apron in Cotton Chenille
Crocheted Apron
Cheeky Squares Apron
Clothespin Aprons
My Byrd House Clothspin Apron
Vintage Apron Bonnet Pattern
Children’s Aprons
Tutorial: Little Girls’ D-Ring Ribbon Belt Apron
Sewing: How to make a kid-sized chef apron
Quilt Block Apron
Smocket pattern pattern download is here (pdf)
Apron/Sunbonnet Combination
Quick Apron Tutorial
Vintage Style Aprons and Vintage Patterns
Vintage Pillowcase Apron Tutorial
50’s half-aprons with tie-pocket pattern/tutorial
Retro Orange-Flowered Apron w/ Tutorial
Vintage Apron Pattern
1940’s Style Bib Apron (pdf)
Men’s Aprons
Men’s Apron Tutorial
Chef’s Apron
Cute Misc Links
Hillbilly Housewife: Apron Evangelism
Sweet Little Apron Ornament Tutorial
Little aprons – free crochet pattern
Nursing Coverup Aprons for Feeding Baby Discretely
Baby Nursing Cover-Up Apron Tutorial ( own pocket pouched version!)
Reversible Cover Up for Nursing BabyTent Like With Boning Nursing Cover
Nap time Simple cover up
From Michele Bilyeu "With Heart and Hands"...my primary blog...other associated links:
On The Cheap With October Projects
Yes, I Still Sew and Quilt !
Frugal Fun: Make a Potholder!
Yes, Those are Catfood Pull Tabs
Potholder Therapy and Kitchen Love
Camp Sherman: A Token Gift, Left Behind
Patriotic Sewing Frenzy
Potholders!
And never miss a single sensational post !!!!!!!!
Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska. Sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting, with small format art quilts, prayer flags, and comfort quilts for a variety of charitable programs. And best of all, sharing thousands of links to Free Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns and encouraging others to join her and make and donate quilts to charitable causes. Help us change the world, one little quilt at a time!
2 comments:
Thanks for the links. I wear an apron most of the time while I am preparing supper. I like a bibbed apron. In the past, I have made many for gifts. I especially like to include a matching apron for the children of the giftee. I like the idea of matching hot pads.
Have a warm weekend!!
xx, Carol
aren't these adorable?!!! who wouldn't love such a gift? I never feel motivated to spend my time on making such items but I know and appreciate the value of wearing an apron when I am cooking especially with anything to do with putting food into hot oil!
thanks so much Michele for all the hard work you put into adapting "your" approach to patterns.
Post a Comment