Thanksgiving Apron From Old Pants and Scraps

Ok, I'm not a great cook, but with this apron, I look like one!

Step 1: Materials

Fabric scraps - try to use fall colors with lots of pattern on them.
1 Pant leg from pants that fit you. Do not use stretch jeans.
1 men's shirt collar
1 Red fabric scrap
Scissors
Black buttons
Needle & Thread
Decorative buttons
Steam-a-seam, stitch witch, or any other applique fusable brand.

(I found two books of fabric samples at a flea market, and will be showing those.)

Step 2: Making the Apron

(For this part, I cheated by using an old apron I got at a garage sale. It's much cheaper than buying a pattern.)

Cut off one pant leg, and cut off one side seam completely. Cut off the bottom hem.

Open the leg, and lay it flat. Place the apron over it, and trace around, leaving 1" inch on all sides.

Cut out the shape. To make sure it's even, fold it in half, and cut out one side.

Iron and hem all the way around the apron.

Step 3: Making the Turkey

Show All 7 Images

Arrange your fabric scraps in the order you want, then number them on the back before cutting them out.

Feathers: Cut out 8 Tear-drop shapes 7 inches long, 4 inches wide at the top, tapering down into a point.

Body: Using a contrasting fabric cut out an hourglass shape 9 inches high. The head should be about 3.5 inches wide, while the body is 4.5 inches wide.

Beak: Cut one triangle from orange material, or felt. Cut a U shape from red fabric or felt that is 2.5 inches high.

Eyes: Black buttons

Using double-stick Steam-a-Seam, place a strip on the back of each cut-out. There's no need to cover the entire back side unless you are using very flimsy fabric. Stick the "feathers" in a semi-circle, and iron with the steam setting on full. Place the body over the middle of the pointed ends of the feathers, and iron again. Repeat for the beak and wattle.

Using matching threads, go over each edge with a fairly tight zig-zag stitch.

Step 4: Trim

For the trim, take a scrap piece of material, and cut into strips 3 inches wide. Sew end together until it is twice the length of the outer edge of the apron. (Measure from one side tie to the next.) Hem both sides, ironing it over to prevent fraying.

You have several choices to make the trim ruffle.
1. Sew elastic along the inner edge, pulling on the elastic as you sew. This automatically creates a ruffle, and you can then sew it straight onto the apron.
2. Baste stitch, pulling on the fabric to form the ruffle. Don't like doing this much since it's a long piece and the thread likes to break in the middle of the job.
3. Hand ruffle it by folding down the edge, then sewing over it as you go. This is what I did. Every 3 inches, I made a fold and sewed over it. Not the easiest way, but it looks good.

For the bib of the apron, cut a strip of fabric 1 inch wide, and the length of your apron's neck line. Mine was 8.5 inches.
Cover the back with Steam-a-Seam, iron, then go over with a zig-zag stitch.

Step 5: Neck and Side Ties

Neck: Totally cheated on this and it turned out great! Cut the collar off a men's shirt, making sure to get as close to the seam as possible. Sew one side of the collar to the bib of the apron, and repeat for the other side.

Sides: Cut 2 strips of fabric 2.5 inches wide, and 22 inches long. Fold in thirds, like you would a paper before placing it into a long envelope.Iron flat, folding the ends inward. Sew down the middle with a zig-zag stitch. Sew to each side of the apron.

Step 6: Finishing

Hand-sew 2 black buttons for the eyes, or use fabric paint.

If you have some really great decorative buttons, sew them along the accent piece at the top of the bib.

rsmith63 says: Nov 24, 2011. 8:16 PM

Making "Our Momma" a dozen aprons for Christmas, and I'm adding this one to make it a baker's dozen. It's so cute, and I love that it's recycled, that's the only way I roll. Thanks for sharing.