 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Now that those spring days are here, I’m finding myself with a lot of jobs to do in the garden: new growth to tie in, branches to prune back and endless weeds to pull up. Normally I find myself scattering tools all over the place, never having the correct one to hand when I need it.
That’s where the idea for this gardening apron came in. It’s small enough that it doesn’t get it the way while I’m working and has pockets big enough to keep the essentials close at hand. As a bonus, it’s pretty enough to grace any garden and can be customized to suit your style.
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
What you’ll need:
- medium-weight cotton fabric in the following amounts: 1 piece 16½ inches x 16½ inches (pocket), 2 pieces 16½ inches x 13½ inches (back and front), 1 piece 3 inches x 66 inches (tie)
- 16½ inches of 1/2-inch-wide woven or grosgrain ribbon
- alternative color thread for top stitching (optional)
I’ve used a 1/4-inch seam used throughout, unless noted otherwise.
Step 1
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Take the pocket piece and fold it in half, right sides facing out. Pin the ribbon along the folded edge, and sew into place using two lines of stitches. Close the ribbon edges.
Step 2
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Take the front piece and with fabric right side up, Place the pocket piece right side up on top of the front piece as shown. Pin the ribboned section in place.
Step 3
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Sew a small line across the ends of the ribbon with a 1/8-inch seam to secure firmly in place.
Step 4
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Take the back piece and lay this face down on top of the front section, then pin into place. Sew a seam on both the sides and along the bottom, leaving the top edge open.
Step 5
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Cut the excess fabric from bottom corner seams, fold right side out and press the apron panel.
Step 6
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Take the tie piece and fold in half to find the center point of the length; use a pin to mark. Unfold and then fold the piece along the length, right sides together, and line up the center of the tie with the center of the apron panel. Place a pin approximately 1/4-inch outside the farthest edge of the apron.
Step 7
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Sew a seam along the open edge of the tie to either side of the pin-marked middle section, which will remain open. Sew each end at an angle, and cut the seam allowance as shown.
Step 8
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Turn each end of the tie the right way around and press. For the middle section, carefully fold in the raw edges at the top and bottom by 1/4 inch to match the seam, and press into place.
Step 9
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Insert the apron panel into the open middle section of the tie as shown, ensuring that the top edge of the apron panel is pushed right up to the folded edge of the tie and pin into place.
Step 10
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Top-stitch 1/8 inch along the bottom (sewn) edge of the tie to close the middle section. Top-stitch a second line 1/4 inch along the top (folded) edge of the tie, which will help secure the apron section firmly into place.
Step 11
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
To make the pockets, carefully top-stitch two lines from the bottom edge of the apron panel up to the top of the pocket ribbon.
Step 12
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Give the whole thing a press, and your apron is complete!
 Photo by Sandra Paul/Cherry Heart |
Fill up your pockets with your gardening tools, and next time you’re working along your vegetable row, you’ll be able to find the tool you need to complete the job. What’s more, I’ve been finding that mine can be just as useful around the home, too. I think I might be whipping up a second apron very soon.
| About Sandra Paul Sandra is a stay-at-home Mum living in a small village in England. She spends her days sewing, crocheting, knitting, pottering around the house and garden, and trying to pretend that housework doesn’t exist so that she can use the time to craft and write her blog. Look for her sewing and crochet projects for the home and garden each month on The Craft Hub and visit her at Cherry Heart to see more of her work. |
