Cutting Out Your Apron

To cut out your apron you will cut two dimensions: the width and the length.

For the width: The width of the apron is determined by the width of the fabric. If you are using the kit it is 54” wide. If you are using the kit or if your selvedge is fuzzy you will want to trim off your selvedges. The selvedge is the finished edge of the fabric that runs down the length.

Agostino Brunias, 1728–1796, Italian, active in Britain (1758–70; 1777-80s), Free West Indian Dominicans, ca. 1770, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1981.25.74 Public Domain

Agostino Brunias, 1728–1796, Italian, active in Britain (1758–70; 1777-80s), Free West Indian Dominicans, ca. 1770, Oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1981.25.74 Public Domain

Print made by James Caldwall, 1739–1819, British, after Michel Vincent Brandoin, 1733–1807, Swiss, Published by Robert Sayer, 1725–1794, British, and John Smith of Cheapside, active ca. 1750–1789, British, A Ladies Maid Purchasing a Leek, 1772, Line engraving and etching on moderately thick, moderately textured, cream laid paper, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1977.14.11105 Public Domain

Print made by James Caldwall, 1739–1819, British, after Michel Vincent Brandoin, 1733–1807, Swiss, Published by Robert Sayer, 1725–1794, British, and John Smith of Cheapside, active ca. 1750–1789, British, A Ladies Maid Purchasing a Leek, 1772, Line engraving and etching on moderately thick, moderately textured, cream laid paper, Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, B1977.14.11105 Public Domain

For the length: The length of the apron is your decision. If you are making this to wear in an historical context you will want to reference an image. Sometimes the apron was the same length as the petticoat and sometimes it was shorter than the petticoat. For example the apron I am cutting out is 35” included seam allowance.

It is worth noting that some English style 18th-century aprons have what is known as “slope” cut into them so that the center front is shorter than the sides. You can see that in this image and in this extant example. This class will not be teaching this technique but it was common enough that it is important to mention this detail. If you are making this for modern wear you can have it be whatever length pleases you.

To find the length: Take a soft tape measure and place the tape measure at your waist with the 1” is hanging down. Standing in front of a mirror while standing straight, lower the tape to the length you want the apron to be. The measurement at your waist will be the length measurement. For example the apron I am cutting out is 35” included seam allowance.

Take your measurement and add 1.5” for seam allowance this is length measurement for cutting out your apron.