Valentine Tree & Apron 101
Oh Valentines Day. You are almost here. Oh you. I love your red
& white colors, your polka dots & glitter, your ric-rac and
ball fringe. Little Valentine tree, I love you. You were on a ridiculously good after-Christmas sale at Urban Outfitters and well, I couldn't just leave you there. No, that would be cruel.
Sure, I already have a Christmas tree. But not one that's metallic pink and certainly not one that's only 3 feet tall. I've dreamed of having you for a while now, and well, I am so glad you are here. So glad that you can make your debut as our very first Valentine Tree. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Pam & I have been chit chatting about aprons lately and she has convinced me to give a little how-to on how I made my Valentine Ruffle Apron. This was no easy task, you know (giving the directions, not sewing the apron). Sure, I made the apron, but explaining how to do it, well, it's sort of making my brain hurt. I'm trying to trace back step-by-step and am hoping that I didn't leave out any important directions. And Pam, well she's fabulous and I feel it my duty to make sure that "every morning (and night) is a Pam Kitty Morning." This one's for you, Pam!
Ruffle Apron
You will need the following fabric:
(1) 15 1/2" x 20 1/2" piece of fabric for the back of the apron- Piece A
(4) 6 1/2" x 33 1'/2" pieces of fabric for the ruffles- Piece B
(2) 4 1/2" x 24 1/2" pieces of fabric for the apron strings- Piece C
(1) 4 1/2" x 20 1/2" piece of fabric for the band- Piece D
Directions:
Make a 1/4" hem by folding under 1/4" of the fabric and then folding over again, enclosing all raw edges of piece "A", iron under 1/4" on all sides and stitch.
"B" Pieces- Hem the same way on the two short sides and one long side, leaving one 33" side unsewn. Repeat with all 4 pieces.
Working on the right side of the fabric,
using long machine stitches, stitch along the unsewn side at 1/4" and
again 1/8" in seam allowance. Pull threads to adjust gathers. Starting on the bottom, pin the top edge of the ruffle to the wrong side of the fabric on piece "A" at about 1" up from the bottom. Wrap the gathering threads around the pin. Adjust gathers to fit across and pin piece down on opposite side. Stitch over the gathers to keep in place. 
Sew the next ruffle ("B") to piece "A" about 4 1/2" above the top of the previously sewn ruffle, making sure the top ruffles overlaps the bottom ruffle by about an inch. Repeat with remaining ruffles.
Once the ruffles are sewn on, you should have about 1 1/2" of piece "A" left at the top.
Take Pieces "C" and hem all 3 edges, leaving one short edge open. 
Next, take piece "D" and fold in half. Press with iron. Fold under 1/4" on remaining 3 sides. Place the top of piece "A" inside of piece "C" and pin to hold in place. Place pieces "C" on both ends of the band. Secure in place with pins. Stitch (2) short ends (being sure to catch the apron strings underneath) and stitch along the open end.
Phew. I think that's it. So, you should have ruffles on one side and when you turn it over, you will see the right side of the fabric. I hope this makes sense. It's getting very late and I've come down with a bit of a bug (it's a total drag! Little Henry has it, too. It's quite sad) I am hoping it doesn't prohibit the Valentine cookie and truffle making (and eating) festivities this weekend.
Anyway- if you decide to make this and come into any problems or have questions, just shoot me over an e-mail. I'm happy to help out in any way I can!
Happy Weekend, Friends!
I want to make these using some vintage sheet fabrics!!! Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Clever Karen | April 11, 2009 at 06:58 AM
Thanks for such a great tutorial! Just posted it on my website. I can't wait to make one.
Posted by: Shannon | March 24, 2009 at 02:43 PM
This are cute and lovely apron.It is very useful for me when i am cooking!Thanks for sharing.
-Ava
Posted by: Philippine flower shops | February 02, 2009 at 11:36 PM
cute cute cute
Terisa
Posted by: Terisa | January 08, 2009 at 12:09 AM
I've been pining to make one of these aprons for almost a year and finally did for my sister's Christmas present--it was great for teaching me how to gather!! Anyway, thanks. Photos of my finished product, along with the whole story of my "Morgan Moore Christmas" are on my blog.
