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Make this exquisite little apron in time for tea.

This adorable apron is a quick and easy sewing project, and features a delightful café-inspired embroidered design. This project provides:

Step-by-step instructions
A complete list of everything you’ll need
Design templates

Getting Started

This project involves transferring a tea-cup design to your fabric, and then embroidering over the design.

There are a number of methods you can use to transfer the design, including iron-on transfer paper, transferf mesh, carbon paper, or by placing a light source under the image and then tracing the image onto the fabric freehand

Whatever method you choose, it’s important that you first preshrink the fabric by washing and drying it the same way that you’ll care for the finished piece. Then you should press the fabric because it needs to be wrinkle-free before it’s hooped. Since marks from some transfer tools become permanent when ironed, it’s best to press your fabric before transferring a design to it.

Special Stitches

Scallop Stitch

Make a loose stitch on the design line, from A to B (see figure 1). Finger-press the stitch flat to one side of the line, so the center of the top is the desired depth of the finished scallop. Bring the needle to the front of the fabric at the center of the previous stitch, at C. Insert the needle on the outside of the loop to hold the top of the scallop in place, at D.

Split Stitch

On the front of the fabric, make a small stitch that’s twice as long as the desired finished stitch, from A to B (see figure 2). Bring the needle up through the center of the stitch, at C, to split the floss in half. Make another long stitch on the surface, and then split it, to continue the line of stitching.

Stem Stitch

Make a stitch, from A to B (see figure 3). Leave the floss a little loose. Pull the needle through to the front at the midpoint and just to one side of the previous stitch, at C. Pull the floss tight. Continue this process to make a length of Stem Stitches along the design line.

Threaded Running Stitch

Make a line of small, close Running Stitches (see figure 4). End this floss. Start a second floss strand in another color at the same spot as the first line of stitches, at A (see figure 5). Working only on the front—without stitching through the fabric—insert the needle under the first Running Stitch, then through the second Running Stitch. Continue weaving the second color back and forth under the Running Stitches until the end of the line. End this floss. Weave additional lengths of floss through the straight stitching—on top of the fabric—in any manner, if desired.

Skill Level

Beginner

Materials

Café Cup design pattern (found at the end of the instructions)
1⁄3 yard (.3 m) of pink cotton fabric
Sewing thread to match the fabric
Embroidery floss, 1 skein each of cream, dark brown, medium brown, light pink, and pink
2 yards (1.82 m) of pink satin ribbon, 2" (5.1 cm) wide