Two years ago, I received a couple of T-towels from my dear Sister-in-Law for Christmas (they have pretty cats on them, she knows me so well!) – They’re too cute to use as T-Towels, that no-one will see, so I decided I’d repurpose them into aprons! However! I put them away for safe-keeping and can’t find them anywhere! Do you have one of those places, too? I’ll eventually find them and make the apron as planned but…
Katie Alice started selling gorgeous t-towels and I was looking for an excuse to buy one (knowing I wouldn’t use it!) I love this, the fabric is already hemmed and that makes the tutorial super-simple! The gorgeous animals on the Forest Fling t-towel are just adorable!
Forest Fling T-Towel. All the others are just as beautiful… but I had to choose one and this was my favourite.
NOTE: If you can’t be bothered to make your straps, you can use some wide ribbon instead.
Place your t-towel right side down on a flat surface. You’re going to work on the TOP of the apron, so if your t-towel pattern is directional, you’ll need to work on the top section.
Measure 10 inches down each side and mark. I used a heat erasable marker, but you can use your favourite marking tool. Measure 4.5″ from the side across the top of the t-towel and mark. Fold over the t-towel using both marks as a guide. Press, or at least finger press. Open up and cut away excess fabric to about 1/2 inch. Fold back over and pin close to the folded edge, then top stitch down the straight edge using a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. I would use the same colour thread that was used on the hems of the towel – in this case, white. Now let’s prepare the straps. Fold each of the pre-cut straps in half so that the right sides are facing each other. Pin if needed. Sew across the short edge and up the long edge using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave one of the shorter edges open for turning. Do this on all three straps. Clip the corners on each strap to remove bulk. Turn the straps right side out. You can use lots of things to do this… I used a loop turner but whatever you normally use to turn out fabric pieces should be fine. Poke out the corners. Give your straps a good press. Fold the raw edges into the tube by 1/2 an inch. Press. Top stitch a little less than 1/4 inch in on all sides. This is optional, but I think it looks a little better. Repeat for both side straps and the neck strap. Lay your t-towel right side down again. Line up the neck strap at the top two edges as shown, overlapping by 1/2 an inch. Pin. Pin your body straps at the lower edge of the corners as shown, again overlapping 1/2 inch. Stitch the straps in place. You’ll want to stitch, backstitch, stitch and then backstich again to reinforce the stitches so the apron has a long life. Voila! Adorable apron! Thanks to Katie Alice for continuously releasing top quality, beautiful products! And please ignore the pins in the background quilt! It’s a work-in-progress 🙂 Quick snap of the apron tied at the back.
