Quilted Apron with Embroidery

This quilted apron is a unique-looking piece that instantly attracts the eye. It makes a great gift. We embellished the apron with redwork designs Still Life with Lemons by Jacob Van Hulsdonck on the white square and the Redwork Fruit Set on the wide blue strips.

We used about 3/4 yard of bright blue fabric, 1 fat quarter of white fabric, scraps of pale blue and 2 blue-patterned fabrics. We also used 1 yard of pale blue fabric for lining, low-loft batting and 6 decorative buttons.

For embroidery we used embroidery polyester threads.

Cutting:

Out of white fabric, cut 1 square measuring 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" and
6 squares measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Out of bright blue fabric, cut 12 squares measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2",
1 strip measuring 5 1/2"" x 18",
1 strip measuring 5 1/2 " x 23",
1 strip measuring 3" x 8" and
5 strips measuring 2 1/2" and the length of the width of the fabric (for binding and ties.)

Out of pale blue scraps cut 11 squares measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".
Out of the first blue patterned fabric cut 4 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 6 1/2".
Out of the second blue patterned fabric cut 4 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 6 1/2".

Assembly:

Step One: Take 8 pale blue squares and 4 strips of the first patterned fabric. Sew the squares to each end of the strips. You'll get 4 new strips like this:

Step Two: Take two of the new strips and 4 bright blue squares. Sew the squares to each end of the strips. You'll get 2 new strips like this:

Step Three: Sew the first pair of strips to the top and bottom of the big white square. Sew the second pair of strips to the left and right sides of the square.

Step Four: Take 8 bright blue squares and 4 strips of the second patterned fabric. Sew the squares to each end of the strips. You'll get 4 new strips like this:

Step Five: Take 2 white squares and sew them to the ends of one of the new strips.

Step Six: Sew the strip to the bottom edge of the square from Step Three.

Step Seven: Take another strip from Step 4. Sew a white square to one end of the strip.

Step Eight: Sew the strip to the upper edge of the working piece.

Step Nine: Take the third strip from Step Four. Sew white squares to the ends of the strip. Then sew pale blue squares to the ends of the strip.

Step Ten: Sew the strip to the right side of the working piece.

Step Eleven: Take the forth strip from the Step 4. Sew the remaining white square to one end. Then sew the pale blue square to the end.

Step Twelve: Sew the strip to the left side of the working piece.

Step Thirteen: Sew the 5 1/2" x 18" bright blue strip to the lower edge of the working piece.

Step Fourteen: Sew the 5 1/2" x 23" bright blue strip to the right side of the working piece.

Step Fifteen: Place the working piece on your cutting mat. Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut as shown on the diagram below.

Step Sixteen: Sew the bright blue 3" x 8" strip to the working piece.

Embroidery:

On your working table, place the backing, face down. Cover it with low-loft batting. Spread the pieced top over the 2 layers, face up.

Pin all three layers together. Cut away the excess backing and batting leaving about 1" wide margins.

Hooping different parts of the apron, make the embroidery.

We embroidered Still Life with Lemons by Jacob Van Hulsdonck on the white square and Redwork Fruit Set on the wide blue strips.

Quilting:

We quilted along the lines of the embroidery and made meandering all over the apron

After the quilting is finished, press the work with heavy steam and trim all sides - cut away the access batting and backing.

Sew all strips for the binding together. Fold the long strip in half legthwise and press.

Finish the raw edges with the binding. Cut away the remaining binding strip.

Sewing the ties

Take the remaining binding strip. Fold the raw edges inside and press. Topstich the edge to get a long strap. Cut it into 4 straps.

Topstitch 2 straps to the bib. Sew on decorative buttons to cover the seams.

Topstitch 2 straps to the apron. Sew on decorative buttons to cover the seams.

The apron is ready. Enjoy!

Happy Stitching!

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