Sew a Frilly, Rag-Ruffled Apron

Make mom a frilly, rag-ruffled apron for Mother's Day using fabric from your sewing stash, or for a more frugal option, root through your old linens for fabric that will tell a story. Vintage sheets or tablecloths that grandma used on her table will strike just the right tone for an heirloom gift.

Using what I had available, I made this apron using an existing bib apron for the pattern. I shaped and altered it as I desired.

This apron has several raggedy-edged ruffles made from fabric. Purchased ruffle trim could also be substituted. I used a vintage flat bed sheet and the amount used translated to approximately 1 1/2 yards.

Things You Will Need:
Vintage sheet or 1 1/2 yards fabric
Pen
Straight pins
Scissors
Measuring tape
Sewing machine
Iron

Step 1
Double your fabric with the right sides facing and lay it on your work surface. Place your apron pattern on the fabric. If your fabric has a directional design, make sure your apron is positioned in a way that the design will run the right direction when worn. You don't need to worry about this for the other apron pieces. Trace around the shape of the apron body, adding a 1/2 inch. Pin the layers together. Cut out the shape. You will have two apron pieces. One is the front and one is the back-lining.

Step 2
Measure the length of the existing apron's waist-ties and the neck-loop. Add a 1/2 inch. Cut two waist-ties and one neck-loop 4 inches wide by the measured lengths.

Step 3
Measure the width of the apron's skirt. Multiply the measurement one and a half times. This is the length for the apron's ruffles. Rip 10 ruffle strips 2 inches wide by the multiplied measurement. Remove any long strings from the frayed edges.

Step 4
Sew a basting stitch down the center length of each ruffle strip. Pull the thread to gather the ruffles to fit the width of the skirt. With the right sides facing up, lay the ruffle strips across the width of the skirt. Starting with the first ruffle 2 inches from the bottom edge, pin the ends to the side edges of the skirt and across the width. Pin the rest of the ruffles above the first, with the long edges touching. Machine stitch over the gathered basting stitches from one side edge of the apron to the other. If your skirt is shorter than the one I used, you can eliminate a few rows of ruffles. If it is longer, you can add more if desired.

Step 7
Fold each waist-tie in half with the right sides facing and the long edges matching. Pin the long edges together and one short end. Sew the pinned edges using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the ties right side out and press. Top stitch along the long edges and the closed ends of each waist-tie.

Step 8
Fold the neck-loop strip in half with the right sides facing and the long edges matching. Pin the long edges together. Sew the long pinned edge using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Turn the neck-loop right side out and press. Top stitch along the long edges.

Step 9
Lay the apron front with the front side facing up. Pin the edge of the open end on one waist-tie to one side edge of the skirt and a 1/2 inch below the side curves of the bib. Repeat with the remaining tie on the other side of the skirt. Pin the ends of the neck-loop to the top edge of the bib and a 1/2 inch in from the corners. Place the apron lining on top with the wrong side facing up and sandwiching the ties and loop in between. Pin around all the edges of the apron. Sew the pinned edges using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Leave a 4 inch opening in the center of the bib's top edge for turning.

Step 10
Turn the apron right side out and iron. Top stitch across the top edge of the bib as close to the edge as possible. This will close the opening used for turning and finish the top edge.