Suzy Homemaker Apron Instructions

Make your own Suzy Homemaker apron.

A Suzy Homemaker apron is a vintage style apron that was popular in the 1950s and early 1960s. The aprons are characteristically frilly and feminine. Women wore them to make fashion statements. Now you can make a feminine statement of your own because sewing one is not a difficult task. To add to the vintage style, select a mix of two different bright colored patterns of floral, polka-dotted or striped fabrics.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Chalk
• Apron fabric
• Scissors
• Strap fabric
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Gathering foot

Instructions

1. Measure and draw a rectangle that is 11-by-13 inches on the apron fabric, using the measuring tape and chalk. Measure and draw on the apron fabric a trapezoid, which is a triangle with the top cut off, that is 34 inches at the bottom edge, 25 inches at the top edge and 24 inches long.

2. Cut the rectangle for the apron bib and the trapezoid for the apron skirt out of the apron fabric using the scissors.

3. Measure with the measuring tape and draw on the strap fabric with the chalk a rectangle that is 84-by-4 inches for the waist tie. Measure and draw two rectangles, 24-by-3 inches, for the neck tie. Measure and draw a 68-by-1 1/2 inch rectangle for the ruffle.

4. Cut out the rectangles using the scissors.

5. Fold in the two 10-inch edges and the top edge of the apron bib by 1/2 inch, wrong sides facing each other, and sew in place with thread on the sewing machine using a straight stitch. Fold in the two angled edges of the apron skirt by 1/2 inch, wrong sides facing each other, and sew in place on the sewing machine using a straight stitch.

6. Fold the apron bib in half width-wise, mark the center of the bottom with the chalk and unfold. Fold the apron skirt in half width-wise, mark the center of the short side with the chalk and unfold. Pin the bottom of the apron bib to the short side of the apron skirt matching the centers, with right sides facing each other. Sew together at a 1/2-inch seam allowance on the sewing machine.

7. Fold the waist tie in half lengthwise, with right sides facing each other. Sew down the one short side and the long side of the open edge using 1/2-inch seam allowance on the sewing machine. Leave open the other short side. Turn the tie right side out. Repeat with the two neck ties.

8. Fold the waist tie in half width-wise, mark the center with the chalk and unfold. Center the waist ties over the seam on the front of the apron. Match the center of the waist tie to the center of the apron and pin down.

9. Tuck the open ends of the waist tie by 1/2 inch into the inside of the tie. Sew down the open end of the tie and across the bottom edge, through the tie and apron, as close to the edge of the tie as possible on the sewing machine. Sew up the closed end of the tie and across the top edge, through the tie and apron, as close to the edge of the tie as possible on the sewing machine.

10. Place the open ends of the neck ties 1/2 inch behind the upper two corners of the apron's bib. Sew in place on the sewing machine.

11. Fold up the bottom edge of the ruffle by 1/4 inch and sew in place on the sewing machine. Gather the ruffle fabric on the sewing machine into a ruffle using a gathering foot. Sew the top edge of the ruffle to the bottom of the apron, right sides facing each other, at a 1/2-inch seam allowance on the sewing machine.

References

• "Fairchild's Dictionary of Fashion"; Charlotte Calasibett; 1975
• "Guide to Fashion Sewing"; Connie Amaden-Crawford; 1986