How to Make a Retro Apron

If you find yourself gazing longingly at old covers of "Home and Garden" magazines from the '50s, wondering how those classy ladies looked so pretty while slaving over a hot stove, well, take a closer look at the apron. With a few steps and your sewing skills, you too can look beautifully retro as you cook.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 2 yards of 45-inch wide fabric
• Scissors
• 3-inch wide ribbon
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

Measuring Your Retro Apron

1. Measure the length around the widest part of your hips and then add 1 inch, to allow for the hems. Measure from your waist to knee for the length of your apron skirt, adding 1 inch for hems. From a piece of your chosen fabric measuring 45 inches wide and 2 yards long, cut out a square for the skirt using your measurements.

2. Determine the size of your retro apron bib, measuring from the top of your breasts to your waist, adding 1 inch for the hem. For width, the measurement should be more or less the same as the distance between your bra straps, plus one inch. Cut out your bib square.

3. Choose a contrasting 3-inch wide ribbon to create the sash to tie your apron, cutting the length as long as your waist measurement plus 30 inches. Use the same ribbon to create the apron strap, cutting it long enough to reach from the top of your breasts while wrapping comfortably around your neck. Add 2 inches for sewing the strap to the apron bib.

4. Create a pocket, cutting the square as large or small as you like while leaving 1 inch on all edges for hemming. If you like, choose contrasting fabric for your pocket.

Putting it Together

1. Hem the edges of your pocket, adding a strip of your ribbon to the top or any other decorations you might like. Press the hems of your bib, folding and pressing 1/4 inch on all sides and then folding 1/4 inch a second time and stitching the hems.

2. Sew the side hems of the skirt portion in the same manner; however, make the second fold of the bottom hem 3/4 inch and only fold the top edge once. Sew a basting stitch 1/2 inch from the edge of the top skirt hem and then pull the thread to create gathers.

3. Decide where you would like to place your pocket and then stitch it into place. Connect the bib to the skirt, making sure that your gathers are even, that the bib is centered on the skirt and that you are sewing the hem with wrong sides together.

4. Topstich your sash ribbon onto your apron, covering up the waist seam. Make sure that the ribbon is centered on the apron before stitching. Finish your retro apron by attaching the apron strap, securing the ribbon to the back of the bib with an "X" pattern finished with a surrounding square.