Hey friends! I was asked by my friend Barbara at French Ethereal to join her in a Spring DIY/Craft Round Up. My first reaction was What the cuss Barbara, I hate crafting! But she is so sweet and encouraging to me that I didn’t want to let her down so here’s what I came up with – a DIY Spring Gardening Apron From A Kitchen Towel. You’ll see other spring ideas at the end of the post so don’t forget to keep scrolling to see those. Let’s get started.
DIY Spring Gardening Apron From A Kitchen Towel
If you’ve been around a while, you know I’m just an okay crafter. Besides being an okay crafter, I’m also an okay seamstress too. I still love to sew and have made a few things since the middle-school-home-economics-navy-calico-printed-dress-with-the-bad-red-zipper debacle. This DIY only took about 10 minutes and was so gratifying! I’ve tried using this particular kitchen towel for other things but it’s a bit stiff and scratchy. Because of that though it makes the perfect gardening apron. Plus I’m all about repurposing too! 😉
Here are the supplies you need (all of them were items I already had).
Supplies:
Kitchen Towel at least 24″ long
Ribbon
Thread and Pins
Sewing Machine
If you don’t have a sewing machine, you’ll probably want to head over to a friends house and use theirs (after the Corona Virus has gone away). The ends of the tea towel can get thick after folding which makes this almost impossible to sew by hand.
First I folded the towel in half with the right sides together. Then I folded the bottom half in half again showing the front of the towel at the bottom (step 1). After pinning the sides together so it wouldn’t move (step 2), you can see that in step 3 it makes a pocket. Next I sewed all three edges together – the left side bottom half, the right side bottom half and then all along the entire width at the bottom (step 4).
To make the pocket, I simply found the middle of the apron and added a seam right down the middle. Voila, we now have two pockets!
Here’s another confession.
I’m a lazy seamstress too. Just like sewing in a navy zipper into a navy dress and being too lazy to change out the red thread, I used what was already there.
In this instance, I knew from the start I’d need to change out the bobbin in the machine when it came time to sewing on the ribbon ties. Step 1 shows you what it looked like. Lucky me, the bobbin ran out just as I got one ribbon sewn on. Seeing that as a sign, I changed it out to black. You can see in Step 2 above that I have one with white thread and one with black thread. My everyday-life-changing-mantra kicked in and what did I hear… It’s okay.
Is this another gift only a mother could love because one seam isn’t black? Heck no! I will use this adorable gardening apron and never think twice about it.
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
There was just enough ribbon left on the roll to add a cute bow to the front of the pockets. It’s so cute and maybe, just maybe, I’ll do some gardening now. LOL, nope. You know I have moldy brown thumbs. I gave it to my gardening neighbor and she’s way too nice to ever comment on any mishaps or malfunctions.
Have you ever tried to take a selfie? I’ve tried maybe 3 times. Usually, whoever I’m with (that would be my kids) gives up after my third try and walks away. I tried several times today to do it with this gardening apron on but my dang arms aren’t long enough and I’m not buying a selfie stick. Here’s my neighbor Barbara (different Barbara than blogging Barbara) being my model.
So there you have it, a DIY Spring gardening apron from a kitchen towel. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can do it. Next up is Judith from Botanic Bleu. You’ll love her paper cone and beautiful French Country style!
Happy Spring Friends!
Cindy, Your gardening apron is so adorable. I love how you used a kitchen towel.
Author
Thanks Carol! It almost feels like drop cloth so I thought it would work better than trying to nap up anything in the kitchen. LOL.
So cute! I’m proud of you for not taking the easy way. Way to go!
Author
Thanks Melinda! Actually, when I was sewing it together I thought about the last time I sewed anything and the horrible memory of the ruffles on the chair cushions for Navastinky came flooding back! No stanks!
You can’t fool me, Cindy. I know you’re a crafter of awesomeness. LOVE the apron.
Author
LOL Laura, you are the only one not fooled! I’d love to make tea towels with the crocheted bottoms but I know that will never happen. Keepin’ it simple. 😉
Cindy,
This is so stink’n cute!! I love how this turned out and you gave great instructions. Look at you crafty lady.
