Waitress Apron Tutorial

So, a few weeks ago, a good friend of Hubby's from high school contacted me and wanted to have some waitress aprons made and wondered if I was interested.  She wanted five aprons, one each for the ladies at the cafe who take such good care of her family.  Isn't that sweet?  Being a former waitress, I was excited to take the job.  I sort of made up my own pattern and I thought I would share it with y'all. 

You will need: 

One piece of fabric cut 30" x 12"
Three pieces cut 7 and 1/2" x 11" (for pockets)
Two strips 42" x 3"

Take one of your two 42"x3" strips, find the middle of the long side and cut in half.  Now you have two 22"x3" strips and one 42"x3" strip.  We attach these strips together to make the ties for the apron.  Start by taking your longest strip and lying it horizontal on a flat surface, like a table or ironing board, right side up.  Lay your short strip vertical at the end of this strip, right side down, and make a diagonal mark across them. 

Do you see my diagonal mark?  Now stitch across that line and cut off the excess.

Now fold it out to the right side and iron flat, pressing seam open.  Do the same, attaching the other short strip to the other side of your long strip.  You will be left with one long strip of fabric.  Now it's time to fold and iron.  Fold your strip in half lengthwise, wrongs sides together and press.  Open up your strip with the wrong side up.  Press one edge of fabric toward the center crease.  Now press the other side toward the crease.  Fold sides together and press on the first crease.  You will be left with a long strip 3/4" in width.  If I have totally confused you, see this tutorial. 

Now, it's time for the pockets.  You ready? 

Arrange your three pocket pieces the way you want them to appear on the apron.  We are going to attach the pieces together.  Take your middle pocket piece and pin it to one of the other pocket pieces, short sides together and wrong sides together.  I know that sounds weird, but stay with me.

Okay, now stitch it together using slightly less than 1/4" seam allowance.  Now, open up your pieces and iron flat.

Now put your right sides together by folding on the seam.  Pin and stitch using 1/4" seam allowance.

Now open it up and iron.  You can see that all your raw edges are hidden.  Don't ya just love that? 

This is a good youtube video on french seams if what I am saying makes ZERO sense. 

Now we're going to hem the top of our pocket.  Fold down long edge 1/2 and inch and press.  Fold down another 1/2 inch, press, pin and stitch it down. 

Now it's time to attach your pocket to you main apron piece.  Lay your main apron piece out, right side down.  Now line up your pocket piece right side down on top of it, long sides together.  Pin in place.  So, it should be the wrong side of main apron piece to right side of pocket piece. 

Now, sew along the long side using just UNDER 1/4 inch seam allowance. 

Now, flip the pocket to the right side and iron. 

Now it's time to hem the edges.  First pin the pockets to the back leaving a little bit of slack so your pockets aren't too tight.  Now flip over to the wrong side.  Trim your edges of your pocket if they are a little longer than your apron piece.  Turn under short edge of apron and pocket 1/2 inch.  Press.  Turn under another 1/2 inch.  Press and pin.  Now do the other short side the same way.

Now we are going to hem the sides and stitch all the way around the apron.  Sarting at what will be the top of your apron, stitch down hem close to the folded down edge until you get to the bottom of the apron.  Lift your presser foot, pivot fabric and stitch across the botto of your apron using just over 1/2" seam allowance (this will enclose your raw edge). 

Stitch across the bottom of apron and pocket to the opposite side and agan left presser foot and pivot fabric and stitch the hem on the other side of your apron. 

Now we just need to attach our strips we made earlier.  Find the center of your apron piece (long way) and mark with a pin.  Now do the same with your strip.  Line up the cener of both pieces.  Open up your strip and line up with the top of your apron piece.  Pin in place. 

Stitch in place all the way across the apron using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Take you pins out and refold the strip.  Pin the folded strip around the raw edge of your apron and pin in place.

Open up the end of your strip and fold under 1/2 inch.

 Refold strip.  Pin and starting at the end of your strip, stitch the short end and all the way down your long strip, attaching your strip to the apron in the process, and finishing at the other short end of the strip. 

Almost done.  Now, to divide your pocket into three sections, you have to stitch, on the seam, through the pocket and main apron piece. 

ALL FINISHED! 

May I take your order?  Would you like an appetizer?  What can I get you to drink? 

To tell the truth, I was NOT a good waitress.  I'm a little klutzy.  But the apron is adorable, isn't it?  So much cuter than the plain ole black ones I wore back in the day. 

So, if you make your own, I'd love to see it and feature you. 

I'm linking to the following parties: