Retro Gingham Style (Hey Apron Lady)

Okay, so the kids' song was in my head as I was playing around with fabric today.
It inspired me to create a new pattern. I call it: Retro Gingham Style (Hey, Apron Lady)

This apron has an ample bib, and long ties that can be tied at the front of the waist.
Modern vegetable print paired with gingham. What gets more retro than gingham??
Cuteness &functional! I love the ribbon on the pocket and neckline!

It's a long apron on me (to my knees) but I am vertically challenged. Both my teens tried it on, and it was a great length on them... they happen to be 5'7"-ish. 

Retro Gingham Style vs. Gangnam Style 

Oppa Gangnam style

Beautiful, loveable
Yes you, hey, yes you, hey
Beautiful, loveable

Hey, Sexy Lady, Oppa Gangnam style
Hey, Sexy Lady oh oh oh oh

I pulled out my Christmas tissue paper (yes, I'm that cheap) to make my new pattern pieces. 
I never use printer paper, or newspaper, and I only use paper scissors to cut paper. 

I love gingham! And here's today's creation:

Supplies:

About 1.75m of fabric: I used Veggie Print, Gingham, and Purple.

Matching thread
Notions for embellishment

Pattern Pieces:

Waist Ties: Cut 2: 3" x 33" (purple)

Waist Bands: Cut 2: 2 1/2" x 25 1/2" (purple) 
Bias Tape: approx 12" square (purple)
Pockets: Cut 2: (gingham)
Ruffles: Cut 3: 3 1/2" x 45" (or width of your fabric). These will be sewn together to make one long piece= 3 1/2" x 135" (gingham)
Neck Ties: Cut 4: (see pattern piece: ties are not to scale but dimensions given) (gingham)
Bib: Cut 2: (see pattern piece) (one veggie, one gingham)
Skirt: Cut 1: (see pattern piece) (veggie)

unless stated, seam allowance is 1/4"

Sewing it all together:
Ruffles:
1. RST (right sides together) at the short ends, sew 2 ruffle pieces together.

2. Attach the 3rd piece in the same way, making your entire ruffle piece = 135" long (approx.)

3. Zig zag or serge these seams.


Baste stitch at 1/4" and 1/2" at skirt edge of ruffle.

4. On one corner of the ruffle, measure in 10" on the long side, and 2" on the short side.  

5. Cut this out (to taper the ruffle.)

Repeat for other end.

6. At the hem of the ruffle (the tapered side), turn under 1/4" and press. Turn under 1/4" again and press. Stitch. 

7. Gently gather the ruffle until it measures approx 70".

Skirt: 

8. Wrong Sides Together, match ruffle raw edge to skirt raw edge, matching centers, and making sure the ruffle is evenly distributed around the skirt edge. (The seam comes out ugly looking, and on the front of the apron!) I also zigzag this edge to make it easier to attach the bias tape.

9. Make bias tape. I used a bias Tape tutorial, something like this: Bias Tape tutorial.

10. Cut bias tape to 1 1/4" wide (or you can leave it at 1 1/2".) Fold over and press two sides, but not down the middle.
Open up your folds. 

11. RST, Attach bias tape raw edge to zigzag seam of the skirt. Sew along the fold line (as marked in photo.)

12. Fold the bias tape on the other fold, laying the bias tape flat to the front side of the apron. 

13. Stitch in place, close to the fold of the bias tape.



Bib:  

14. RST, press the dart folds into both bibs. Stitch along sewing lines.
15. Trim bottom edge so it is straight. 16. Repeat for bib lining.

17. Cut your neckline, if you do not wish it to be straight across. I used an embroidery hoop to make my circles to make a sweetheart neckline.

18. RST, sew bib front (veggie) to bib lining (gingham) at the top only.

19. Turn right side out and press. Top stitch in place.... OR....
20. As an after thought, I added bias tape to top of bib. Top stitch. 

Neck Ties: 

21. RST, pin 2 ties together, marking the bib opening. Press under 1/4" along the bib opening. 

22. RST, starting at the bib opening, sew around the entire length of tie ends, ending at the end of the tie that goes into the waistband.

23. Clip corners and turn right side out. Press. 

24. Repeat for other neck tie.

 

Attach Bib to Neck Ties:

25. Insert bib into the neck tie openings. (You already pressed the folds in the neck tie openings. This is where the bib goes.) 

26. Pin in place. (You could add ric rac at this time, to "peek" out between the layers, or bias tape, lace, etc. I used leftover bias tape that I made.)

27. Top stitch around the entire neck tie, making sure the bib in sandwiched between the tie layers.
 

Waist Band:

28. RST, press 1/2" along one edge, and 1/4" along other edge on one waist band.

29. Flip over, and repeat for other waist band. 

Both bands need to be the same size/shape when you are done ironing them.

Attach Skirt to Waist Band:

30. Open up the folds that you pressed into the waist bands.

31. Find center of skirt and centers of bands. RST, attach skirt raw edge to waist band raw edge at centers.  

32. Attach rear-facing waist band in the same way: Right side of band pin to Wrong side of skirt at raw edge.

33. Sew 1/2" seam (along the fold.)

34. Press waist band back to normal. 

35. Press the sides of the waistband under, to match up with the side of the apron skirt/ruffle edge. Pin for now.

Waist Ties:

36. RST, fold one tie lengthwise (hot-dog style). Pin. 

37. Sew around 2 sides of the ties. 

38. Clip corners. Turn right side out. 

39. Press. Top stitch around the edges.

40. Repeat for other tie.

Attach Waist Ties to Waist Band:

41. Insert unfinished edges of the ties into waist band openings. Pin for now.

Attach Bib to Waist Band:

42. Find center of bib, match to center of waist bands. 

43. Insert the bib between the top of the waist bands. Pin. 

44. Top stitch in place, around 4 sides of the waist band.

Pocket:
45. RST, sew along all sides, leaving a 2" opening to turn right side out. 

46. Turn, Press, top stitch across the top of the pocket to close the opening.

Attach Pocket to Apron Skirt:

47. Find the location where the pocket feels the best. Put the apron on, and mark the spot where your hand is most comfortable. 

48. Pin pocket in place. 

49. Stitch around 3 sides of the pocket.

Done!

Retro Gingham Style (Hey Apron Lady) - by Auntie Dem (I Love Dem Aprons!)

As always, please do not copy this as your own. I gladly share, so please link back to me :) or send me a photo of your version!