Hello everyone! I’m here today with a fantastic sewing project called the Homestead Life Basket Apron! This vintage project was so much fun to create.

Are you wondering what a basket apron is? It’s an apron that is designed for double duty. It allows the wearer to keep their hands free while holding garden goodies.

A good friend of mine sent me a photo of a basket apron and asked me to make one for her.

Take a look at a vintage basket apron:

photo source

When I received this photo, I told her sure I can make a stylish basket apron for her and her gardening group.

Take a look at my modern Homestead Life Basket Apron:

I’m tickled pink by this basket apron. What amuses me the most is how simple the apron looks when you put it on.

The magic happens when you pull on the string!

Then attach the string to the button.

I loved creating it, and I love trying it on to see how it looks.

Let’s talk about the fabric collection:

This Homestead Life fabric collection was designed by my good friend Tara Reed for Riley Blake Designs. This collection has 14 different prints and one placement panel.

I used Homestead Life Wheat Gold and Charcoal for this fantastic project.

Let’s dive into how to make your own basket apron:

Materials

2 yards of different fabric
Toggle
Button
2 yards of string
Rotary cutter
Cutting Mat
Thread
Rulers
EZ Point and Turner
Large safety pin

Instructions on how to make a basket apron:

Cut each piece of fabric print to 22″ x 22″.

Place each piece wrong sides together.

Using a plate or a ruler with a round edge, round the bottom two corners using a rotary cutter.

On the same side of the rounded corners, find the middle of the fabric. To do that, fold the fabric in half and mark the center with a pin.

Measure 3/4″ from the center on both sides and mark with a pin.

Starting at the 3/4″ pin on either side, stitch around the corner down to the end. Repeat on the other side.

Now you have a small opening at the bottom of the apron. Take the seam and press it back on itself on both sides to line the edges up.

Open up the fabric and stitch around the opening to create a buttonhole. Just sew around the opening. Make sure to reinforce these stitches since you will use pull on this area frequently.

Turn the apron inside out and press it.

Now stitch a 1/2″ from the edge all around the apron. This will house the string securely.

Using a large safety pin, pull the string through the sewn housing.

Pull the string out of the bottom opening, making sure to not loose the ends at the bottom of the apron.

Slide the toggle onto the string and tie a knot to secure it.

Pull the string at the bottom so that the apron is nice and flat.

To close the top opening portion of the apron, stitch one row straight across. Make sure to do a couple of securing stitching over the string.

Cut 4 pieces of fabric to 4 1/2″ x 21 to create the waistband.

Sew the strips together. Iron the seams open.

Find the center at the top of the apron and the center of the waistband. Place them right sides together.

Stitch the waistband onto the apron.

Trim the extra string at this point.

Match the raw edges of the waistband and pin.

Make sure to match the center of the apron as well, but do not pin.

Sew down the side of each side of the waistband up to the apron.

Turn the waistband inside out.

Now its time to stitch the back of the waistband to the apron.

Fold it over the same amount of its seam allowance. Press it and top-stitch all the way around.

The last thing to do is sew a button onto the top center of the apron.

Done!

Let’s take another look:

 

What do you think? Would you try creating a basket apron for yourself? I would love to see them.

Just in case you were curious about the vintage apron, check out the updated 1952 booklet revision of the 1944 US Department of Agriculture Farmer’s Bulletin titled Dresses and Aprons for work in the home.

Super interesting.

Supplies Used:

  

Thank you so much for stopping by!!