The idea for this apron was born from taking one too many trips in from the garden with a shirt full of produce. With a few dishtowels and a little time at the sewing machine, you've got yourself, (or better yet, your mom) a handy apron that can hold loads of treasures from the garden.
I even designed a mini version, so you can do a cool mommy and me deal. As an added bonus, when I finished the child's sized apron, I realized that it makes an awesome adult sized craft apron.
I love using "tired" dishtowels in the garden. They might be a bit too shabby to hang in the kitchen, but they can have a second life outside, where stains and holes are just "character." Of course, you could also start with beautiful new tea towels or just good old cotton fabric. And best of all, you can complete the Mother's Day gift giving by adding a new pair of gloves, shears, or a beautiful plant.
Looking for another handmade gardener's gift? Might I suggest the handy garden kneeler.
Oh, and while we are on the subject of aprons, I wanted to let everyone know that they are the focus of Craft Hope's latest efforts, get all the details here.
Without further delay, I present tutorials for both adult and child sized Garden Harvest Aprons.
Adult Garden Harvest Apron
Supplies:
2 large cotton dishtowels (flour sack or tea towels)
Twill tape, ribbon, or bias tape for the ties
Velcro
Instructions:
*Note: the front pocket is optional, and I chose to add it at the end. If you would like to do things properly, you can skip to step 6 and add the pocket first.
1. Wash, dry and iron your towels.
2. Fold the towel that will be your main apron piece in half crosswise, with right sides facing. Sew up each side stopping about 2" from the top opening on each side.
3. Add gussets. Spread open the seam where it meets the bottom fold to create a point. Mark a line about 2" down across that point (you will have a triangle shape). Sew across this line. Repeat on the other side.
4. Turn your work right side out, you will have a big pocket. Determine which will be the back side and apply your ties to the piece of fabric only.
5. Add one or two pieces of velcro to the inside of your pocket to hold it closed.
6. Create the front pocket. Note: depending on the size and shape of your second towel, you may want to change the way you fold it. Iron a fold lengthwise about 1 1/2" from the edge, repeat on the other side. Fold the top and bottom pieces in towards each other, leaving a 1" gap, iron. Lastly, fold the towel in half so that the gap is at the bottom, iron. Sew through all layers on the seams of each short side. Sew one or two parallel lines through all layers to create dividers.
7. Apply the pocket. Pin the pocket to the front of the apron and sew down one side, across the bottom, and up the other side. You now have a large pocket and a set of divided ones.
8. Give it a final press and get out into the garden!
Child's Garden Apron (Adult Craft Apron)
Supplies:
1 large dishtowel
Twill tape, ribbon, bias tape for ties
Instructions:
1. Wash, dry, and iron your towel.
2. Fold the towel in half crosswise, wrong sides facing. Fold the bottom piece up again, stopping half way. Pin this second fold to the front piece only.
3. Sew the fold down to the front piece by following the outside seams. Add dividers by sewing down the pockets with one or two lines running parallel to that outside seam. (See white lines in photo above.)
4. Attach your ties to the top edges of what will be the back panel.
5. With the top edges even, wrong sides facing, sew up each side seam. And that's it. Now your little one has an apron with one big pocket to hold the garden's bounty (or handfulls of dirt) and a few small pockets to hold tools, rocks, bugs, etc.
Happy Sewing, Gardening, & Gift-giving!