Handy apron

By Spotlight

Take a leaf out of the book of the world’s waiters & incorporate a hand towel element in this apron.

Final Result

Materials

• 45cm x 112cm cotton fabric for front
• 55cm x 112cm cotton fabric for decorative front
• 45cm x 112cm wide cotton fabric for waistband
• 55cm each of medium white, large white & large green rickrack trim
• iron
• Gütermann sewing threads to match fabric
• scissors
• pins
• sewing machine
• tape measure or ruler

Step 1

Cut a rectangle 45cm long by 75cm wide for apron front. Press 1.5cm under on the left side, then a further 2cm. Topstitch side hem in place. Repeat on right side. Press 1.5cm under along bottom edge, then a further 2cm and topstitch bottom hem in place.

Step 2

For decorative panel cut a rectangle 55cm long by 30cm wide. Topstitch rickrack trims running lengthwise to right side of fabric - medium white rickrack 6cm from right-hand edge, large green rickrack 10cm from right-hand edge and large white rickrack 7cm from left-hand edge. Press under 1cm on the left side, then a further 1.5cm. Topstitch side hem in place. Repeat on right side and for bottom edge.

Step 3

Place decorative panel on top of apron front aligning top raw edges, with medium white rickrack trim in the centre of the apron width. Stitch panel to apron front along top edge 5mm in from raw edges. To make waistband strap, cut fabric into 3 x 15cm wide strips (112cm long). Sew the shorter ends together to make one long strip. Press seams open. Fold in half lengthways, right sides together and sew together with a 1.5cm seam allowance, leaving a 68cm opening in the centre. Clip corners, turn right side out and press flat. Insert top of apron front into opening in strap by 1.5cm and pin closed. Topstitch 3mm in from edge around waistband and strap, enclosing apron front within stitching.