{tutorial} Vintage Style Knotted Apron

Sometimes it just takes a bit of clever thought to make an apron extra special. This vintage-style apron from Sew4Home uses knots to attach the neck and waist ties to the apron, plus it’s reversible.

Sew4Home's Vintage Style Apron

Designed by the folks at Sew4Home, the apron tutorial can be found on their site at Sew4Home.com. And for fabric choices, visit your favorite independent quilt and fabric retailer.

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{tutorial} Make a potholder (or four!)

This Saturday is not only St. Patrick’s Day, it’s also National Quilting Day. Quilting and aprons don’t often go together, but when you throw those necessary potholders into the mix, there’s plenty of quilting to be done for the kitchen. We rounded up a few of our favorite tutorials to share with you.

via Prudent Baby

via Texas Freckles

via Fresh Lemons Quilts

via Modify Tradition

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{pattern} Quick, Interchangeable Bistro Apron

Released by More Splash Than Cash Decorating in 2011, their My Bistro Apron is still getting plenty of love. And for good reason.

The apron pattern requires just a yard of fabric and has a clever waistband with hook and loop tape (such as Velcro) that allows for a quick change of the panel. The pattern comes with instructions to make a traditional bistro apron, a contrasting band version and one using a tea towel for the apron skirt.

The pattern is available through your favorite local quilt and fabric retailer or from More Splash Than Cash Decorating. Visit her site for more quick and clever patterns.

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Three Feminine Aprons by Kwik Sew

Kwik Sew 3396 is a feminine apron with a retro flare. This pattern is designed for woven fabrics and would look great in today’s quilting cotton. Purchase bias tape for View B or make your own. The half apron (View C) features rick rack around the bottom and pockets. Buy this pattern and the supplies you need to sew it, at your local independent quilt and fabric retailer.

Aprons, Patterns, Wear an Apron Day Half Apron, Kwik Sew 3396, retro apron, vintage apron

{get it now} Apron panels from Riley Blake Designs

When Verona was released in mid-February, Riley Blake Designs gave us the chance to try out the new apron panels that were included in the collection by Emily Taylor. When the panels arrived, we each took one to make however we wanted to. This is what we ended up with:

I got the red/aqua colorway and decided I’d made enough aprons that I didn’t need to read the instructions. I ended up doing several things differently than those who had at least read through them. The nice thing is that Riley Blake Designs just prints the written instructions right on the fabric panel. They are clear and easy-to-follow for those wanting a little guidance with construction.

I chose to make a rolled hem on the waist and neck ties, but Crissy and Cindy followed the directions and made them so they are stitched then turned right side out. I made the ties come to a point, so did Crissy (though differently) and Cindy made them squared off at the end. It really is a matter of preference.

That was one thing that really stands out with this project, there is plenty of room for making your own changes and additions.

Crissy put her pocket up on the bib (where her daughter thought it should be) and added buttons where the neck tie meets the bib for a little something extra.

Cindy chose to add decorative stitching along the ties and pocket.

For your own panel, check out your local quilt and fabric retailer. Many of the fabric manufacturers are releasing them for various projects.

P.S. Emily is giving away a panel of your choice. Check out her blog for details.

Aprons, Designers, Tutorial apron panel, apron tutorial, new fabric, Riley Blake Designs, simple apron

{tutorial} The Bapron

Jess from Craftiness is Not Optional has an adorable tutorial for a baby apron, she calls it a bapron, you might call it a bib. Whatever its title, it’s adorable!

Aprons, Tutorial baby apron, baby bib, Craftiness is Not Optional, tutorial