A designer runway skirt was my inspiration for this apron - it had a zebra print and was full and poufy with lots of tulle under the skirt. I created the zebra pattern with Fashion Blast spray and added tulle onto the outside of the skirt - a twist on the original. Animal prints aren't just for the jungle, now they’re for the kitchen too...
Zebra Apron Designed by Cheryl Ball courtesy of Duncan Enterprises
Tulip® Fashion Blast™ for Fabric
Coal
Miscellaneous supplies
Fabric: 2 yards white organza type, 2 yards white medium weight satin, 1 yard black medium weight for waistband and ties
Tulle, 3 yards black
Lace, 5 yards black
McCall’s Pattern, M555l
Scissors
Cardstock paper, 12” x 12”
Craft knife with cutting mat
Paper towels
Sewing machine
Thread, white or black
Sewing pins
Pin back
Plastic tablecloth, disposable
Measuring tape or yardstick
Iron
Pencil
Instructions
For best results, please read all instructions before beginning project. Refer to photo for color and design placement.
1. Lay tablecloth on work surface. Open organza fabric and lay on prepared surface. 2. Enlarge zebra pattern to 12” x 12”. Trace over design with pencil. Flip over pattern and position on cardstock. Retrace lines with pencil, transferring pattern to cardstock. 3. Lay cardstock on cutting mat, then use craft knife to cut out areas indicated. 4. Lay pattern onto corner of fabric covering edges with paper towels to protect fabric from over spray. Spray Fashion Blast on paper towel to start paint and to feel for how much spray is needed. Spray an even application within stencil. Carefully remove paper towels and pattern. Place stencil next to sprayed design, add paper towels and repeat step. Continue with remaining fabric. Excess paint can be carefully wiped from stencil or let dry after a few sections. Let dry. 5. To create apron skirt, measure and cut a 23” x 29” rectangle from painted fabric. Lay a single layer of white satin on work surface then layer painted fabric and a single layer of black tulle. Cut all fabric to painted fabric size. Remove bottom satin layer then pin painted and tulle together to prevent slipping. 6. Fold over on end of black lace and pin, facing in, onto tulle side about ½” in from edge and up from edge along one long side. Sew lace in place. Stop about 3” from end but don’t remove needle. Trim lace about 1” then turn under two times making sure end is ½” from end. Sew lace in place. 7. Lay satin onto lace side of fabric and pin in place. Sew along edge, bottom and up other side. Trim seam to ¼” and clip corners then turn inside side so tulle is on front and satin to back. Iron flat from satin side using a medium heat on iron. 8. Double black tulle. Measure and cut a 15” x 28” rectangle then a 10” x 28” rectangle. Place large section onto front of skirt matching top edges. Lay smaller section in place matching top edge. Pin in place to secure. Sew two lines of a gathering stitch along top edge sewing through all layers. Set aside. 9. Cut and sew bib of apron using pattern piece and following printed directions. When finished, tulle side will be to front. 10. Cut waistband and tie from black fabric then attach to bib following pattern directions. Attach skirt following pattern instructions. 11. Flower: Cut a 4" x 36" strip from painted fabric. Fold in half and sew a basting stitch along cut edge with needle and thread. Pull thread to gather. Cut same length from two layers of black tulle. Fold in half and sew and gather along cut edge. Layer the two gathered strips with painted strip to bottom. Fold in one end to cover cut edge and sew a few stitched to secure. Roll layers together and stitch to hold in place to desired size of flower. Cut a 7” circle from two layers of black tulle. Sew a gathering stitch in the center and gather tightly. Place flower in center then sew in place. Trim excess around flower. Sew pin back to back of flower.
I saw a runway dress that featured layers of lace and floral designs. I wanted the look of a corset and added softness with tulle. I sprayed Cool Color Spray through lace and floral stencils to create the desired layered look. The bubble skirt gives it an airy look and the silk flowers give it some dimension.
