Years ago Farmer John asked me to make him an apron to wear while processing chickens. I made him 3. I’m sure he loves me for that.
I chose to use feed sacks for the material for a few reasons. One reason being that I love the idea of repurposing material. Number two, they didn’t need to be fancy aprons – the chickens, nor Farmer John care. Number three: they are super simple to rinse off. And, four, the price was right.
Whenever I use feed sacks I find my biggest dilemma is how to get the slippery material to not slip while sewing. If you can figure that out, then this project will be a cinch.
The aprons require very few materials and basic sewing skills.
Required Items
• 2 feed sacks (same design)
• 2 30″ pieces of webbing
• 1 26″ piece of webbing
• thread & sewing machine
• scissors and/or rotary cutter
Preparing the Feed Sack
Rinse the feed sacks and let dry.
Cut off the bottom edge of one sack. You can discard that piece, you won’t need it. Then, cut up the middle of the back. The sack now opens to one flat piece of fabric to use for your apron.
Creating the Apron Shape
Find the middle of the front of your sack and fold the sack in half. Trim off about an inch from the side. Pin the sack together.
With a pen, make a mark at 7″ in from the side. Make another mark 10″ down from the top. To make the arm hole shape, I made a straight line a few inches long from the top. I also made a straight line a couple inches in from the side. Then free formed a curve, connecting the straight lines. Using a rotary cutter or scissors, cut along the pen line. Since the sack is folded in half, you should be cutting through both sides.
Open the sack and see the lovely apron shape.
Sewing the Top Section
Cut a few small slits along the curved section of the arm holes.
Fold over the arm hole edges 1/4″ – 1/2″.
Fold over the top edge 1/2″, then fold it over again.
Tuck both ends of your neck strap under the folded top edge. Then flip the strap up and pin in place.
Starting at the side of one arm hole, sew around the arm hole, along the top edge, and down around the other arm hole.
Making a Big Pocket
From the second feed sack, cut off the bottom and cut up the middle back just like the first sack.
I don’t have exact measurements on where to cut the sack for the pocket. It varies a bit depending on the design on the sack. But, it will typically be about 1/3 to 1/2 up from the bottom of the sack. I just pick an area that looks pleasing – like not through text or animal faces. Once you find your optimal pocket top, cut 3/4″ above it. You will now have a rectangular piece of fabric.
Fold over 3/4″ along the top edge of your pocket. Straight (or zig zag) stitch along the top edge.
Pin your rectangle pocket piece to the main apron.
Sewing the Bottom Section
Lay the rectangle pocket piece on top of the main apron. They are now acting as one fabric piece.
Fold over the remaining unsewn edges 1/2″, making sure the pocket edges are folded too. Fold the edges over again.
The bottom corners get quite thick due to the number of layers folded. I trim off a bit.
Fold the corners so they come together nicely and pin in place.
Tuck each side tie under the folded side edge. Then flip the side tie out and pin in place.
Starting at the top of a side, sew down the side, along the bottom, and up the other side.
And, Done!
The apron is now ready for all those sloppy chores.
