Pretty And Practical

If you enjoy freestyle embroidery then this is the perfect choice – a useful apron that will show off your skills.

You Will Need

● Grey linen measuring 90 cm x 80 cm

(35½ ins x 31½ ins)

● Olympus embroidery floss in Dark Green (218), Blue Green (257), Blue (343), Very Pale Orange (561), Pale Grey (811) and Dark Grey (432)

Tools

● Iron

● Water-soluble transfer pen

● Embroidery hoop or frame

● Embroidery needle No. 6

● Embroidery scissors

Note: If you have dfficulty finding Olympus threads, DMC or similar can be used. Use 1 cm seam allowance unless otherwise specified.

This floral design is taken from the book “Beautiful Botanical Embroidery” by Alice Makabe, published by Search Press, RRP £14.99, available online and from all good bookshops or order from www.searchpress. com, tel. 01892 510 850. To receive free p & p ★ , quote order code PEOPLESBOTANICAL. This

offer runs until April 30, 2022.

★ UK only; for overseas p & p contact Search Press direct.

TO EMBROIDER

Before you begin, press your fabric to ensure it is perfectly smooth.

1. Cut a 86 cm × 48 cm rectangle of grey linen for the apron. Transfer the templates on to the fabric, positioning the flowers as shown in the diagram.

2. Place fabric in hoop, making sure it is taut. Do not adhere fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric as it will be visible on the finished project.

3. Following the diagrams and referring to stitch diagrams on opposite page and page 5, work all stitches using three strands of embroidery thread throughout. When working a straight stitch inside a lazy daisy stitch, complete the lazy daisy stitch first. When embroidery is complete, take out of hoop and remove markings with a damp cotton bud if necessary.

TO MAKE UP

1. Mark the pleats as noted in the diagram below left. Fold the pleats and baste to secure in place.

Fold and press the left and right edges of the apron over 1 cm twice and topstitch in place.

2. Cut a 66 cm × 10 cm rectangle of grey linen for the belt. Fold in half and press to mark the centre line.

3. Align the belt and apron with right sides together so the belt extends 1 cm beyond the apron on each end. Sew, beginning and ending 1 cm in from the edge of the belt.

4. Cut two 62 cm × 8 cm rectangles of grey linen for the ties. Measure in 3 cm from a bottom corner of each tie and mark. Draw a diagonal line connecting the top corner and the mark. Trim along the line to create an angle. Next, mark a 1.5 cm pleat on the straight end of each tie.

5. For each tie, fold the pleat and baste in place, then fold and press the edges over 7 mm twice and topstitch in place.

6. Unfold the belt and press open. With right sides together, align the pleated end of each tie with the edge of the belt so the lower edge of the tie aligns with the seam. Baste the ties in place.

7. Fold the belt down along the crease. Sew in place on each end using 1 cm seam allowance. Begin sewing from the fold and end 1 cm from the bottom edge of the belt.

8. Turn the belt right side out. Fold the seam allowance in along the bottom edge and hand stitch to the wrong side of the apron.

Turn in and seam the bottom hem of the apron. ■