As a homesteader I use an apron almost daily. I love the freedom and apron gives me. I don’t have to stress over what gets spilled on my clothes or where the towel is to dry my hands. They really have taken the stress out of my regular kitchen duties. And you would be amazed how much time I save just not having to look for that towel. I have made several different styles of aprons. And I have to say, not every apron works for everyone. Some aprons have different functions than others. I also realized that when making aprons for friends, you have to consider how those people are shaped and what needs they have for their apron. This adjustable apron is perfect for both convenience and size. The fact that you can adjust the neck strap and the height of the apron on your chest is huge, as far as I’m concerned. You have those that are long legged and those who have long torsos. With an adjustable apron you can make it fit the person wearing it. This is how I made the apron for my Sister-N-Law.
The first thing I did was I took an apron and folded it in half over the material that was also folded in half. This apron is pretty small, but it worked great as a starting point. Be sure you have the print of the material facing the proper way so when you are wearing the apron it isn’t pointed the wrong way. I then cut the material larger than the original apron by about 4 inches. After I cut the first piece of material out, I placed it on top of the second material that I had chosen to use for the inside of the apron.
Now it is time to work on the hem. I did a tri-fold hem at 1/2 inch. I made sure the hem all the way around the material was measured the same. I also starched and ironed the hem as I pinned it in place. I found this step isn’t necessary but it is helpful. I did this to both the outside material and the inside material. I like the nice crisp hem it gives the apron and when you are getting ready to make the apron adjustable, the hem will hold up to all the friction. I then did a straight stich all around BOTH the front and back material.
Place both pieces of the apron front sides in. I pinned around the sides, the arm notches and the top.
After I have the apron pinned together, I go back to where the straps will go through the material and mark my openings. This is the opening I will leave for the side straps. I wont sew between the 2 horizontal pins. 
And along the top, I wont stitch between the 2 vertical pins. This leaves enough openings for the strap to go through. Once the 2 pieces of the the apron are stitched along the sides, arm notches and top (except in those 4 NO SEW areas), turn the apron right side out and adjust the holes for the strap to go through.
The next step is to make the strap. I chose to go with the plain red material for this. You are basically taking a LONG piece of material that is 4 inches wide and 150 inches long (depending on how long you want the straps. Do you want to double the straps around your waist or just a single wrap?) You basically fold the material in half to where it is 2 inches wide and the face of the material is touching itself and you stitch the full length of the 150 inches. Once it is stitched, you take the strap and turn it right side out. This is a long process.
After the strap has been turned right side out, I fold the strap in half and find the middle. I then put a couple of safety pins in place to help me keep track of the half way point. I then put one side of the strap in one of the top neck strap holes and feed it through the side strap hole and repeat with the other side. I then place the apron on so I can make sure the straps are even in the on the neck. Once the apron is placed where you like, you can remove the safety pins.
A while back I received an email about aprons. It was the reason I decided to start using an apron. I thought I would share this email with you.
The History of Aprons
And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ‘old-time apron’ that served so many purposes.
REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.
They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.
I don’t think I ever caught anything from an apron – but love…
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