shop girl apron

Our youngest daughter is home from college so, for our family, summer is officially here! My family and friends know how I love to have a summer theme. Why? I don't know. It is just fun and gives me something to plan for and share with everyone else. My friends and I get excited. My daughters become wide eyed and wary. But even they eventually succumb! This year is going to be an Arts and Crafts Summer! I will be sharing all kinds of simple fun projects as well as recipes and ideas. I hope you join us. It is going to be a lot of fun! What better way to start Arts and Craft summer than with this darling shop girl apron? I first saw this little gem when my friend, Kori Turner of Olive Grace Studio, made them for a fabulous bus trip she organized a few years ago. She had tied an apron around the back of each seat so the pockets faced the person behind and filled it with all kinds of trip goodies. Genius. It is incredibly simple and so functional. I wear mine all the time. It can be worn to craft in, to garden ( especially if you need to carry an epi-pen and cell phone), to stash away loose little treasures you find while cleaning up the house and, of course, to be shop girl! Wouldn't you be snazzy wearing this at your yard sale or when it is your turn to work the concession stand or community tag sale! Kori has kindly agreed to share with us how to make the shop girl apron so grab some fabric and let's get started-Arts and Crafts Summer has begun!
Supplies:
2 fabric fat quarters or 2 pieces of fabric approx. 22 in X 18 in
2 yards cotton twill trim or your choice of trim for apron ties
Directions:

1. Fold twill trim in half and cut. You will have two 36 inch lengths for apron ties. On one end of each tie, fold raw edge under 1/4 inch then fold again another 1/4 inch. Stitch in place. Leave the other two end edges raw.

2. Place 2 fabrics right sides together. The 22 inch measurement will be the length and the 18 inch measurement will be the width of your apron.
3. Fold the top fabric back and down approx. 6 inches to expose the fabric underneath..

4.  Measure down 3 1/2 inches from top of the fabric underneath and place twill ties with raw edges meeting raw edges of the fabric. Pin in place. Sandwich the 2 ties in-between the 2 fabric pieces towards the middle so that they don't get caught in seam stitches.

5. Fold top fabric back up to meet raw edge of fabric underneath. Pin in place all around the apron.

6. Beginning in right lower corner, stitch a 1/2 seam around the apron until you are approx. 3 inches away from the point that you started. Stay stitch and remove from sewing machine. This will leave an opening to turn your fabric.

7. Clip corners and turn inside out through opening. Press.

8. Lay the apron face down and fold the bottom up to just meet the bottom edges of the 2 apron ties. Pin the sides of the apron and sew close to the edge. This will close off the opening you used to turn the fabric.

9. Measure down the middle of the large pocket you have just created and mark. Using the mark as a guide, sew down the middle of the pocket stay stitching at the beginning and end. This will create two roomy pockets.

10. You're done! Put on your new shop girl apron and enjoy! Gee, you're cute!

This pattern could easily be cut down to fit a child. It takes about 1/2 hour to make.

Here is another  shop girl apron idea using recycled jeans!

So darn cute! 

If you just don't want to make a shop girl apron but would like to have one, check out my Etsy Shop for aprons and apron kits.

Have a good week!