Quilter’s Apron Tool Belt Tutorial

The quilter’s tool belt is not just limited to the sewing room. If I did have a yard or outdoor space in my apartment, I would totally make a second one for gardening.  

Completed project measures: 14in x 20in (apron only) and length of the tie closure varies. See third dot point in the next section.

Step 1: With wrong side facing up, on one long edge of the Apron Pocket 10½in x 21in rectangle, fold ½in towards the centre and press. Then fold ½in towards the centre again to hide raw edges. Press and stitch close to the folded edge.

 

Step 2: Identify the centre of the Apron Pocket rectangle, lengthwise, by folding the Apron Pocket in half, shorter ends touching each other. Finger press to mark the central guide. If you’re concerned about the central guide disappearing whilst working, you could press into place with an iron or mark with fabric pen or pencil.

Set Apron Pocket aside for Pockets and Belting Strap for Scissors & Rotary Cutter, Step 4.

Step 3: Take the belting strap intended to hang scissors and / or rotary cutter from the front of the apron (7¼in belting strap). At each raw end of the belting strap, fold approx. ¼in towards the centre twice. Adjust stitch length to approx. 3.0mm and stitch close to the folded edge to enclose raw edges. Reverse the start and end of stitch for additional enforcement, and for even more enforcement, you could also go over this whole section a couple of times. Take your time here.   

You may also want to attach a walking foot for this step to help better guide the thickness of the folded strap.

Step 4: In this step, mark guidelines to determine where the belting strap goes to hang scissors and / or rotary cutter on the front pocket.

Firstly, take Apron Pocket from Step 2, turn it so right side facing up and the hem is on top. Measure and mark 3in from the left edge of Apron Pocket. Then mark a horizontal guide 2in parallel from the top of the hemmed edge with fabric pen or marker, just before you hit the central guideline that was marked in Step 2.

Step 5: Take belting strap from Step 3. Match the top left corner of the belting strap with where the horizontal and vertical guidelines on the Apron Pocket meet. Then pin the belting strap in place. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams for additional enforcement. Since there is some bulk from the folded edge of the belting strap to hide the raw edges, sew this first seam slightly off the bulk to make it easier to sew in place.

You may also want to switch to a zipper presser foot to get that seam as close as possible to the belting strap fold.

Step 6: Using the sewn seam from the previous step, measure and mark 2½in on the belting strap. Then lift up the belting strap and using the sewn seam from the previous step again, measure and mark 1½in on the Apron Pocket.

Step 7: Using the marked guidelines from the previous step, match the marked guideline on the belting strap with the marked guideline on the Apron Pocket. Pin in place and sew on the marked guideline on the belting strap to create the first loop to slide your scissors or rotary cutter. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams for additional enforcement.

Step 8: Lay the remaining right half of the belting strap flat on the Apron Pocket. Measure and mark ½in from the seam sewn in the previous step on the belting strap. Then sew on the marked guideline, this gap is going to allow some space between the first and second tool hung on the belting loop.

Step 9: In this step, we’re creating the second loop for. Similar to Step 6, measure and mark 2¼in on the belting strap. Then lift up the belting strap and using the sewn seam from the previous step again, measure and mark 1¼in on the Apron Pocket. *Note: The measurements here are ¼in shorter compared with Step 6. This smaller loop accommodates other tools and / or tools with varying sizes.

Step 10: Using the marked guidelines from the previous step, match the marked guideline on the belting strap with the marked guideline on the Apron Pocket. Pin in place and sew on the marked guideline on the belting strap to create the second loop to slide your scissors or rotary cutter. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams for additional enforcement.

You may want to switch to a zipper presser foot to bypass some of the bulk from the folded belting strap as shown below.

This is how the loops look like with tools…

Step 11: Referring to the photo below, with right side of one Apron Front 13½in x 21in rectangle facing up, and right side of the Apron Pocket facing up. Matching the bottom and side raw edges. Pin in place and sew ½in away from the right, bottom and left edges, leaving an opening on the top of the Apron Pocket. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam for additional enforcement.

Step 12: Using the central guideline from Step 2 (or measure 10½in from the right edge) and measure and mark a guide 5½in from the right edge, sew on the guidelines to create three pockets. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams for additional enforcement.

 

Apron Front and Lining

Step 1: With right sides together, place Apron Lining 13½in x 21in rectangle on top of Apron Front. Pin in place and sew ½in away from the right, bottom and left edges. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam for additional enforcement.

Step 2: Clip two notches, one on each bottom corner of the apron. Take extra care when doing so. Don’t cut through your stitching in this area. The purpose of these notches ensures the corners are looking pointy and sharp.

 

Step 4: Adjust the seam allowance on the sewing machine to ¼in. Sew around the perimeter of the apron to secure all the layers of fabric. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams. You may also want to attach the walking foot with all the bulk from the multiple layers of fabric stacked up.

Apron Belting Strap Waist / Hip Loop

Step 1: Enclose raw edges of the shorter edges of the Apron Belting Strap Waist / Hip Loop 5in x 22in rectangle by folding ½in towards the centre twice, press and stitch close to the fold to secure in place.

Note: For the remainder of the tutorial, “Apron Belting Strap Waist / Hip Loop” will be referenced as “Belting Strap Loop” for short. 

 

Step 2: On the wrong side of the Belting Strap Loop rectangle, measure and mark 4in from the bottom long edge. Then fold and match the bottom long edge to match the marked guide. Press in place.

Step 3: Unfold the Belting Strap Loop rectangle. With right sides together, line up the long bottom edge of the Belting Strap Loop rectangle with the top Apron Front edge. Adjust the seam allowance on the sewing machine to ⅜in and sew ⅜in from the raw edge. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams.

Then with the iron, press the seam to one side. Take extra care when pressing the seam. You do not want to tamper with the pressed fold made at Step 2.

Step 4: Keep the Belting Strap Loop rectangle unfolded, and stitch close to the folded edge to secure Belting Strap Loop rectangle on the Apron Front. Again, you may want to have the walking foot attached since there is a bit of bulk from the multiple layers of fabric.

Step 5: Fold ½in towards the centre and press in place. Take extra care here as you’re pressing this fold in place as you do not want to tamper with the pressed fold made at Step 2.

Step 6: Create a loop here by folding the Belting Strap Loop rectangle over to the Apron Lining. Lay the Belting Strap Loop rectangle flat and stitch as close as possible to the fold to secure the rectangle in place. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam for additional enforcement.

Then sew ¼in from the same folded edge for additional enforcement. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam. 

Set Apron aside for Belting Strap Around the Body, Step 2.

Belting Strap Around the Body

Step 1: We’re in our final steps of the project. Hooray! This step is similar to Step 3 of the first section. At each raw end of the belting strap around the body, fold approx. ¼in towards the centre twice, adjust stitch length to approx. 3.0mm and stitch close to the folded edge to enclose raw edges. Reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam. For even more additional enforcement, you could also sew over these areas more than once.

Step 2: Take a safety pin and pin it on one end of the belting strap. Then carefully slide it through the loop created in Apron Belting Strap Waist / Hip Loop, Step 6, ensuring the strap is not twisted. Keep sliding until the apron is about midway of the belting strap.

Step 3: Trim loose threads and enjoy! And don’t forget to share your progress or completed project on social media by tagging: #TheWeekendQuilter @the.weekendquilter

 

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