Start with The Easy Apron Pattern (available here as a free download), mix it up with some fabulous fabric scraps ­ and you get the Hot Stuff Patchwork Apron. It looks like a quilt, but there's no batting (so no bulk) and the back lining keeps everything neat and tidy. It's a little more work ­ but it's totally worth it! And it's practically free if you use scraps you already have! I do love a good stash­busting project. . .

Wendi

Happy sewing!

Throughout the pattern, the purple text links to online video tutorials demonstrating the techniques used, or to sources for the materials. Materials: • scraps of fabric for apron and tie • rectangle of fabric for the lining ­ amount depends on measurements • sewing machine • thread • basic sewing tools Step 1 Download The Easy Apron Pattern here. Use the measurements calculated in Step 1 and record them here: Length ____________ Width _____________ You're going to piece your apron front from 3 inch strips of fabric, so divide the total width of your apron by 2 1/2. That will tell you how many strips wide your apron top will be. If you don't get an even number (and you probably won't) ­ round up. Number of strips____________ From your scrap fabric, start cutting 3 inch wide strips. They can be any length you like ­ I usually just go with the length of my scraps. Try to have a variety of long and short strips. Rotary cutting tools are ideal for this ­ learn how to use them here. Start joining the strips together into longer strips. I usually join a few together until I have a strip longer than the length of my apron. Then I trim it to the desired length and start attaching more strips to what I cut off. Keep joining strips and cutting to the desired length until you have the desired number of strips. For my 8 year old daughter that was 8 strips, each 15 inches long. Step 2 Now play with the layout of your strips. For this one I made sure to spread out the larger solid bits so they're not touching each other. You may have a greater range of lights and darks that you're trying to keep balanced ­ it will depend on your fabric selection. Just keep rearranging the strips until it feels balanced and happy. This is the fun part ­ so take your time and play a while. When you're satisfied, sew the strips together using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press everything nice and flat.

Step 3 You'll want to cover up all those seam allowances. Basically ­ we're going to make a quilt without the batting. Lay the backing fabric face down. Lay the patchwork rectangle face up over the backing fabric. Smooth it all out. Trim the backing fabric to size ­ making sure it's slightly bigger than the patchwork fabric all the way around. Pin the two layers together.

Step 4 Stitch the two layers together by stitching as exactly as possible over your seam lines. This is called "stitching in the ditch." Also stitch the layers together 1/4 inch from the edge along both sides and the bottom. This will help you with a cheater­ pants hemming technique. No measuring!

Step 5 Now trim the backing so it's even with the patchwork top all the way around.

Step 6 Hem each side of the main apron piece. Turn the edge under 1/4 inch. Press. These hemming photos show the apron with the back side facing up. See how I folded it right on the stitching line? That makes it soooooo easy to hem without measuring!

Step 7 Turn under another quarter inch. Press. Stitch down very close to the folded edge of the fabric. Repeat with the second side. If you need a refresher on how to hem, watch this video.

Step 8 Now repeat with the bottom hem. Turn the bottom edge up 1/4 inch. Press. The corners can get a little bulky here ­ so trim away an itty bit off the corner, from stitching line to stitching line.

Step 9 Turn the bottom edge under a second 1/4 inch. Press. Stitch it down very close to the folded edge of the fabric. The hems will give the back of your apron a nice frame around the bottom and sides.

Step 10 Follow step 7 of The Easy Apron Pattern to make your apron tie. On a scrappy apron like this I especially like to make my tie out of scraps of fabric too. Cut enough 3 inch strips so that when joined together they are the desired length (see Step 1 of The Easy Apron for measurements). Join your strips together on the diagonal so you don't get thick, bumpy bits in your tie. You can see how in this video. Step 11 Follow steps 8­10 of The Easy Apron Pattern to finish your apron. Some gathering feet will have trouble gathering the two layers of fabric. If that's the case, use the old­ fashioned method. I demonstrate both techniques in this video. Finished! You're done! Step back and admire your awesome thriftiness. I bet you have more scraps hidden away somewhere. You should make aprons for everyone you know! Did you have fun? Please visit Shiny Happy World for more patterns, plus lots of free projects and helpful tutorials. © Wendi Gratz 2013 This pattern is for personal use only and is not available for commercial resale. That means you may not copy and sell or digitally distribute the pattern. You may, however, sell items you make with the pattern ­ as long as you are making them yourself.