Tutorial for Empire-Waisted Apron

Here's a tut for making an empire-waisted apron, with a bit of gathered detail (hard to see with this fabric) on the upper bib part of the apron. 

First, you'll need to cut out all the pieces.  I used 3 different fabrics, plus some coordinating ribbon accents, but you could use more or less variety depending on your preference.

For the waistband sash, cut out 2 strips of fabric that are 5.5" x 42"(ish).  Cut one of those strips in half again to create pieces that are 5.5" x 21" (ish).  You will now have 3 pieces of sash; one long one and two short ones.

For the apron skirt, cut a rectangle that is 26" wide x 19" high.

For the apron skirt accent strip, cut a rectangle 26" wide x 4.5" high.

For the apron top, cut a rectangle 16" wide x 5.5"

For the apron top accent strip, cut a rectangle 12" wide x 4.5" high

For the neckstrap, cut a strip 25" x 2.5"

First, sew the accent strip to the apron skirt.  With right sides together, stitch (using a serger or overlock stitch on this seam will contain all the loose threads) and then press seam upwards.  Turn under bottom hemline 1/4", then fold over again so all raw edges on bottom are hidden.  Press well, then stitch across bottom hem. 

Now is the time to stitch a ribbon accent to the bottom if you would like to. 

Fold over and press the sides of the apron skirt just like you did to the bottom hem.  Stitch closed and give the whole apron skirt a good pressing. 

Take the apron top (the one that's 16" x 5.5") and, starting 5" in from either side, make long basting stitches in the middle of both the top and bottom of the rectangle.  Gather the basting stitches, adjusting so that the rectangle ends up being exactly 12" to match up with the accent fabric.  Gently press the gathered area on the edges and stay stitch the gathers with a normal length stitch size.

Putting right sides together, stitch the gathered part to the accent part.  Press the seam upwards.  Turn the top of the accent piece under 1/4", then fold accent piece over so that it covers the seam that holds the two fabrics together.  See photo below for reference.

Now topstitch along the accent piece seam so that the backside gets stitched shut over the raw seam edge.

This fabric makes it really hard to see the gathers, but here is a close-up of the gathering on the front.

Now is the time to sew some accent ribbon across the front of the apron top, if you so desire.

For the neckstrap, carefully turn and press under 1/4" along both sides of strip (work hard to make them as even as possible).  Fold in half lengthwise so that the raw edges are completely hidden.  Press firmly and carefully.

 
Topstitch along both sides of the neckstrap as shown.

To attach neckstrap to apron top, first decide how long to make the neckstrap.  I have a lot of extra neckstrap fabric tucked into the sides of the apron, about 3 inches on either side.  This measurement will vary from person to person.

First press under 1/4" on either side of the apron top, then fold over again to exactly the width of your straps so the straps can be encased within the  folds.  Press sides, but don't stitch yet.  Pin the strap where you think you want it, and slip it over your head to make sure you can fit it over your noggin and that the apron top ends where you want the waist sash to be.  Remember that this apron is designed to have a higher waist than your natural waistline.

Once you have the strap pinned at the desired length, and the sides are folded and pressed in place around the straps, stitch across the very top of the apron to secure the straps.  Then stitch down the sides to secure the side flaps that are turned under.  If you have accent ribbon, you may want to avoid sewing over the ribbon if your thread is the wrong color.  I was using black thread, so I stopped stitching just at the ribbon as I was stitching down the side flaps, and I started stitching again right after the ribbon.

Here's another view of the back side of the apron top.

The final step for the apron top is to serge the bottom raw edge or sew a bit of double wide bias tape to the bottom raw edge so you won't have a bunch of unsightly loose threads hanging down.

The apron top is now ready to attach to the waist sash, but first you'll need to get the sash ready.  These pictures show it already attached, sorry for the confusion.  Yours won't be attached yet.

Take the two short pieces of sash and sew them to either end of the long sash.  Press the seams open as shown.

 
Turn under and press 1/4" from both sides and then fold in half and press, just like the neckstrap.

Trim off the ends of sash at an angle.  Mine is trimmed with a 2" difference, and the long point is at the fold - not the open side.

 

To finish the ends of the sash, flip it around so that the right sides face eachother.  You may want to press the folds back out flat at the very end  of the sash, and you can clip that little triangle off if desired.

Starting at the pointy tip, stitch 1/4" seam down the angled edge, then down about an inch (or more...I wish I had sewn mine a little further down than I did)  further on the long side.  This will give you a nice finished end to your sash.

Trim the end and the corner off as shown.  Turn right side out and fiddle with the corners until they are nice and pointy.  Press the ends of the sash.

