It's Week Two of our Kitchen Confections Series for Moda Fabrics! If you're a regular Sew4Home visitor, you know we love aprons. So of course there was no question we'd whip up a fab apron in Bonnie & Camille's Vintage Modern collection. We combined coordinating Bella Solids by Moda, matching rick rack, form-flattering waist pleats, and a quilted accent along the top of the bodice. Even the pockets have box pleat details, and by tilting them at an angle, they give the skirt a pretty pop of color.

Make sure you check out all the tutorials in this series. Each is so stylishly delicious, you won't be able to make just one! Thanks to the great mix-and-match options within this lovely new collection by Bonnie & Camille, everything is beautifully coordinated. Their collection has six colors ways (Sky, Pebble, Cream, Candy Apple, Melon and Pear) with 40 quilting weight prints and 10 flannels, plus Fat Quarters, Fat Eighths, Layer Cakes, Charm Packs and Jelly Rolls. Wow! 

To round out this perfect package o' projects, we've also created a matching set of recipe cards and gift tags. You'll be able to download them this week absolutely FREE, courtesy of Moda. And, at the end of the week, Moda will sponsor a generous Great Giveaway with fabric cuts and more. Thanks-times-ten to our wonderful Moda friends. 

Vintage Modern is hitting the shelves now at your favorite in-store and online retailers. Check out our S4H Marketplace for our favorite shopping options. 

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 7700QCP)
• Walking foot with quilt bar (optional)

Fabric and Other Supplies

• 2 cuts from the Vintage Modern collection by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics plus 2 cuts of Bella Solids by Moda; specific yardage is shown below
• ⅛ yard of lightweight flannel; we used white
• 3 yards of jumbo rick rack; we used ¾" poly rick rack in Mint by Moda (RR41-530)
• All purpose thread to coordinate with fabrics:
• Machine quilting thread, 50 wt
• See-through ruler
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Fabric pen or pencil
• Seam gauge
• Seam ripper
• Straight pins

Specific Yardage Notes

¼ yard or one Fat Quarter of fabric 1: Floral Vintage Cream/55040-17

½ yard of fabric 2: Floral Wish Sky/55044-11

⅝ yard of fabric 3: Bella Solids Aqua/9900 34

1 yard of fabric 4: Bella Solids Porcelain/9900 182

Getting Started

1. Click on the links below to download and print the THREE patterns: Apron Bib 1, Apron Bib 2 and Apron Pocket:
   Apron Bib Part 1
   Apron Bib Part 2
   Apron Pocket
   IMPORTANT: Each pattern is ONE 8½" x 11" sheet. You must print the PDF files at 100%. DO NOT SCALE to fit the page. There is a rule on each page so you can confirm your final printout is to scale.
   
   NOTE: The bib patterns are drawn as a traditional commercial pattern to be cut on the fold to create each fabric piece. This is one option and will work just fine. An alternate method, which we think is a little easier for beginners is to print TWO copies of each of the patterns and cut them out along the solid lines. Flip over one copy in each set of two and butt them together along the center FOLD line. You now have a FULL pattern piece and so don't have to cut on the fold. The arrows drawn on the bib pattern pieces show you how/where these two bib sections come together. 
   
   
2. Cut out each pattern along the solid line and choose your option above for cutting on the fold or cutting flat.

Fabric 1 - Floral Vintage Cream:
Using the completed Apron Bib 2 pattern, cut ONE lower bib. Transfer the pattern markings for the darts to the fabric.
Using the Pocket pattern, cut TWO pockets. Transfer the pattern markings for the box pleats to the fabric.

Fabric 2 - Floral Wish Sky:
Cut ONE 18" high x 37" wide rectangle.

Fabric 3 - Bella Solids Aqua:
Cut ONE 18" high x 37" wide rectangle.
Using the completed Apron Bib 1 pattern, cut TWO upper bibs. Transfer the pattern markings for the quilt lines to the fabric on ONE of the two bibs.

Fabric 4 - Bella Solids Porcelain:
Cut FOUR 2½" x 25" strips
Cut SIX 2½" x 31" strips
Using the completed Apron Bib 2 pattern, cut ONE lower bib. Transfer the pattern markings for the darts to the fabric.
Using the Pocket pattern, cut TWO pockets. Transfer the pattern markings for the box pleats to the fabric.

Flannel:
Using the completed Apron Bib 1 pattern, cut ONE upper bib.

