How TO
sew an apron with hidden seams

These aprons use a French seam, a clever way to conceal stitches that lets you color-block pieces of fabric together without any raw edges.

Supplies

  • Craft knife
  • Ruler
  • Sewing scissors
  • Assorted mid-weight (6 to 8 ounces) denims, chambrays, and indigo linens
  • Sewing machine and supplies
  • Iron
  • Twill tape or ribbon, 1 inch wide (one 20-inch piece for neck strap, two 44-inch pieces for waist straps)

How-To

  1. 1. Using the template on page 378, cut out two contrasting pieces of fabric for color-blocking the apron (or just cut out one piece for a solid apron); also cut out pocket piece(s).
  2. 2. For color-blocked apron: Align fabric pieces, wrong sides facing, and machine-stitch with a ¼-inch seam allowance. (Do not press open.) Flip fabric back other way, over seam, so right sides are facing (A). Stitch another seam with a ⅜-inch allowance to enclose the first (B). Flip fabric open and press seam to one side. On right side of fabric, topstitch along pressed seam (C).
  3. 3. To add pocket(s), fold top edge of fabric piece under ½ inch, press, then fold another ½ inch and press. Hem top edge. Fold all other sides under ¼ inch and press. Repeat for all desired pockets. Pin pocket to desired spot on apron (or to a larger pocket). Sew in place.
  4. 4. Press hem under by ⅜ inch, then another ⅜ inch; sew. Sew neck strap and waist straps (if desired) as indicated on page 378.

Note: In the diagram, tan represents the right side of the fabric and white represents the wrong side.