Now it's time to attach the sash to the apron skirt!  Mark the center of both the apron and the sash with a pin, and with right sides together and the sash centered over the apron, pin in a few places.  Take the iron and lightly open up the pressed-under part of the sash that covers the apron.  I shouldn't have ironed that part in the first place, but it only took a few seconds to press open again.  On yours, if you wish to take the time and measure what part of the sash will be centered over the apron skirt and not press under that seam in the first place, go for it!  :-)

After pinning the sash, stitch 1/4" seam to connect the sash to the apron skirt.  Press seam up toward sash.  Then fold sash over and pin in a few places to make sure it covers the raw edges of the seam you just sewed.  Stitch all along the bottom edge of the sash to close it all in.  This way you avoid having to sew the entire sash inside out and then turn it right side out and press it carefully (for that method, see my tutorial for the reversible cafe apron).  Either way has its pros and cons, I'm not sure which way I prefer yet.

Now just slip the finished apron top behind the finished sash and topstitch in place.  I then topstitched all the way across the top and tips of the sash for added durability.

Here's a detail of the completed top after it is sewn onto the sash.

All done!  Time to get cookin'!!

Comments

[cindi]

How blessed I am to have found your blog. I have been wanting to try an apron and your last two posts have inspired me to maybe give it a try when all the hub bub of selling at craft fairs settles down. Your instructions and pictures are so easy to understand. I can't wait to give it a try.

[Rachel]

Ooh pretty! Thanks SO much for this. What a great gift idea. I'll be linking.

[Anne]

Very pretty!! I featured your tutorial at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-empire-waist-apron-with-gathered-bib/2009/11/27/

--Anne

[La Tempête]

Gorgeous!

[Whitnee]

This apron is darling! I love the shape, and I love the colors you choose! I'm going to put a link to this tutorial on my blog www.sewwhattoday.blogspot.com on December 12!

[Sarah]

Lovely apron! I think I'll have to make one of these up for my shop. Thanks very much!

[Affordable Logo Design]

I really like that apron this looks are antique what a style so creative

[baby slings]

I think I'll make this for my mother-in-law for Christmas. Actually, I can think of a few other women in my life who adore cooking, as well. Thank you so much for the tutorial!

[Amy @DYKTMP?]

Been searching for the perfect apron tutorial and I found it! Some lucky apron swapper will be getting a cute apron like this one!

[Crystelle]

Oooooohhhhhh!!!!!! It's so beautiful

You are so amazing! I am surprised you just give away this pattern for free!
I'm gonna have to get busy sewing!

[Holly A Woodson]

Gonna try this one!!

[Yaneri R. Rodriguez]

So pretty!!! I made my 1st apron over at my blog. I'm a beginner in sewing so, I'm barely getting the hang of it. Thank you for sharing this! Gonna have to give it a try!!!

Yaneri
www.sweetbakesofmine.com

[Erin Kilgore]

I love this apron, you are inspiring and I will definately be trying this one! I am a beginner sewer and your instruction is great so I hope I will do a good job.

[Renee]

Hello Shelley,

This apron looks fantastic - thanks for sharing with all of us sewers.

I have been wanting to make this pattern for a while, and have finally gotten around to laying out my fabrics ready to cut. There is one thing that puzzles me: are the dimensions of the apron top correct? I was wondering whether it ought to be 12" wide instead of 16", to match the width of the apron top accent strip? My apologies if this is a stupid question.

Warm regards from Renee in sunny Perth, Western Australia

[Renee]

Hi again Shelley

Please ignore the question I just posted about size of the apron top - have just read ahead and realize my error. I did not notice the gathering. Sorry to have troubled you. I will now go back to cutting out the apron! Good luck with the renovations : )

Warm regards from Renee

[Mulberry Alexa]

Lovely apron! I think I'll have to make one of these up for my shop. Thanks very much!

[Generic Viagra]

Nice, my wife is not a house wife you know both of us work a lot, but she loves to cook and sadly for her I'm a chef but she never let me cook at home haha, this will be a nice gift for her.

[Lisa]

great idea- just made one for a Christmas gift. I am going to make a version without the bib for her husband as a matching pair!
Thank you!!!!

[Luciana]

Hello! I was in love with your work! Beautiful! I am delighted for everything! Kiss from Brazil!

[mynet sohbet]

How blessed I am to have found your blog. I have been wanting to try an apron and your last two posts have inspired me to maybe give it a try when all the hub bub of selling at craft fairs settles down...

[kombi servisi]

Your instructions and pictures are so easy to understand. I can't wait to give it a try.

[kombi servisi]

Ooh pretty! Thanks SO much for this. What a great gift idea. I'll be linkingiii...

[demirdöküm kombi servisi]

Very pretty!! I featured your tutorial at Craft Gossip Sewing..

[vaillant kombi servisi]

This apron is darling! I love the shape, and I love the colors you choose! I'm going to put a link to this tutorial on my blog...

[vaillant kombi servisi]

Lovely apron! I think I'll have to make one of these up for my shop. Thanks very much!...

[baymak kombi servisi]

I really like that apron this looks are antique what a style so creative...

[kelebek sohbet]

I think I'll make this for my mother-in-law for Christmas. Actually, I can think of a few other women in my life who adore cooking, as well. Thank you so much for the tutorial!...

[sohbet odaları]

Been searching for the perfect apron tutorial and I found it! Some lucky apron swapper will be getting a cute apron like this one!

[sohbet odaları]

You are so amazing! I am surprised you just give away this pattern for free!..