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Prepare the upper bib

1. Find the upper bib (Bella Solids Aqua in our sample) on which you marked the quilting lines and the upper bib in the flannel. Set aside the remaining upper bib fabric; it will be used as the lining.
2. Place the marked upper bib and the flannel together, aligning all the raw edges and making sure the marked guide lines are facing up.
3. If possible, attach a Walking Foot to your machine. We used the built-in AcuFeed foot on our Janome machine. Thread the top and bobbin with machine quilting thread.
4. Quilt, following the guide lines.
   
5. Cut a length of rick rack to match the bottom edge of the bib.
6. Position the rick rack along the bottom edge so the center of the rick rack is exactly ½" from the bottom raw edge. In other words, it will be centered on what will be our seam line when we stitch the upper bib to the lower bib.
   
7. Set the partially completed upper bib aside.

Prepare the lower bib

1. Find the lower bib in the main fabric (Floral Vintage Cream in our sample) and the lower bib in the solid fabric (Bella Solids Porcelain in our sample).
2. Following the marked lines from the pattern, mark and sew the two darts along the bottom of each piece.
   
3. Press the darts toward the bib center.
   
4. If you are new to making darts, see our easy, step-by-step tutorial.

Assemble the bib

1. Place the quilted upper bib right sides together with the lower exterior bib (Floral Vintage Cream in our sample), aligning the bottom edge of the upper bib with the upper edge of the lower bib. The rick rack will be sandwiched in between the layers. Pin in place
   
2. Stitch the two pieces together, using a ½" seam allowance. If you sew with the upper bib facing up, you can simply follow along the line of stitching for the rick rack.
3. Press the seam allowance towards the upper bib. You should have a pretty half line of rick rack revealed below the seam line.
   
4. Find the upper bib lining (Bella Solids Aqua in our sample) and the lower bib lining (Bella Solids Porcelain-with the two darts sewn in place).
5. Place the two bib sections right sides together as above. Pin in place.
6. Stitch together, using a ½" seam allowance. Press the seam open.
   

Make and attach the neck ties and finish the bib

1. Find the four 2½" x 25" strips. These will be the neck ties.
2. Place two strips right sides together. Pin in place.
3. Using a ½" seam allowance, stitch along both sides and across one end. Leave the opposite end open for turning. Remember to pivot at the corners.
4. Trim the corners.
   
5. Turn right sides out, and press.
   NOTE: Even though these aren't super tiny, check out our tutorial for an easy way to turn tubes right side out.
6. Place the exterior apron bib right side up on your work surface. Pin the raw open end of each tie to the upper edge of the apron bib, placing the ties ½" in from each side edge.
   
7. Layer the front bib and lining bib right sides together, sandwiching the ties in between the layers. Pin along both sides and across the top; leave the bottom open for turning.
   
8. Stitch the front to the back, using a ½" seam allowance. Remember to pivot at the corners.
9. Trim the corners at an angle.
10. Turn right side out, push out the top corners and pull up the ties.
11. Press well.
    

Create the box pleated pockets

1. Find the two exterior pocket pieces and the two lining pocket pieces. 
2. Following the guide lines you made on each, create a box pleat on all four fabric pieces. Press well.
   
   NOTE: If you are new to creating box pleats, take a look at our tutorial: How to Make A Box Pleat Or Inverted Box Pleat.
3. Measure around the perimeter of the exterior pleated pocket pieces. Add 1" for an overlap. Cut two lengths of rick rack to this measurement.
4. Place one length of rick rack around each exterior pocket (Floral Vintage Cream in our sample), starting and stopping at the pleat, and centering the rick rack on the ½" seam line (in other words, the center of the rick rack should be ½" from the raw edge of the pocket). Pin in place. Stitch in place, using a ½" seam allowance.
   
5. Match a pocket lining to each pocket exterior, following all the steps above, including those for the box pleats. 
6. Place each exterior and lining set right sides together. Pin in place, leaving a 2" opening along one end for turning.
7. Sew with the exterior facing up so you can see the rick rack seam line. Stitch the two layers together, using a ½" seam allowance, which means you can simply follow along in the rick rack seam line. Remember to leave the 2" opening for turning. Lock your seam on either side of the opening. 
8. Trim the seam allowance back to ¼", carefully trimming the fabric only and not the rick rack. Leaving the rick rack untrimmed makes is stronger; you don't want it pull through the seam. That seam is a stress point because hands press against it reaching into the pocket.
   
