HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTMAS BISTRO APRON IN FOUR EASY STEPS

Bring in the holidays in style and show off your fancy Christmas Feathered Star Block that was created in part one of this two part blog. This incredibly fast and easy project can be completed in less than an hour. I plan to make one for myself and one for my granddaughter – Nana’s favorite little cooking helper. If you don’t have the time or the experience to make a feathered star quilt block, you can just use another easier quilt block like a nine patch block or just a cute matching fabric for the pocket.

Definition: A bistro apron is a waist apron because it covers the body from the waist to the knees. It offers great coverage and unrestricted movement. Its functionality makes it very popular among restaurant staff and bartenders.

Be prepared for this project. See “Supplies”, “Fabric” and “Getting Ready To Sew”.

hese are the tools and supplies that I used to make the Christmas Feathered Star Quilt Block.

• Edgestitch Foot (For topstitching)
• 90/14 Sewing Machine Needle
• Flower Pins
• Sewing Clips
• Fusible Hem Tape
• Hot Hem Ruler
• Coordinating Cotton Threads
• Thread Snips
• Rotary Cutter
• 6-inch square ruler
• Heat Erasable Fabric Marking Pens
• Tailor’s Clapper – optional (Use to flatten seams)
• Wool Pressing Mat
• Rotating Cutting Mat
• 6 x 24 quilting ruler (optional)
• Tube Turner (optional)
• Sewing Stiletto

The finished bistro apron will be approximately 33-inches wide by 26-inches deep with generous wrap around straps. You will need the following fabric squares to make it:

• (1) 35-inches wide by 28-inches deep piece of white fabric (This is the apron skirt.)
• (1) Approximately 12-inch square Christmas Feathered Star Block (This is the apron pocket or a 12-inch share of holiday-themed cotton fabric.)
• (1) Approximately 12-inch square of white fabric (This is for the pocket lining and it should fit inside of the ¼-inch seam allowance.)
• (2) 44-inches wide by 5-inches deep white fabric (These are the apron straps.)

Use your favorite way to prep for a new project or try my proven, stress-free method. See “Getting Ready To Quilt-The Ultimate Checklist”.

This sweet little apron has all the features that you’ll love. It is fast and easy to make and the perfect item to grab for ‘cute’ holiday cooking.

Definition: Cute cooking is when all the hard work of preparing the holiday meal is completed and you’re changed into your cute holiday outfit. The bistro apron is perfect because you don’t want to cover your outfit with a full apron but you do want the protection of an apron.

The Christmas Bistro Apron is made of four things: the apron skirt, the pocket, pocket lining and the straps. Here are the four steps to making the bistro apron.

• Step One: Make the apron skirt.
• Step Two: Make the apron Pocket
• Step Three: Make the apron straps
• Step Four: Assemble the apron

Make a double fold ½-inch to hem on all four raw edges of the apron skirt. Use your favorite method to hem or use Madam Sew’s hot hem ruler to make an easy and accurate hem.

Definition: A double fold ½-inch hem requires you to fold up the hem ½-inch press, it with an iron and then fold up the same hem another ½-inch before stitching on the folded edge.

Then pin or clip to prevent shifting. Sew a ½-inch seam on the top and bottom edge of the apron skirt. Don’t topstitch yet. The perimeter of the apron will be topstitched after the straps are attached.

You’ll need to unfold the corners so that your hem will lay flat.

Do not sew the side edges. These edges will be hemmed after the raw edge of each strap is tucked inside of them.

Position the pocket lining fabric on the wrong side of the pocket. Use a ¼-inch to hem the pocket on all four sides. (If your pocket is the Christmas Feathered Star then please be careful not to hide the points of the star in the seam.)

Align the pocket to the center of the apron skirt.

Tip: Here’s how to get the center of the apron skirt and the apron pocket without using a ruler.

Fold the apron skirt in half horizontally and vertically, the folds are the center lines of the apron skirt.

Fold the pocket horizontally and vertically to get its center, the folds are the center lines of the pocket.

Center the pocket on the apron skirt. Pin or clip to prevent shifting. Topstitch the pocket to the apron skirt. (Do not topstitch the top edge, this is the opening for the pocket.)

Fold the 5-inch wide straps in half lengthwise with the right sides together. Sew a ½ -inch seam the length of each strap. Sew a ½ -inch seam on only one width. Trim the seam allowance about a ¼-inch to reduce bulk. Use your favorite method or a tube turner to turn each strap right side out.

Tip: It is easier to turn the tube right side out with one width sewn. See this video on how to use the Madam Sew tube turner.

Press the newly made strap flat with an iron. You should have one raw edge. Topstitch the long sides of the strap and the one sewn width.

The last step to assembling the bistro apron is sewing the sides of the apron skirt while attaching the straps. See the Apron Assembly Guide as a quick reference.

Align the raw edge of each of the straps with the top corner of the unsewn apron hem.

Tip: You can stabilize the straps so that they pull away from the apron skirt. To accomplish this simply fold the strap back on itself and secure this new positioning with additional topstitching.

Double fold each apron skirt hem. (Check to ensure the raw edge of the strap is neatly tucked within the hem so that it will be caught in the seam allowance when you sew the hem.)

Sew each apron skirt hem with a ½ inch seam.

Clip or pin to avoid shifting. Sew the remaining apron skirt hems. Topstitch.

All done! The Christmas Bistro Apron is finished. With several simple hems and topstitching you made a cute Christmas Bistro Apron in less than an hour. Why not use your expertise and fabric scraps to make these aprons as Christmas gifts?

And maybe try these other holiday favorites projects.

1. How To Make A Quilted Christmas Patchwork Block Ornament With Photo In One Hour
2. How To Make A Wreath – A No-sew Scrap Fabric Project
3. DIY Christmas Gift Ideas: 10 Free Tutorials

May your quilting always bring you joy!

Ernie Grant
Guest Blogger For Madam Sew

Ernestine “Ernie” Grant is an avid quilter with over 17 years experience and is the owner of the custom baby quilt business www.kalibabyquilts.com. As an African American living in Harlem, NY her view of quilting is shaped by her heritage and the elders who taught her–Quilting is not just thread, fabric and stitches. It is art, it is love, it is community