Vintage Apron Style: Tutorial

 

 

Click on the image above to watch a video that shows you how to turn a plain, calico apron into something special, which you could wear as a fashion accessory or give away as a gift to a family member or friend. Read the step-by-step tutorial below.

You Will Need

• A pre-washed calico or linen apron – white or cream in colour.
• Three fabric paints in a colour scheme of your choice
• Plastic dishes or saucers
• Masking tape
• Sponges
• An iron
• An empty spray bottle
• A of cotton or linen fabric
• Sewing threads
• A sewing machine
• A length of lace or Broderie Anglais

How To Customise Your Apron:

1. Wash your apron in warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Let dry and iron to remove any creases. Tape your apron down onto a flat, plastic-covered work surface using masking tape. You are now ready to begin painting.
2. Fill an old perfume bottle with water and spritz your apron to dampen the surface of the cloth.
3. Pour each colour of fabric paint into a separate dish or saucer. Use a sponge to apply paint to your apron – gently dab the sponge randomly across the fabric to release the colour. (Note: take a look at a colour wheel to get some help with colour mixing. You could try using the three primary colours of cyan, magenta and yellow or perhaps a monochromatic palette – tones of one colour.)
4. Spritz your apron again with water to get the colours from step 2 to blend into one another – aim for an effect that resembles a watercolour painting. Let dry.
5. Remove the masking tape. Iron on the wrong side of the apron to ‘fix’ the fabric paint according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Cut out a rectangle of cotton or linen fabric in proportion to the size of your apron. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to paint this rectangle of cloth. Let dry.
7. Apply decorative stitching to the painted section of cloth using free-machine embroidery or you can hand embroider it if you prefer. (Note: if the apron is intended as a gift, you could embroider the name of the recipient.)
8. Stitch the embroidered panel to the front of your apron – sew approximately 6mm / ¼” from the edge of the panel.
9. Frame the stitched panel using four lengths of lace or Broderie Anglais. To make the frame, join the pieces (right sides together) of trim diagonally across with a few stitches and trim away any excess. Stitch the frame to the apron.
10. To finish, pin a fabric brooch or flower to your apron. Wear your customised apron to a party or when preparing an extra special dinner.