July is finally here—time to entertain, BBQ with friends and get out in the garden. And, what better tool to help you tackle the table setting, burger or tofu flipping, and digging with ease than a pocketed apron. You can store utensils, tongs, gloves and more in the pocket(s), all while looking stylish for your guests or nosy neighbors. The materials for this apron are sustainable to boot: existing linens or scrap fabrics allow you to put your own flair on the apron and ditch those “King/Queen of the Grill” favorites that pop up everywhere this time of year. You’d be surprised at the cool fabrics you can find in your own linen closet or scrap fabric bins at stores. Don’t be afraid to go wild and choose fabrics that no one else would combine to create an apron that expresses your personality. Use matching thread or go bright for variation. Here’s a tip: Using striped or checked fabric makes it easier to line up folds and pocket placement.

Materials: Fabric of choice (for apron and pocket), cording, thread, needle or sewing machine, safety pins and straight pins.

1. Using selvedge edge (uncut edge) of fabric for bottom edge of your apron, mark the fabric as seen in the drawing above. Cut with sharp scissors according to your size.

2. Sew the sides of the apron first: Fold the fabric ¼ inch on each side and press, then fold and press a second ¼ inch. Use a straight stitch by hand or zigzag stitch by machine close to the inner folded edge to create the sides. For a frayed edge, the bottom of the apron can be left unsewn. Then, create a casing for the neck cord: Fold and press top edge ¼ inch and then fold again 1 inch and press; straight stitch or zigzag close to the edge.

3. To create the pocket or pockets, take the chosen fabric and fold and press ¼ inch all around. At the top edge, fold again ¾ inch and then sew close to inner folded edge. Pin pocket to the apron, and then straight stitch or zigzag close to folded edge on both sides. To create two pockets, stitch down the center.

4. Cut cording for the neck tie at 56 inches and pull through the casing you created by folding over the fabric. Use a safety pin to help guide the cording to make sure it doesn’t get stuck in the middle of the neck. Knot the ends. For the side ties, cut two pieces of cord at 36 inches each. Knot one end of each. Sew the unknotted ends to top edges of sides with zigzag stitch or by hand, making sure to sew back and forth a few times for strength. Tie the apron on and start entertaining or gardening with ease!

Barbara Zaretsky is a fiber artist and director of Cloth Fiber Workshop in Asheville (www.clothfiberworkshop.com. She also operates BZDesign, a textile design and manufacturing company and can be reached at barbara@clothfiberworkshop.com. Cloth Fiber Workshop will be hosting “Fancify That Apron,” an apron making workshop where you’ll sew and embellish a pattern of your choice, on August 9 from 10am-5pm; visit their website for more information.

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