The impact of dots and fabric strips in making a fun child’s apron by Bill Locke April 4, 2017 written by Bill Locke April 4, 2017 911 In yesterday’s post I introduced the Urban Elementz Basix Collection from Northcott Fabrics and we made a versatile flower block that can be used to make any sized quilt such as the Flowers on the Snow table topper. Northcott Click here to view Urban Elementz. Click here to view Urban Elementz Appliques. Click here to view Urban Elementz Patterns. We’re going to continue working with this collection because I can’t wait to show you the impact of dots and fabric strips in making a fun child’s apron. Get ready to have a fun time with these stunning fabrics. Today’s project is entitled The Little Artist Apron by Bill Locke Designs. materials and cutting directions WOF = width of fabric 1yd [0.9m] for backing, binding & straps (I used one of Northcotts’s Colorworks solids) Backing fabric – cut one strip 24″ x WOF Binding strips – cut two strips 2½” x WOF Apron straps – cut two strips 2½” x WOF, from these cut three 2½” x 20″ strips and one 2½” x 4″ strip Ten assorted strips for front of apron – cut one strip 2½” x WOF from each fabric Two 1″ D-rings Pencil line drawn along the fold All of the wonderful dot prints from the Urban Elementz Basix Collection are so yummy that it was very difficult to choose which ones to use in this project; but I was limited to just 10 so here are the ones I chose. What a fun little pile of goodness! Ten 2½” strips ready for the project making the fabric panel 1. To start the project, we need to fold the backing fabric in half to make a rectangle 12″ x WOF. Finger press the fold then open the fabric and draw a pencil line along the fold. This will give us 12″ of fabric on each side of the pencil line. 2. Take one of the 2½” strips and lay it on top of the backing fabric, wrong sides together along the pencil line with the fabric strip overlapping the pencil line by about ¼”. 3. Lay a second strip on top of the first strip, right sides together. 4. Pin the strips in place and stitch along the whole length of these two strips on the edge closest to the pencil line, through all layers, using a ¼” seam allowance. 5. Press the stitched seam. Flip the second strip right side up and press. 6. Layer a third strip on top of the second strip, right sides together, with the long raw edges aligned. Pin and stitch along the long raw edge as we did with the first two strips. 7. Press seam, flip the third strip right side up and press. Third strip aligned with second strip 8. Continue adding strips to the backing fabric following this same procedure. We need to add three additional strips to this same side, then we need to add the four remaining strips to the opposite side of the apron backing. We’ll use a total of ten strips for this step. The ten strips sewn to the backing fabric 9. The outer edges of the last two strips on the ends are not yet sewn. In order to secure these to the backing fabric, we’ll stitch along these two edges with a seam as close as possible to the raw edges of the strips. The outside strips are sewn to the backing with narrow seam. 10. Trim the excess backing fabric from the sides of the apron panel, and trim across the top and bottom of the panel. Excess backing fabric trimmed from the panel Once we trim the panel, we’ll have a striped panel that measures approximately 20″ x 43″. From this panel, we’re going to make a couple of projects. For today’s child’s apron, we need to cut a section that is 24″ long x the width of the striped panel. Be sure to hang on to the remaining 18″ of this panel because we’re going to be using this section in tomorrow’s project. Panel cut into two sections assembling the apron Working only on the 24″ apron panel for today, continue with the following: 1. At the top of the panel, measure 6″ in from each corner and mark at both places. 2. Along each side, measure 8″ from the top corners and make a mark at both places. 3. Draw a pencil line to connect the two marks and make a triangle on each of the top corners. 4. Cut away these two corners along the drawn lines. Top corners are cut away from the apron panel adding the binding Sew the 2¼” x WOF strips of binding together with a mitred seam. Press in half lengthwise along with wrong sides together. Next, Sew the binding all the way around the apron panel, machine sewing the binding to the front of the apron, hand-stitching to the back. adding the straps To make the straps, lay the 2½” x 20″ strips 2½” x 4″ strip right side down on your ironing surface, fold the strip, wrong sides together, with long raw edges aligned and press. Open the strap and turn the two long raw edges towards the center fold and press. Fold once again aligning the folded edges and press one final time. To finish one end of each of the long straps, open it up and fold in the end about ½” towards the inside of the strap. Refold the previous folds and press again. Top stitch along all folded edges of each strap. add the straps to the apron back Pin one of the long straps to the side of the apron, about ½” below the top of the side edge, with the raw edge aligned with the edge of the apron; the balance of the strap falling towards the center of the apron. Pin in place. Raw edge of long strap pinned to side of apron Turn the apron over and stitch from the front, along the binding seam to attach the strap to the apron. Turn the apron over with the backside up and trim the raw edge of the strap as close as possible to the last seam. Flip the strap towards