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To fit approximately size 5, but is also multi fit.

Start with:

From main fabric –

11 x 7.5 ” – Cut 2 (bodice)

45 x 13.5″ – Cut 1 (skirt)

From contrasting fabric – 

25.5 x 3″ – Cut 1 (waist band)

45 x 2.5″ – Cut 1 (bottom of skirt)

24 x 3″ – Cut 2 (waist ties)

22 x 2.5″ – Cut 2 (neck ties)

*Please note that I refer to serging as overlocking throughout the tute (cos I’m Aussie!)

Take all the ties and press them in half. Open out, then press each long edge in 1/4 inch. Press one end in 1/4 inch also. Fold over in half again.

Topstitch down the length of both sides of each tie (including across the short edge you folded in) Overlock the short raw edges that you didn’t fold in on each tie.

Pin the neck ties 1/2″ in from the sides of one of the bodice pieces. Place the other bodice piece on top with right sides facing. Pin, then stitch around 3 sides, leaving the bottom open.

Turn right sides out and press. Topstitch around the 3 sides.

Take the skirt piece and the bottom skirt piece. Sew them together, right sides facing. Overlock the raw seams, then press open. Overlock the sides and bottom of the skirt also.

Run 2 lines of gathering stitches along the top of the skirt. Gather up until it is the same length as the waistband. Pin the waistband to the top of the skirt, right sides together.

Now take the bodice. Measure and mark the centre of the skirt and place the bodice in the centre, on top of the waistband which will be wrong side up. The bodice will be right sides facing with the skirt. Pin on and remove pins from underneath where you pinned on the waistband so that you don’t sew over them!

Sew along the waistband and over the bodice from one edge of the skirt to the other. Overlock the raw seams.

Press. Now topstitch the top of the waistband to the bodice, sewing along the line you made previously. No need to topstitch the full length of the waistband, just at the bodice to attach them together.

Take the waist ties and sew to the edge of the waistband on each side.

Your apron now looks like this. The last step is to fold in the overlocked edges on each side of the skirt and topstitch. When you fold in the edges the ties will face outward and will be caught in the stitching. Add an extra short line of stitching to the tie to secure it more to the waistband if you wish.

Now fold up the hem and stitch.

Lastly, give it to a little girl and make her smile!

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and make lots of pretty little aprons. I’d love to see what you make 🙂

You can use this tute for personal use and to make aprons to sell, provided you acknowledge me, Kelly Casanova as the original author. 

I’d really appreciate you letting me know of any mistakes or improvements – I’m no expert at writing tutes!

My 6 year old and I were designing a wool felt purse for a sewing machine project and she thought it would be a lovely idea to share a simple tutorial for any other young people who would like to give it a try. The template is at the end of the post.

Oh, and I apologise in advance for my less than perfect photos, but as time is of the essence I didn’t edit 🙂

Cut out your 2 pattern pieces. We used some lovely hand dyed rainbow wool felt.

Pin them together like this.

You can machine or hand sew. If you’re machine sewing make sure you have an adult there to work with you (this is a photo shot, you need to actually look at what you’re doing!)

Sew down either side and across the bottom like this.

We used a snap press to apply a snap closure (a snap press should only be used by a grown up) but you can make whatever closure you like eg. a button, velcro.

Here is another idea for your purse – a ribbon handle! Just stick the ends of the ribbon in either side like this before you sew. You could also cut your pieces of felt out with pinking shears for another pretty effect.

My 4, nearly 5 year old made one too!

Hope you enjoy this tutorial and use your purse for coins, jewellery or any other special trinkets you need a safe place for.

Template. Cut 1 of each.

I’m a teapot devotee – teabags just don’t do it for me. Every teapot lover needs a pretty mat on which to rest the pot while the tea is steeping. It’s so long since I did a tutorial, so I got stuck into this one this afternoon. It’s a quick project that is great for using up little bits of fabric.

Requirements list :

  Fabric measuring 25 x 25cm (depending on the size of your teapot – mine is medium sized)

Ric rac measuring approx. 53cm

Small crocheted doily 

Embroidery floss (optional)

Sewing thread

Batting (I’ve used polyester quilt batting)

Air erasing pen (optional)

Iron on adhesive (I’ve used Heat n Bond)

Using a round bowl (mine measures 17cm across) draw 2 circles on your fabric with an erasable pen or lightly in pencil.

Cut 2 squares of batting a bit larger than your circles.

Cut  a circle of Heat n Bond that is the same size as the circular part of the doily (exclude the border). Follow the packet instructions to secure your doily to the middle of the right side of one circle.

Laying the circle with the doily on top of the wadding work some running stitches around in circles between the gaps of your doily. I’ve used cream coloured embroidery floss for this, but regular sewing or a quilting thread would be fine too. Working the running stitches ensures your doily is securely attached and also gives a lovely lightly quilted look. I didn’t stitch down the scalloped border of the doily as I like the way it looks kinda fluffing up.

Lay your two circles right sides together.  Lay your ric rac so that it’s sandwiched between the 2 circles right on the edge so that you can just see the bumps on the outside. Carefully pin around the circle , leaving a 10cm gap open (don’t pin ric rac on the gap either).

Here it is pinned all the way around except for the gap. If you’re worried about the placement of the ric rac you could tack it on before sewing.

Using your sewing machine, sew around circles (don’t forget to leave your gap open!) about 1/4 inch from the edge.

Turn the circles right sides out through the gap. Press lightly around the edges, being careful not to scorch the ric rac. Turn the edges in at the gap and sandwich the remaining ric rac. Tuck the tail of the ric rac inside. Pin in place.

Top stitch right around, close to the edge,  catching the turned in edges at the gap.

Hey, it’s even reversible!

Now go and have a well earned cuppa!

I hope you like this tutorial, please leave me a comment if you make a mat and please let me know if I’ve made any mistakes in the tute!