Posted by: Mama Parker | January 04, 2009 at 09:21 PM
I made a whole load of these for Christmas presents, and I'm sure everyone's going to love them. They are so quick and easy to make, and beautiful! I made the straps a bit wider, longer, and pointy at the ends so it can be tied in a beautiful big bow. Thanks so much for a great tutorial.
Posted by: Amy Beeton | December 19, 2008 at 02:43 AM
What a gorgeous combination of fabrics. We've included a link to this in our favorite apron patterns (linked from name). Thanks so much! =)
Posted by: Caley | December 01, 2008 at 06:51 AM
Thank you thank you! What a great apron and a great new blog for me to read!
Thanks!
Posted by: Amy | October 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I followed you pattern and made aprons out of some vintage fabric! WHAT FUN! I have linked your site to my blog! Hope that's OK!
Posted by: Lavender Dreamer | October 23, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Your very pretty apron definitely inspires me to get out the sewing machine, brush the dust off of it, and start sewing! Thanks so much for the tutorial.
~Susan
Posted by: Susan (A Happy Heart at Home) | September 08, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Awesome...a good friend of mine told me a while back she wanted a cherry apron to match her kitchen...I found this yesterday made the apron and TA-DA....her birthday present is ready for her August 30th! THANK YOU! ! !
CoCoJ
Posted by: CoCoJ126 | August 25, 2008 at 06:56 AM
This is to Shelly: I would love to sew you an apron! Drop me a line at my new Etsy shop (it's still under construction): kathryn6.etsy.com - just click on "contact" on the side.
Posted by: kathryn6 | July 25, 2008 at 11:17 PM
This is just what I needed today. The cutest little aprons! I want to have them all! Great Job
Posted by: Vanessa Brantley-Newton | July 10, 2008 at 09:59 AM
So cute! Thank you :-)
Posted by: Juddie | July 01, 2008 at 07:10 PM
This is darling, and my next craft challenge. I love it and was looking for something new to test me on my sewing machine! Thanks.
Posted by: heatherlarson | June 14, 2008 at 09:38 AM
What an adorable apron! Thanks so much for the tutorial. I think I'm going to try to make it, but I'm really just starting to learn to sew so I have one question.
To make the ruffles, do I just not backstitch at the beginning and end of the fabric and then pull on the strings that are left over to make it gather? Then do I just tie what's left of the string together to keep the seam secure? Is that right?
Posted by: Meryl | April 28, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Love the apron! : )
Posted by: Anali | April 16, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Thank you for sharing this pretty and feminine apron. I can hardly wait to own one of my very own!
Posted by: Lea of Farmhouse Blessings | March 27, 2008 at 09:01 PM
This is so incredible. I just saw a link to this tutorial posted on the new apronista forum and HAD to check it out. I am going to try my hand at it. Thank you so much for sharing your time and talent to help novices like Moi!!!
Blessings... *Linda*
Posted by: Linda Pinda | March 27, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Thanks for the tutorial! I made a cute apron today and I love it! :)
Posted by: Sarah Z. | March 10, 2008 at 08:24 PM
I made this apron last week (finished today) and it turned out really nice! Thanks for the tutorial!
Posted by: Nicole | March 10, 2008 at 04:21 AM
That's really cute! I'll have to give this a try. Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted by: Tracie | February 18, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Morgan,
Thanks so much for sharing this tute - I LOVE this apron and have just made one for a Valentines swap this year (2008). I am defintely going to be making more of these!
Posted by: Heids | February 15, 2008 at 02:21 PM
I made several of these in the fall and neglected to say THANK YOU for such a fun little tutorial!!
Posted by: Shawnee Halligan | February 12, 2008 at 02:32 PM
I made several of these in the fall and neglected to say THANK YOU for such a fun little tutorial!!
Posted by: Shawnee Halligan | February 12, 2008 at 02:31 PM