9. Turn each pocket right sides out and press. 
   

Skirt

1. Cut one final length of rick rack. This one should be the width of the skirt panel or  37".
2. Pin the rick rack to the bottom edge of the 18" x 37" exterior skirt panel (Floral Wish Sky in our sample). Center the rick rack on the ½" seam line (in other words, the center of the rick rack should be ½" from the bottom raw edge of the skirt panel). Pin in place. Fold over the starting end of the rick rack so it sits ½" in from the edge of the fabric. 
    
   NOTE: You fold the rick rack over rather than under because the trim is designed to drop down to become the bottom edge of the apron. When this happens your "fold over" changes position and the raw edge will be secured and facing to the back.  
3. Stitch the rick rack in place, using a ½" seam allowance. 
    
4. When you come to the opposite end of the apron skirt, the rick rack may have shifted slightly. If necessary, unpin the end of the rick rack and fold over the end so folded end is ½" from this opposite raw edge. Trim the rick rack if needed. 
5. Position the pockets on the apron skirt. The pockets are 4½" from the upper edge. They are designed to be set at a diagonal, so there is 10" between the upper corners and 8" between the lower corners. Pin the pockets in place along the sides and bottom.
    
6. Edgestitch the pockets in place, making sure you have thread to match the pocket in the top; the bobbin can be matching or can match the skirt. Stitch along the sides and across the bottom, going slowly around the curved bottom corners to keep the seam line smooth. Leave the upper edge of the pocket open. 
    
7. Find the 18" x 37" skirt lining (Bella Solids Porcelain in our sample). 
8. Place the skirt lining and skirt exterior right sides together, sandwiching the pockets and the rick rack in between the layers. Pin in place along both sides and across the bottom. 
9. Sew the apron skirt to the lining with a ½" seam along the sides and across the bottom. Remember to pivot at the corners. Sew with the exterior fabric facing up so you can carefully follow the previous rick rack seam line as your guide along the bottom edge. 
10. Trim the corners and turn the skirt right sides out. Press. 
11. Create a group of three knife pleats to each side of the center along the upper edge of the apron skirt. The pleats are spaced 1" apart and each set starts 3" from the center front. Pin in place. 
    
    NOTE: If you are new to creating pleats, take a look at our tutorial: How to Make Knife Pleats.

Waistband and waist ties

1. Find the six 2½" x 31" strips.
2. Separate the strips into two sets of three. Take one set of three, and using a ½" seam allowance, stitch the strips end to end, right sides together, along the 2½" ends. Repeat with the other pair. This will give you two strips that are 2½" x 91".
   
3. Match these two 91" strips right sides together, lining up all raw edges and the center seams. This will become your waistband/ties.
4. Using your see-through ruler and fabric pencil, measure and mark the openings needed in the waistband to insert the apron bib and the apron skirt. Measure and mark carefully to insure the openings are centered. You need a 10½" opening along the top of the waistband and a 30" opening along the bottom of the waist band.
   
5. Stitch the two waistband/tie pieces together, using a ½" seam allowance. Start at the bottom opening, stitch down one side, pivot at the corner, stitch across the end, pivot at the corner, and stitch along the remaining long side to the top opening. Remember to lock your seam at either side of the opening.
6. Remove from machine. Move to the other end of the top opening. Start stitching again, down one side, pivot at the corner, stitch across the end, pivot at the corner, and stitch along the remaining long side to the bottom opening. Remember to lock your seam at either side of the opening.
   
7. Trim your corners and turn right side out through the middle opening. Press. You might need to reach in to the corner points with a blunt-edged tool, like a large knitting needle, to help push out the seam and make a nice point at all corners.
8. Make sure you press the opening seam allowances in ½" so these edges (top and bottom) are flush with the sewn edges. 
9. Edgestitch along your finished seams, pivoting at all corners, but still leaving the top and bottom openings free and clear.
   

Attach skirt and bib to waistband

1. Find the completed skirt.
2. Insert the skirt into the bottom opening (the 30" opening) of the waistband. Pin in place.
3. Find the completed bib.
4. Insert the bib into the top opening (the 10½" opening) of the waistband. Pin in place.
   
5. Edgestitch along both openings, catching all the layers and securing the bib and skirt in place. Be careful that your new edgestitching matches the existing edgestitching on the waistband/ties piece.
   
6. Press well.

Contributors
Project Design: Alicia Thommas  
Sample Creation and Instructional Outline: Michele Mishler

Other machines suitable for this project include the Bernina 350PE and the Baby Lock Symphony.