. . . hand stamped garden aprons

Garden.apron.2

Although it might be a while before we can plant seeds in the dirt outside. . .

Comp

. . . we can still. . .

Stamp

. . . get ready. . .

Aprons

. . . for the coming. . .

Pocket

. . . season.

Hand Stamped Garden Aprons

Materials:

Scrap fabric
1-2 Large russet potatoes
Fabric paint
Butter knife
needle and thread or sewing machine

À la Maria in the Sound of Music, these simple garden aprons came from the scrap of some curtains I shortened a few months ago and the other fabrics are remnants from previous projects as well.

To make these garden aprons (either for an adult or child, or both), measure from your waist to about 4-6" above your knee or your child's knee. Then measure around the waist and divide by 2. The first measurement with be your width, and the second will be your length.

Cut the fabric to these dimensions. Starting on a short side, fold the fabric over by a 1/4" and then once again and sew down. Do this again on the other short side, making sure to fold the fabric in the same direction. Finally, on one long side, do the same.

When you have three sides sewn, take your complete waist measurement and double it. Cut a piece of fabric that is this length by 2" wide. For the adult size you may need to sew two pieces together. place each piece, pattern side down, and fold 1/4" in on each of the long sides. Press with an iron or crease with the side of a ruler or pencil. Fold these two sides towards each other and crease in the center. You should have a "ribbon" with nicely turned edges.

Place the "ribbon" over the un-sewn edge of the apron and pin in place. Sew down the open edge from one end to the other (including over the apron in the center). when you get to each end, fold down twice and sew to finish. Now your apron base is complete!

To add the pocket, I cut one piece of canvas for each apron. I made them about 2-4" shorter on each side than the apron base. After the pieces were cut, I frayed the edges and ran a zig-zag stitch around them to make sure they did not fray any further.

Using the same method we did for our Hand Stamped Garden Banners, I made stamps out of potatoes and stamped them onto the pocket. When the fabric paint was dry, I sewed them onto the aprons along three sides, leaving the top open. To make two pockets, I folded the aprons in half and made a crease. Then I sewed along that crease the separate the pockets. Make sure to iron the fabric paint after it has dried for 24 hours to set the colors.

With the Kids:

Invite the kids to help you pick out the fabrics for the aprons.
Ask them to help you fray the pocket fabric.
Carve your favorite garden shapes out of potatoes with a butter knife to make the stamps.
Alternately, have each child place their hand in fabric paint and stamp the aprons that way.
Write, sew or stamp each child's name onto their apron.
Spend the day in the garden learning about the way each plant grows and how to care for them.

~ Sarah

*Last time in Crafts and Activities: Spring Catalog!