the outside edge of the apron, turn the apron over and stitch from the front through the binding to secure the strap, hiding the raw end of the strap. Side strap attached and secured Repeat this process to attach the second side strap and the long strap to the left side of the top of the apron. The next step is to attach the smallest strap with the D-rings. Place the two D-rings on the 4″ strap, and fold in half with both of the raw ends aligned; pinning the strap to the remaining top of the apron panel, in the same way that we pinned the previous three straps. Stitch in the same way as the previous straps to attach this smaller strap to the apron panel. Small strap pinned to the neck of the apron panel Once the strap is attached, stitch across in order to secure the two D-rings near the end of the strap. Attached strap showing stitching lines The D-rings are great for a nice adjusted fit for the neck strap. Adjustable neck strap with D-rings Now, wasn’t that fun….an adorable, lined Little Artist Apron – certainly a colorful, artistic display of stunning dots. I hope that you’ve enjoyed today’s project. Be sure to join me again tomorrow when we’ll take the balance piece of our striped panel and turn it into a really fun and exciting project that will complement the Little Artist Apron. Happy Stitching! Little Artist Apron is complete This is part 2 of 5 in this series. Go back to part 1: Like dots? Then you’ll love the exciting Urban Elementz Basix fabrics Go to part 3: Northcott’s Urban Elementz Basix fabrics make a clever kid’s artist case Print this page or save as a PDF 0qs149child s apronnorthcott fabricsurban elementz basix collection FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinRedditWhatsappTelegramEmail Bill Locke Quilter/Stitcher, Designer, Teacher, Blogger. With a passion for all that is "stitchy", my goal is to share that passion with you though fun designs, informative and exciting lectures, trunk shows and workshops. Growing up next door to my paternal grandparents, I had the fantastic opportunity of sitting day after day watching my grandmother stitching away on her vintage White machine. She would often give me scraps and encourage me to be creative. Her creative spirit is the one that comes alive in me every day. My designs offer various techniques including regular piecing, foundation piecing, hand and machine applique as well as wool applique; catering to all levels. I create and have fun in my Montreal Studio-Quilt Shop, where I aim to bring you fun designs, exciting fabrics, notions and all kinds of stitching goodies. At Bill Locke Designs, stitching is definitely a passion where my goal is to keep you in stitches by unlocking your creativity and inspire you to stitch. previous post Like dots? Then you’ll love the exciting Urban Elementz Basix fabrics next post Northcott’s Urban Elementz Basix fabrics make a clever kid’s artist case YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... QUILTsocial Giveaway 288: Jungle Rose 12-Fat Quarter Fabric... Get your Banyan Batiks Baralla, we’re making a... QUILTsocial Giveaway 284: Baralla 12-Fat Quarter Fabric Bundle! 5 tips to create the best ever quilt... The secret to modern quilting using the straight... How a short stitch, in quilting, can save... How to choose a quilt design for fabric... Falling in love with Banyan Batiks Kayana autumn... Banyan Batiks Kayana Autumn fabric steals the fall... 16 comments Nita Tapley April 9, 2017 - 7:37 pm A fun project to add to my collection for grandchildren!!! Reply Kelli Bryson April 8, 2017 - 3:39 pm I love polka dots and these bright colors are amazing! I have grandchildren that would love to help “Nana” cook while wearing this apron! Reply CHARLOTTE ROUSSEAU April 7, 2017 - 12:41 pm I LOVE using different sizes of dots to contrast with the use of colored stripes! Reply Bill Locke April 7, 2017 - 7:02 pm Hi Charlotte, I enjoy that as well…especially these projects this week..they have been so much fun. Reply shirley April 6, 2017 - 11:11 pm I too love the colors. I do like working with dots. Reply Bill Locke April 7, 2017 - 7:03 pm 🙂 Me to Shirley. Reply Angela Saver April 6, 2017 - 1:46 pm Oh I love the fun dot strips! Very cute apron! Reply Bill Locke April 7, 2017 - 7:03 pm Thanks Angela! Reply Darlene Greenhough April 6, 2017 - 9:02 am i think i know a few who would love this. great tutorial. Reply Bill Locke April 7, 2017 - 7:04 pm Thanks Darlene, I’m glad that you enjoyed it! Reply Karen Thurn April 5, 2017 - 2:51 am Very cute fun looking apron and I think it would sew together in a snap. It would make a fun addition to an Easter basket for my grandsons. Thanks for the tutorial. Reply Bill Locke April 5, 2017 - 8:54 am Thanks Karen, yes, this one is a really fun project, easy/fast and sure to be a delight for the littler artist… be sure to check out the Little Artist Case in today’s blog that coordinates with the apron..something else for that Easter basket! 🙂 Reply deanna April 4, 2017 - 1:25 pm These dots and colors are so fun! Reply Bill Locke April 4, 2017 - 4:52 pm Hi Deanna, They truly are fun to work with….I’ve been truly enjoying working with these to share with everyone this week. Reply Rose Lefler April 4, 2017 - 9:43 am What an awesome project using these amazing fabrics! The colors are stunning. Reply Bill Locke April 4, 2017 - 10:39 am Thanks Rose…..those dot strips really did inspire a fun artistic project…I just had to design this little apron for the litte artist! Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.