Fashion

York Apron

York Apron

 

York Pinafore by Helen’s Closet is a pattern so nice that I made it twice!  Well, kinda.  After I made my first pinafore last week, I decided to make an apron using the expansion pack.  This apron was inspired by Japanese cross-back aprons and I wanted to make this to complement a well-used traditional apron that I made a couple years ago.  Using Merchant & Mills Woven Cotton Ikat fabric provided by Minerva, I made this apron in one day.  It turned out so cute!  I hurried to take pictures in it because I now wear it every single time I cook.  It’s so chic and functional at the same time.

 

For my York apron, I decided to blend the two options into one.  After adding a 1.5-inch full bust adjustment, I made View B but with the length of View A.  Since this apron will be used in the kitchen (as opposed to being used in the garden, art room, etc), I knew I wanted a longer length and I wanted as many pockets as possible.  One tip I’d offer is to make sure you read the directions carefully.  I couldn’t figure out why my apron didn’t look right, and I realized that I’d forgotten to overlap the straps.  I’m so glad I tried it on before I’d added the bias tape and the pockets.  For me, making and sewing the bias tape was the most time-intensive step for this pattern.  You’ll need A LOT of bias tape.  The pattern calls for 8 meters (8.75 yards) of 1/2” wide double fold bias tape, but I made about 10 meters just to be sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t know very much about ikat fabric, so I decided to hop on google.  Here’s a great article I found about this gorgeous fabric.  This Merchant & Mills Woven Cotton Ikat fabric from Minerva is so lovely that I almost used it to make a dress but decided that an apron would get much more wear. Plus, seeing it hanging on my shelving just classes up my whole kitchen.  The design is simply beautiful and makes me feel fashionable even when I’m covered in flour.  The blue is so fresh and the color has remained vibrant after laundering.  Another good thing about this fabric is that it is mediumweight, so it’s sturdy enough to work as a functional apron, but flexible and light enough to not add any warmth.  This is so important when you’re cooking – no one wants to sweat over a hot stove while wearing a heavy or stifling apron.  Make sure you properly finish all seams when working with ikat.  Because the threads are thicker than regular cotton, unfinished seams can unravel.  I used my serger/overlock machine to finish the seams and had no problems with unravelling.  The end result is just the best!  I don’t know how many more aprons I’ll make for myself, but don’t be surprised if I start passing out aprons as gifts.

 

Soooo much bias tape!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Stitch and Shimmy

*Photo by Carrie at the Dancers Eye - www.thedancerseye.com*

American Cabaret Bellydancer.  Cheese Goddess. Crafty Chick. Seamwork Ambassador. Minerva Maker. Feminist Badass.

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