Painter’s ‘pinny’

By Spotlight

Not just for painters, this apron is suitable for any crafter. An ideal gift that can be made to match the décor in the studio or workroom.

Final Result

Materials

• 1m cotton fabric - butterfly print
• 2m of large rickrack trim
• sewing machine
• sewing thread
• scissors
• tape measure/ruler
• pins
• iron

Step 1

Bib
Cut a piece of fabric 33cm wide x 54cm long. Fold the longer side in half, wrong sides together and press. Sew the two sides together with a 1cm seam allowance, leaving bottom open. Clip corners and turn right side out, press. Pin large rickrack trim to the side and top edges of bib, with half the width of trim behind. Topstitch in place.

Step 2

Neck strap
Cut a strip of fabric 55cm long x 6cm wide and press under 1cm on both long sides. Press in half, matching pressed side edges. Topstitch both edges of straps 3mm in from the edge. Press under 1cm on each of the short raw edges and pin to the top back of the bib at each side, folded edge under. Topstitch in place to create neck strap.

Step 3

Skirt
Cut a piece of fabric 70cm wide x 54cm long. Create a double hem along bottom edge. Pin large rickrack trim behind bottom hem and topstitch in place. Press side edges under 1cm, then another 1cm and sew side hems in place.

Step 4

Pockets
Cut 2 rectangles 18cm x 22cm. Press top edge under 1cm then another and pin in place. Place large rickrack behind pinned hem and topstitch in place. Press remaining sides under 1cm and pin to apron front. Topstitch bottom and sides edges 3mm in from edges. Slightly gather or make small pleats along top raw edge of skirt so it measures 50cm across the top.

Step 5

Waistband & straps
Cut 4 strips of fabric 7cm wide and 1m long. Sew straps together along shorter ends to create two 2m straps. Pin wrong sides together and with a 1cm seam allowance sew together leaving a 35cm gap in the centre of one of the long edge and a 50cm gap in the centre of the other long edge. Clip corners, turn right side out and press. Insert the bottom of the bib 1cm into the 35cm gap and pin in place. Insert the gathered top of skirt into the 50cm gap and pin in place. Topstitch 3mm from the edge, around waistband and strap, enclosing bib and skirt in stitching.

Note

Not really a pinny!

We confess!
The garment on this page is not strictly a pinny but we liked the illiteration. In truth a pinafore is a full apron with two holes for the arms that is tied or buttoned in the back. Historically the pinafore was pinned over the dress & easily removed for washing. Dresses were not laundered very often because of damage to buttons. Because it had no buttons and was simply “pinned on the front” the term pinafore came about.