You’ve seen the Obama apron, below is a beginners step by step of how to make
one yourself…
one yourself…
First pick a fabric you like, I’ve never seen anything like the Obama fabric before,
I bought it before I decided I was going to make an apron and then I thought this
was the best use for it.
I bought it before I decided I was going to make an apron and then I thought this
was the best use for it.
Equipment List
- Sewing Machine
- Fabric Scissors
- Fabric – 1 meter wide
- Threads – ideally that match the colour of your fabric
- Large piece of paper – (Sunday Times will do the job!)
- Pins
- Iron
- Pencil
- Wide ribbon for the waist tie
This Apron is a great project to make for beginners or if like me
you just need an easy project to get you back into sewing and
using the sewing machine again.
you just need an easy project to get you back into sewing and
using the sewing machine again.
Step 1 – Make your pattern
Think about how big you’d like your apron to be around you
waist and length. Fold your paper in half and sketch out on
the fold of your paper half of your apron. When you are
happy with the shape, add 2cm to the outside for the seam
allowance.
waist and length. Fold your paper in half and sketch out on
the fold of your paper half of your apron. When you are
happy with the shape, add 2cm to the outside for the seam
allowance.
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| Lay your pattern out flat |
Step 2 – Cut out your pattern
See the picture below, when you cut out your paper design
and open it out, it has now taken the shape of your apron.
Lay the pattern flat over your fabric and pin it into place
and cut the pattern out. I added pockets to my apron,
but they are often complicated, especially for a beginner,
however for pattern for the pockets follow the same
process as above.
and open it out, it has now taken the shape of your apron.
Lay the pattern flat over your fabric and pin it into place
and cut the pattern out. I added pockets to my apron,
but they are often complicated, especially for a beginner,
however for pattern for the pockets follow the same
process as above.
 |
| Pin to the fabric |
 |
| Repeat the process for the pockets |
Step 3 – Making the frill
This is a complicated part of making the apron, I used half
of my fabric for the apron and the left over pieces for the
pockets and the frill. The easy way to make the frill is to not
be too cautious over the width, just remember to take into
account the 2cm seam allowance. I started by pinning the
seam into place, if you have stiff fabric iron it into place first.
of my fabric for the apron and the left over pieces for the
pockets and the frill. The easy way to make the frill is to not
be too cautious over the width, just remember to take into
account the 2cm seam allowance. I started by pinning the
seam into place, if you have stiff fabric iron it into place first.
This seam is going to be the edge of the frill.
 |
| Pin the seam into place |
 |
| Iron down the seam |
After sewing I ironed flat, to try to reduce the bulk in the
fabric. I then sewed all of my pieces of fabric together, to
create one long piece around 2 meters in length and I
finished it off by sewing a seam at each end of the fabric.
Again, remember to iron open the joins.
fabric. I then sewed all of my pieces of fabric together, to
create one long piece around 2 meters in length and I
finished it off by sewing a seam at each end of the fabric.
Again, remember to iron open the joins.
 |
| Iron open the seam |
Now it is time to pin the frill into place. On the raw
edge using thin pins as they need to go through the
sewing machine (If the pins you have don’t go through
your sewing machine, that is fine, but you will need to
pay more attention and go a lot slower when sewing it
on the machine) There isn’t a rule to pinning a frill, I
created this one very roughly and hopefully from the
pictures you will see that the key is to keep the fabric
close together.
edge using thin pins as they need to go through the
sewing machine (If the pins you have don’t go through
your sewing machine, that is fine, but you will need to
pay more attention and go a lot slower when sewing it
on the machine) There isn’t a rule to pinning a frill, I
created this one very roughly and hopefully from the
pictures you will see that the key is to keep the fabric
close together.
 |
| Pin the frill into place |
Once you have pinned all of the length of fabric it’s
now time to slowly run it through the sewing machine.
Keep an eye on your sewing machine needle and
remove the pins as they go through, you’ll start to
see the frill taking shape.
now time to slowly run it through the sewing machine.
Keep an eye on your sewing machine needle and
remove the pins as they go through, you’ll start to
see the frill taking shape.
Step 4 – Making pockets
Once you have cut out your pocket or two the
next step is to attach it to the apron. First pin
and sew the seam along the edge of what will
be the top of your pocket. Then iron down your
seam allowance onto the reverse side around
the rest of the edges, this will make pinning it
a much easier job for you. After ironing, pin it
to your apron.
next step is to attach it to the apron. First pin
and sew the seam along the edge of what will
be the top of your pocket. Then iron down your
seam allowance onto the reverse side around
the rest of the edges, this will make pinning it
a much easier job for you. After ironing, pin it
to your apron.
 |
| Pin to the apron |
Once you are happy with where it is and it is
firmly in place run it slowly through the machine,
taking your time around edges.
firmly in place run it slowly through the machine,
taking your time around edges.
Tip – When going around edges, stop at the
curve, leave the needle in the fabric, lift the foot
and move the fabric around into place to move
with the curve and then drop down the foot, it
is much easier than trying to move it when
you are sewing at the same time.
curve, leave the needle in the fabric, lift the foot
and move the fabric around into place to move
with the curve and then drop down the foot, it
is much easier than trying to move it when
you are sewing at the same time.
Step 5 – Attach the frill and apron tie
The final stages and pretty finishing touches
to your apron is to attach the frill and the
round the waist tie. Again when attaching the
frill with the pins remember to use the 2cm
seam allowance you have allowed for and when
you begin sewing on the machine, take your
time and at curves use the tip for step 4 to help
to keep it neat.The apron tie is the last thing to
attach and it is very easy, fist make sure you
have an equal amount of ribbon each side and
then pin it into place always hold it up to check
it before you start sewing and when you are
happy, sew it on the machine, it should be a simple
straight line.
to your apron is to attach the frill and the
round the waist tie. Again when attaching the
frill with the pins remember to use the 2cm
seam allowance you have allowed for and when
you begin sewing on the machine, take your
time and at curves use the tip for step 4 to help
to keep it neat.The apron tie is the last thing to
attach and it is very easy, fist make sure you
have an equal amount of ribbon each side and
then pin it into place always hold it up to check
it before you start sewing and when you are
happy, sew it on the machine, it should be a simple
straight line.
You’re finished!
Your apron should now resemble something like this….
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| Finished! Pretty as a picture. |
I brought my fabric from Seam Star
The ribbon and threads from the sewing machine shop in
Tooting - 300 Balham High Road, London, SW17 7AA
The ribbon and threads from the sewing machine shop in
Tooting - 300 Balham High Road, London, SW17 7AA
dude, i am seriously loving the apron! looking forward to seeing you on weds at stitch n bitch xx
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