Floral Apron Designed by Cheryl Ball courtesy of Duncan Enterprises
Materials needed
Tulip® Cool Color Spray™ for Fabric
Hot Pink
Petunia
Grape
Miscellaneous supplies
Fabric, 2 yards ivory silk shantung
Tulle, 2 yards ivory
Lace yardage, ½ yard
Silk flowers, assorted sizes of white or natural
Cardstock, 12” x 12”
Craft knife and cutting mat
Sewing machine
Thread to match fabric
Sewing needle
Scissors
Paper towels
Sewing pins
Plastic tablecloth, disposable
Tracing paper
Graphite paper
Masking tape
Iron
Instructions
For best results, please read all instructions before beginning project. Refer to photo for color
and design placement.
1. Cut a 24” x 34” rectangle from silk fabric. Enlarge bib pattern to indicated size. Double silk fabric and fold in half. Pin pattern on fold and cut out, creating two. Cut waistband and ties to size indicated on pattern from remaining silk fabric. 2. For flower stencil, enlarge patterns to indicated size. Place pattern on cardstock and hold in place with small piece of tape. Place graphite paper, graphite side down; under pattern then use pencil to retrace lines, transferring design to paper. Place on cutting mat and use craft knife to carefully cut out sections. 3. Cover work surface with tablecloth. Place large rectangle and one bib section on surface. Cut sections from lace and place on fabric where shown. Start Hot Pink Cool Color Spray onto paper towels to get feel of spray and how much is needed. Spray onto lace sections working around edges and in center. Start lightly then add more as desired. Carefully remove lace and let dry. 4. Place large rose stencil where shown then cover edges with paper towels to prevent overspray. Spray Grape Cool Color in stencil openings. Carefully remove stencil then position medium rose stencil in place and repeat step. Continue with other stencils, placing where desired. Single designs can be added if needed. Let dry. 5. Cut heads from flowers and place on work surface. Lightly spray sections of each flower with each of three colors then let dry. 6. All seams are ½”. Sew ties and strap sections folding right sides together then sewing along sides leaving one end open. Trim seams, clip corners then turn inside out and iron. 7. Cut a single piece of tulle using bib pattern. Lay sprayed bib section on work surface then place tulle over top. Pin straps in place where indicated then pin other section in place. Sew around top edges leaving bottom edge open. Trim seams and clip curves, then turn inside out. Iron smooth. 8. Using matching thread sew, a gather stitch just to one side of center, down about 2-½”. With needle in, sew one stitch then turn and sew back to top. Pull top threads creating a loose gather. Tie ends of thread in knot then cut close to knot. 9. Cut a few petals from one flower. Lift tulle of bib and insert about three smaller flowers and petals. Pin edge closed. 10. Pin ties to ends of waistband ½” down from edge. Pin bib in place, right sides together along long edge of waistband. Iron a ½” seam along long edge of other waistband section then pin in place matching top edges sandwiching ties and bib between. Sew along ends and across top. Remove pins then trim seams and clip corners. Turn inside out and iron seams. 11. To create bubble skirt, lay skirt fabric, wrong side down, on work surface. Lay a piece of tulle over top, matching up top edge. Cut tulle 5” wider on three sides. Sew a gather stitch along bottom edge of tulle. 12. Match tulle to edges of fabric then gather tulle to fit along bottom edge, pinning to secure. Sew along the three sides. Remove gather threads. Trim edge close to stitching line then turn inside out. The right side of fabric should now be covered with tulle. For a finished edge, sew close to stitching lines through both layers on skirt. 13. Sew a gather stitch on both tulle and fabric along top edge. Insert desired flowers and petals between tulle and fabric. Gather and pin tulle, right sides together, to waistband section then gather and pin fabric in place. The pins from tulle must be removed before sewing or they will be inside skirt. As you sew fabric, remove pins from tulle. Sew in place along waistband edge. Remove pins and trim seam. 14. Turn raw edge to inside and slipstitch opening closed.