Cindy
Author
LOL Cindy! No one has ever called me crafty lady! I wish. Glad you like it. I was pretty proud of myself.
I love it Cindy! Hey I mentioned you in an upcoming blog post! I’ll take you somewhere somehow! You had me at ehat the cuss word!
Laura
Author
Haha Laura. Glad you liked it. I say that all the time. Now that I think about it, maybe I’m more frustrated than I think?! Glad you could visit today and thanks for the mention in your post. So sweet of you. Well if it’s good things. I’ll have to check it out. 😉
This is a lot prettier than the little bucket i carry around, thanks so much and just in time, have a great safe day.
Author
Thank you Marlene. It turned out cuter than I thought and it will dress up the crappy gardening clothes we wear. So stylish. LOL!
So cute! I have a black grill style apron I’ve never used. You’ve inspired me to add some flowered fabric to make pockets so I can use it in my garden. Thank you!
Author
Yay Traci! It excites me to know you were inspired. Flowery fabric on black sounds beautiful! Thank you for stopping by and commenting today. Stay safe!
This is such a pretty and fun project, Cindy! Pinning!
Author
Thank you Linda. I surprised myself for sure! 😉
Well, my ears pricked up at “only a mother could love”, since that is usually a portent of some fabulous handmade item heading my way. Darn! Well, I do love it! And that towel is so familiar to me, I think I actually gave it to you. The whole apron is just adorable. And I think it could be used also in the kitchen! Very clever. Must be hereditary. 💚😉
Author
No, you didn’t give me the towel but you have seen it hanging in my kitchen. Not sure about that hereditary cleverness either. Now the lack of creativity and craftiness, yes, it’s possible. LOL
Cindy, your spring kitchen towel-turned-apron came out great!!! Yes, you CAN CRAFT and do a great job, too! ;)’ I love the pocket idea and how simple to make?! 10 minutes and BOOM, done! Gives me some ideas for making gifts. <3 Thank you for joining today's tour! Inlinkz will fix the issue soon, I'm sure.
Author
Thank you Barbara. It would make a great gift idea! I might do some while we are sitting at home being bored. Who wants to be on my nice list?! 🙂
Me! <3 I am thinking of starting a Send a Card of Encouragement myself. 🙂 Been blogging and visiting others all week while getting things done around here. Happy creating!!! <3
Author
That sounds great Barbara! You can send me one! 😃
This is so cute! I love the kitchen towel you used. Such pretty and bright colors.
Author
Thank you Michelle. I love yellow and black together. Stay healthy!
Cindy,
You can feign non-craftiness all you want, but this apron made from a kitchen towel is just one example of your craftiness. I love how you used the towels existing seams and cleverly folded the towel to create the two pockets. One of my favorite things you created was the HUGE wreath made from silver platters over your buffet. Always a fun time visiting you, on the blog, and in person.
Stay safe, dear friend,
Judith
Author
Awe, thank you Judith! I kinda forgot about the huge silver tray wreath since it’s not hanging up anywhere at the moment. That was quite the undertaking so I suppose I’ll agree with you this time. 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by and the sweet comment. Made my day. Big air hugs to you!
Oh my goodness, this is gorgeous! I no longer have a sewing machine but I bet I can make this with my hot glue gun!!!
Author
Thank you Yvonne. I never thought to use a hot glue gun! That’s smart! Happy Spring!
Cute cute cute! I love gardening and I love that French lemon dish towel. I am still learning to sew (my middle school home ec sewing project was a letter “A” stuffed pillow) but I imagined I could whip one of these up from my dish towel stash and my mad hot glue skills.
I really do need a gardening apron, this is a great idea. Thanks for inspiring!
Author
Thank you stuffed pillow “A”! I know you could whip up one of these even with no sewing skills. It’s literally a few straight lines! Hope you get around to making yourself one. You know, with all that extra time you have. LOL!
I love this! It will look so much prettier than my home depot tool belt and I think I have the perfect towel in the drawer. The kind that looks really pretty but never dry anything. LOL! Thank you for the humor and usefulness!
Author
That was one of these towels – pretty but it doesn’t nap up anything! Glad you were inspired! Send a picture when you get it done. 🙂 Happy Spring and have a blessed Easter.