the gathering apron
For gathering eggs, harvesting fruits and vegetables, and on occasion, collecting wildflowers:
MATERIALS
1 yard fabric for apron skirt
1 yard muslin for apron skirt lining
1/2-1 yard contrast fabric for waist band, ties and pockets
1/4 yard complimentary fabric for pocket lining
1/2-3/4 yard sturdy ribbon
2 buttons
thread
DIRECTIONS
1. Measure and cut contrast fabric for waistband. This should be 10 inches wide by approximately 21 inches long. Adjust the length according to your waist–each end should reach each side of your waist plus a little extra for seam allowance.
2. Iron waistband in half, lengthwise. Open it up and fold each long end toward the middle and press. Fold the whole length in half again and press. It should look like a really big piece of bias tape.
3. Measure two more 10 inch strips the width of your contrast fabric. These will be your ties. Repeat the folding and ironing process as you did with the waistband. Open out folds and sew ties to each end of waistband. Press seams.
4. Determine the length of your apron and trim or mark hem accordingly. The width of the fabric will be gathered and should need no trimming. Once you have determined the length of the apron, mark placement of rick rack, pin and stitch.
5. Measure and cut pockets from contrast fabric. They should be 7 inches wide by 9 inches tall. Pin and stitch rick rack across pocket, approximately 1-2 inches above bottom seam line.
6. Measure and cut pocket lining from complimentary fabric. These should also be 7 inches by 9 inches.
7. Stitch pocket and pocket lining together, right sides facing, leaving an opening at the bottom for turning. Trim corners, turn and press.
8. Fold down top edge of pocket and press. Affix button to center of pocket flap, sewing through flap and front of pocket to hold flap in place. Repeat with other pocket.
9. Pin pocket to apron front, 5 inches from outer edge of apron and up to 12″ from top edge. (Move it closer to top of apron for easier access.)
10. Topstitch pocket to apron front, being careful to not catch front flap of pocket.
11. Cut length of muslin to match size of apron front. Pin muslin to apron front, right sides facing. Stitch on three sides, leaving top open. Trim seam allowance and corners, leaving 1 1/2-2 inch seam allowance on bottom hem–this will help reinforce your buttonholes.
12. Turn and press. Topstitch the sides and bottom.
13. Gather top edge of apron. Pin raw edge of waistband to apron top, matching side edges of apron and waistband seams. Baste together. Stitch along foldline of waistband. Fold waistband over gathered edge of apron and press.
14. Open out edges of ties. Fold each corner into a triangle and press. Fold length in half again and press. Repeat with other tie end.
15. Beginning at the tip of one tie, topstitch all the way along tie, across folded over waistband and along second tie to the end.
16. Fold waistband in half to find center and mark with pin. Make a vertical buttonhole on each side of the center.
17. Using a straight pen to protect your buttonhole seams, rip open the buttonhole with a seam ripper. You will be ripping through a lot of layers of fabric, so be careful!
18. Feed your ribbon through the buttonholes until an even length is coming through both sides. Hand sew a simple “X” to hold the ribbon in place.
19. Make a horizontal buttonhole at each bottom corner or your apron, being careful again to protect your seams with a straight pin before ripping open the hole.
20. Find the center at the bottom of your apron and mark. Make one vertical buttonhole on each side of the center.
The full length of this apron makes it perfect for kneeling on in the garden. To gather it up for harvesting, simply feed the ribbon through the button holes along the bottom and tie a bow.
Please remember that this tutorial is offered for your personal enjoyment. Please do not sell any products made or inspired by this tutorial.
Posted in stitching
April 27th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
What a cool apron! I can hardly wait to make some for the girls and for me too. And the tutorial seems very straightforward and easy to follow.
April 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
[...] The Gathering Apron ~ Sarah [...]
April 29th, 2008 at 2:16 am
What a lovely apron - the details are so very sweet, yet practical! I really liked the method for making the tie ends and the folded over pocket is very pretty. As for the button holes and ribbon - awesome! I would never have thought of it but it makes the perfect “pouch” for gathering! And I really enjoyed reading the tutorial - it is well written, well photographed, comprehensive and easy to follow. Thanks so much for sharing this lovely apron Sarah, I can’t wait to make one!
April 29th, 2008 at 2:18 am
p.s. that’s a great tip about protecting the end of the button hole with a pin - I’ve actually torn straight through a completely finished pinafore for my little girl whilst opening a buttonhole!
April 29th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Your apron (and choice of fabrics) is GORGEOUS!!! And I have another question - any chance you would tell me what kind of jeans those are?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Now THAT is a brilliant design idea. With the gardening season fast approaching, I see several of these hitting my sewing table to get ready. I love the idea of being able to use it to both gather what I grow AND it being long enough to protect my knees and clothes from kneeling in the dirt.
As soon as I can sew again, these are gonna be a top project. Thanks so much!
April 29th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I LOVE your apron pattern! I can’t wait to make one- how great for gardening. Thanks for making it available
April 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
This is beautiful.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I’m afraid this will be a huge let down, s., but the jeans are just Levis! Thanks for making me feel good about how they look though!!
April 30th, 2008 at 7:25 am
[...] The Gathering Apron, created by Sarah from the cottage at frog creek [...]
April 30th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Great Tutorial, clever Idea. I also like your blog concept. Fun! I think I’ll make myself one of these aprons for gardening!
Congratulations on winning the SMS contest!
April 30th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Great Tutorial, thanks for sharing!
April 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
congrats on your win, this tutorial looks great, I love the fabric, and I’m just off to have a look at the rest of your blog!
April 30th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Do you seriously use that iron? I have one, so I’m curious.
April 30th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
This is great! Congratulations on winning!
May 1st, 2008 at 2:29 am
I love love love this- the tutorial was clear and well written- and I agree with the comment about the iron… reminds me of Dr Zhivago.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:25 am
Oh, i REALLY like this idea! I have some friends who are great gardeners and not-so-great sewers
Maybe i could swap an apron for some of the garden goodies? LOL! Thanks for the idea!
May 4th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
[...] The gathering apron by Sarah. [...]
May 5th, 2008 at 10:45 am
What a beautiful — and practical — apron!
June 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I have been searching and searching for such a pattern - Thanks!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I absolutely LOVE this!!! It is beautiful and we have chickens and I have to gather eggs!!! Oh gosh…you should make them and sell them. I have JUST started learning to sew and am NOT talented at it quite yet…LOL.
It’s beautiful!!! Fantastic job!!!
xoxo
Katy
June 21st, 2008 at 5:20 pm
[...] Post: the gathering apron [...]
June 21st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
[...] inspired to make up one of the gathering aprons, that I’ve been wanting to make for some time. I think that it would be most helpful for Monday, and lately, with all my greens and radish [...]
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
[...] gathering apron, Sewing) I’ve been threatening for a while, but I finally made the Gathering Apron, from Frog Creek Cottage. It was very fun to make, and I will definitely make more. I want another, and I think my mom [...]
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Thank you for posting this fun apron. I just finished making a matching set–one for my two year old and one for me! I think hers will gather more toys than veggies!
June 28th, 2008 at 5:03 am
[...] The Gathering Apron [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 7:33 am
[...] used the button hole and ribbon threading idea from The Cottage at Frog Creek to achieve the hands-free gathering feature. Thank you, Sarah! This apron should come in [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 7:46 am
This morning I completed my rendition of a gathering apron. My daughter wanted a full apron she could use in her garden…so that’s what she got. I used your button hole and ribbon threading method. It works great…really nifty. I thank you for sharing a great idea.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Found out about you from my girlfriend Clarice..love the gathering apron..pretty!! Jennifer