Apron Bottle Cover Tutorial...

Can you believe it?...

I'm finally getting around

 to doing a tutorial on my 

apron water bottle/soda covers.

I have had sooo many requests 

for this tutorial ever since 

I started my blog...

today it feels good 

to finally be doing it:)

I can't tell you how many of 

these little cuties 

that I've sewn over the years...

well into the hundreds I'm sure.

I first posted about them 

a long time ago...

if you are new to my blog...

you can read all about them

by clicking 

here. 

 For my aprons today...

 I chose to use two cute 

japanese fabrics from my stash. 

It just takes 

1 - 6" square of fabric

 for one apron...

and 2 - 1 1/2"x 3 1/2" 

 for the pockets.

 But I usually make more 

than one at a time...

and today I am making 4!

If you want to make them with me...

you will need my pattern so 
here is a free download!

All you will need to make 4 aprons are...

2 - 10" squares of fabric that coordinate

4 yards of 1/4" bias tape (double fold)

Thread to match bias tape.

I think this is a great way to 

use up leftover 10" squares:)

I like to trace my aprons and pockets

 onto freezer paper and iron them 

onto the fabric so that 

I don't need to use pins.

I think sometimes the pins can 

distort small fabric pieces

 and this way I can get a

 more accurate cut.

Cut 2 aprons and 4 pockets 

out of one square and peel off

 the freezer paper...

Iron the freezer paper patterns

 onto the other square and

 cut out two more aprons 

and 4 more pockets.

Each apron uses one yard of bias tape.

Now you're ready to roll!

Using one yard of the bias tape...

cut a 2" long piece...
a 10" long piece...
and fold the remaining in half and
 place a pin in the center.

*NOTE - When sewing with double folded 

bias tape, use matching thread an

 remember that the shorter side of 

the fold always goes on the top.

Step 1:

Fold the 2" piece over the top of the apron. You won't need to pin...

just go ahead and top stitch into place

 about 1/8" from the edge of the bias tape.

No backstitching needed at this point.

Step 2:

Fold the 10" piece of bias tape around the bottom curved edge of the apron.

Topstitch into place. 

Again, do not add bulk by backstitching.

Trim the ends of the bias tape even with the edges of the apron.

Step 3:

Pin the remaining piece of bias tape

 onto the top side and bottom side corners

 of apron...folding it around the

 inside curves when pinning.

Leave a loop long enough at the top

 for the neck of the apron.

(refer to the download pattern to see

 how big to make the loop)

Now go ahead and topstitch the bias tape together starting at the end of the 

left apron tie and continue stitching.

 When you reach each pin...remove it and continue stitching the bias tape to the inside curves of the apron...continue on stitching the neck...then the next inside curve and on until you reach the end of the right apron tie.

Don't forget to backstitch at the beginning 

and end of each tie.

Finished apron without pockets:)

Now for the pockets...

Press each pocket in half with

 right sides together.

 It should now measure 1 1/2" x 1 3/4".

Press about 1/4" under the 3 raw edges 

leaving the folded edge for the 

top of the pocket.

Pin the pockets onto the apron front

 and topstitch into place...leaving the top folded edge of pocket unstitched.

Use your stylus or small pointy scissors

 to keep the seam allowances turned under

 while stitching.

Don't forget to backstitch!

Completed apron with pockets:)

Now tie it on your soda or water bottle and place a straw in one of the pockets!

In the other pocket you could put a love note...or a cute little candy...or their name for a place setting:)

I have done that for a luncheons.

You could make the pockets a little larger to hold what you want...I've done that too!

Or you can fussy cut the fabric

 so that the pockets match 

like I did with the cherries:)

This Coca Cola bottle looked 

a little bit naked to me...

So I made her an apron using my 

Sew Cherry fabric.

And 3 makes a party!!!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and

 that you have fun making a few aprons 

for yourself and your

 apron lovin' friends:)

xx

Lori