My little lady LOVES to cook. We can’t go in the kitchen for any reason without hearing “What are we making? I’m gonna help!” While we love teaching her about food, she’s only three and things tend to get a bit messy. I decided that it was time for her to have her own apron. And I had the perfect fabric! Yellow is her favorite color and the block print floral is so timeless.

This Rico Coated Cotton is so perfect for sewing homewares. It’s somewhere between normal broadcloth and being fully laminated. It’s definitely hydrophobic, but it doesn’t feel plasticky. Great for wearing in the kitchen!

It sewed up really nicely. I thought I might need a nonstick foot, but my regular one had no trouble at all. I used wonder clips because my pins were getting a little stuck. I would also recommend lots of care while pressing. I was able to use regular heat and steam, but pressing takes much longer since the iron doesn’t move smoothly around the fabric because of the coating. I took this into account when choosing my patterns and how I finished the aprons.

Of course since I was making the girl an apron, I had to make one for myself too. I made the Hey June Allspice Apron a couple months ago and have really loved it. I knew I wanted to find a similar style for my little chef.

I searched high and low for an apron pattern with similar features - extra coverage, curved neckline, thick, straps that cross in the back. I couldn’t find anything I liked. At some point I gave up on the idea of a matching apron and started looking for apron-adjacent coverings. Magically, I found the Child’s Artist Smock from Spoonflower. It was everything I wanted, just with a different name! And like the Allspice Apron, it was free!

Both of these patterns are super straightforward and really quick to make. The Allspice Apron is just two pattern pieces. Since the straps are incorporated into the apron front, it’s just one piece cut on the fold and a rectangle for the pocket. It’s finished with a whopping 8 meters of bias tape.

The instructions suggest making bias binding, but since the coating doesn’t love to be pressed, I opted to purchase some white cotton bias tape. Definitely worth it! I also don’t normally clip and notch curves with bias tape, but because of the difference in weight between the fabric and the bias tape, I’d definitely recommend taking that extra step to help those corners and curves lay flat.

The Child’s Art Smock is made to be reversible by lining the inside, connecting the shoulders, turning out through the bottom and topstitch around the whole edge. While I liked the idea of it being reversible, I was unsure about so much pressing on the right side of the fabric. More bias tape! I have to say that sewing that length of bias binding in such tiny curves was a bit tricky, but again, worth it to get a nice clean edge.

I always love matching with my little girl, but the added practicality of these aprons makes this project a total win! Mwah!

Make Breakdown

Pattern: Hey June Allspice Apron
Size Range: XS-XL (32-60” hip)
Fabric & Notions: 1.7 meter Rico Coated Cotton + 9 meters bias tape
Design Modifications: None
Fit Alterations: Moved pocket placement
Size: XL
Difficulty: Beginner
+
Pattern: Spoonflower Child’s Artist Smock
Size Range: XS-XL (20-37”chest)
Fabric & Notions: 1.6 meters Rico Coated Cotton
Design Modifications: Used bias binding instead of lining
Fit Alterations: None
Size: XS
Difficulty: Beginner

#MinervaBrandAmbassador #MinervaMaker #MommyAndMe #MatchyMatchy #Twinning #TwinningIsWinning #LittleChef #RicoCoatedCotton #RicoFabrics #AllspiceApron #ChildsArtistSmock #SewingRicoFabrics #IMakeMyOwnClothes #Maker #MakersGonnaMake #MakersGonnaShare #MeMade #Sewist #SewistsOfInstagram #CurvySewing #ChronicallySewn #SewingDisabled