Category Archives: In The Making Aprons

Brookmill Park Volunteers waistcoat update

The sample is now made up in a wonderful thick canvas, I had some lovely organic cotton tape (in my stash) which works perfectly for the ties!

The next part of the brief is to draft ‘making instructions’ , so the Brookmill Park group can make their own waistcoats! As I made the sample I photographed all the stages (here are just a few), to help me improve the instruction notes and diagrams I’d made for myself. You can see that the waistcoat is made inside out and turned through a gap in the facing seam on the back, so it’s all ‘self neatening’ and reversible.

New blue denim apron No4:6

‘Apron photography’ is the bane of my life, especially in the summer months, when the 2 big trees in front of the house block out light…. but managed to take some photos yesterday afternoon of 3 new apron designs. This is a soft drape denim, crossback apron, with a split skirt and asymmetric bib – it’s incredibly comfortable!

Etsy shop & Folksy shop

Brookmill Park Volunteers Waistcoat

During these last few months I’ve been (distanced) working with a local community group, Friends of Brookmill Park.

The gardening volunteers wanted waistcoats that had big pockets and space to print ‘Brookmill Park Volunteers’ on the back, and, they wanted to be able to sew the waistcoats themselves! – I’m really impressed by that part of the brief; but it does mean I have to provide really, really, good instructions, which is an extra challenge – but really enjoying the process. Five toiles and paper patterns later, we’re getting close to finalising the design!

Honing No23 design

I’ve been working on this apron design for some time. The main idea behind it was to create an apron that could be made with fabric offcuts – it needed to have a bib that could be just sewn on top of a square skirt, such as the denim patchwork Boro aprons I’ve made.

I had also hoped to make this a tie apron that converts to a crossback and spent a lot of time on getting the width and details right – but in the end I realised it just doesn’t give the breadth of sizing that is so important. So back to the drawing board, deciding instead to have long adjustable ties that pass through fabric loops and knot or tie at the back. Again went through a couple of loop variations before settling on the narrow loops that look neat and don’t make the waistband lumpy!

NEW apron fabric/colour…

A new fabric, colour and extra pocket for the No 4:5! A good sturdy cotton canvas in a lovely warm ‘curry’ shade and a roomy pocket added on one side of the apron skirt.

The split leg skirt construction gives lots of movement, whilst ensuring each leg is perfectly covered when sitting at the wheel or work bench – this is the perfect apron for sitting down type crafts! The crossback design is fantastically comfortable to wear all day long.

Fabric layout calculations day…

Spent all yesterday working out pattern layouts for No4:5, No23, No14:2 on various fabrics with different widths – calculating out how much fabric needed for each apron and the most economic use of fabric. I keep layout sketches on file, for reference when cutting out new aprons.

No14:2 pattern layouts for 210cm wide fabric & 140 wide fabric
No14:2 Potters/Craft Apron Sample. Ochre canvas

First Sample of new apron…

The initial idea behind this design, was to provide a bib top with pockets, for ‘Boro style’ denim patchwork apron skirts and make use of fabric remnants – but now quite excited about lots of colour and fabric combinations! … also my daughter is keen to have a split skirt version, so more work to do there…

The apron can be worn as a crossback or with neck ties.