Sew a Unique Coffee Bag Apron

The folks over at Donkee House have some amazing, authentic coffee bags that can be the starting point for many creative projects including totes and pillows.  The design is unisex and would be a perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life.  What a unique and purely organic apron this is!

Step 1 Supplies

The bags are 28" x 40".  This particular bag has an interesting motif on both sides, so one bag can be used to make two aprons.  The burlap coffee sacks/coffee bags have not been laundered.  I chose to wash and dry the sack to soften it up a bit and then ironed it.

• one coffee bag, washed, dried and ironed.
• 1 1/4 yards fabric for lining, washed and dried
• ruler

Comments

[Prunella]

Great tutorial. Thanks. I have a question about washing the bags pre project and then washing the aprons. Lots of folks suggest not washing the bags. I like how yours turned out and was wondering how you washed them...also did you wash the finish aprons.

Thanks!!!!

[MaidenJane]

Hi Prunella,

Thanks for your inquiry. I am not sure why people say not to wash the bags. I have picked the up for coffee roasters (as well as bought them online) and, to me, they are quite dirty - possibly laying around on floors. Now, if you want them to remain very stiff, you might not want to wash them. However, for an apron, I prefer to wash them. You MAY not want to wash them at home. You can take them to a commercial laundromat if there is any concern that the lint will clog a filter. But I wash them with nothing else on a regular color load. Then I simply dry. They do need to be pressed with a hot steam iron. I don't wash the finished aprons because all the materials are pre-washed, dried and shrunk. I have sold all my aprons so I don't have experience of washing them. However, I have washed the burlap rugs I make (you can check out my blog for details) and the results are the same as when I prewash them. They soften a bit, they are wrinkly, and they need to be pressed.

I hope that answers your questions. My general approach to sewing is that I pre-wash anything that I will be washing.

Good luckl!

[dgem1st]

Hi MaidenJane,

Great rug! going to make one too.
I originally got some coffee bags to use for covering material on my sound panels in my recording studio. i was wondering if you put them in the dryer or hung dry?
Also, how much shrinkage and did you unstitch them before washing or after.
Thanks so much and love your ideas!
Dgem1st

[MaidenJane]

Hi Dgem1st,

That's interesting! I have a son who is a music major and has a lot of sound experience - and a little recording experience! Maybe I can cover my entire house with these to help with a little sound insulation! His rock band practices right below my sewing studio!

Anyway, if you are simply asking about the bags - go ahead and wash and dry them. They will be very wrinkly but I use a hot iron to press them. Sometimes I air dry my rugs which have a rubber or latex backing, but I still have to press them. The only concern you might have is with lint. I have a front load washer - but back when I had a top loader and used to do a lot of felting of wool, I feel like I clogged the washing machine filter. You can avoid this by putting the bags in another bag - like a pillow case. Or take them to a commercial laundromat. I haven't had a problem.

I do not unstitch them. Depending on what I'm making, I sometimes unstitch tehm afterward.

Good luck!

[Prunella]

Thanks so very much for your feedback on washing. I prefer to wash everything as well and had concerns about these bags...they do pick up a lot of dirt along the way. Clogging the filter is not an issue (I have a Euro washer that has a pull out filter). I think I'd prefer them softer any way, and they can always be starched for extra stiffens.


This was very helpful. Much appreciated

[ChrysN]

It looks great, neat idea!