How to Make a Clothespin Apron

Category Sewing

If you have chosen to use a clothes line to supplement or replace your dryer this cute apron is exactly what you need to carry your pins. This is a guide about how to make a clothespin apron.

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Clothespin Apron

By lalala... [849 Posts, 108 Comments]4 found this helpful

April 27, 2017

My mom recently purchased an amazing Breezecatcher revolving clothesline and decided that she really wanted to have a clothespin apron to use when hanging the wash. She found a style she liked online and we decided that we to make one using her choice of fabrics. This is how it turned out. She absolutely loves it! Click here to read a review for the Breezecatcher Rotary Clothesline.

Clothespin Apron - person wearing the apron and holding a couple of clothes pins

Supplies:

template (cardstock, pencil, ruler)
fabric for apron
fabric for pocket
fabric for binding and ties
pins
scissors
needle
thread
sewing machine

Steps:

Create a template on a piece of paper. The template is for both the main apron and the pouch pocket on the same piece of paper. Lay your hand on the template where you draw the pocket opening to be sure your hand will fit inside comfortably. Note: After cutting out the main apron pieces, you will trim the template for the pocket.

Clothespin Apron - template for apron and pouch

Clothespin Apron - drafting apron on brown craft paper

Clothespin Apron - closeup of apron with seam allowance

Clothespin Apron - check fitting hand for pouch depth

Clothespin Apron - brown paper pattern cut out

Pin the apron template to the fabric, along the fold. Cut out two.

Clothespin Apron - pattern placed on the fold of the apron fabric

Clothespin Apron - paper pinned in place

Clothespin Apron - closeup of pinned pattern

Clothespin Apron - pattern with fabric cut out

Clothespin Apron - opened two pieces of fabric for apron

Now cut down the template for the pouch pocket.

Clothespin Apron - removing portion of paper pattern to create pouch pattern

Clothespin Apron - view of pouch paper pattern

Pin the template to the fabric along the fold. Cut out two.

Clothespin Apron - pouch pattern pinned to flowered fabric

Clothespin Apron = paper pattern still pinned to flowered fabric

Bias Binding: Lay out the fabric, draw a line diagonally across (near the corner), then measure down 2 inches and draw another line across the fabric. Repeat until you have enough strips for the amount of binding you need. Then cut all of the strips.

Clothespin Apron - drawing lines on green batik for bias binding

Clothespin Apron - marking fabric for bias binding

Clothespin Apron - lines drawn for bias binding

Clothespin Apron - cut strips of bias binding

Mark and cut off the diagonal ends of each strip.

Clothespin Apron - marking the straight cut line on the end of the bias strips

Clothespin Apron - bias strip squared off

Lay two strips together (right sides together) at a 90 degree angle, pin together, and then mark as shown below. Repeat until all strips are pinned together

Clothespin Apron - bias strips pinned at right angles and then marking the stitch line

Sew along the marked line, trim off excess fabric, then iron each seam flat.

Clothespin Apron - sewing the diagonal line on bias strips

Clothespin Apron - view of diagonally sewn joint

Clothespin Apron trim off extra seam allowance

Clothespin Apron - seam seen from the right side

Fold the binding in half and finger press. Then fold each side into the middle, finger pressing again.

Clothespin Apron - finger press the seam along the center line

Clothespin Apron - fold in the sides to the center

Clothespin Apron - both sides folded in to the center

Lay your two pieces for the pouch wrong sides together. Open your bias binding up and pin right side to right side of the pouch. We also basted it in place. Sew on your machine.

Clothespin Apron - pin the right side of the binding to the pocket opening

Clothespin Apron - closeup of the binding pinned on

Clothespin Apron - stitching the binding to the pocket edge

Trim off excess seam allowance and clip curves.

Clothespin Apron - trim off excess seam allowance

Fold the bias binding along the center fold back over the pouch pieces encasing the two layers. Adjust to fit and pin. Blind stitch along the inside.

Clothespin Apron fold the binding over the seam and pin in place

Clothespin Apron - cover the initial seam line when turning

Clothespin Apron - binding turned and pinned in place

Clothespin Apron - binging pinned in place on both pocket edges

Clothespin Apron - inside edge of pocket

Clothespin Apron - blind stitching the binding on the inside of pocket

Place the two layers of fabric for your main apron with wrong sides together. Lay the pouch on top. Pin along the top, through all 4 layers.

Clothespin Apron - place the two apron fabric pieces together with wrong sides facing

Clothespin Apron - lay and adjust the pouch so that edges match

Clothespin Apron - close up of pouch edge

Clothespin Apron - pin all four thicknesses along the long top edge

We decided to make a fabric loop to hang the apron between uses. Cut a rectangle of fabric and fold in half. Finger press. Open out and fold both sides to the middle and finger press again. Now fold in half along the center fold and pin. Stitch very close to the folded edges. Make a loop and pin to the inside of the main apron piece, loop away from seam. Machine baste (with 1/4 in. seam) the four layers of the apron and pouch with the loop in place.

Clothespin Apron - cut a narrow length of the batik to use in making a hanger, then fold in half and finger press along the center

Clothespin Apron - fold the sides in to the center and then fold in half

Clothespin Apron - pin along the entire length in preparation for sewing

Clothespin Apron - stitch through all 4 thicknesses very close to the edge of the hanger

Clothespin Apron - fold hanger in half and pin to the apron back with loop away from the seam

Clothespin Apron - view of the loop machine basted in place

Clothespin Apron - loop sticking up after machine basting of apron top

Pin the clothespin pouch to the apron layers around the outer edge. You can hand baste or leave pins in place and use them to also pin binding in place.

Clothespin Apron - pin the apron together along sides and bottom

Clothespin Apron - pouch pinned to apron

Using the remainder of your bias binding, begin fitting to outer edge of apron again with right sides together. We decided to hand baste the seam as it was difficult to see the fold to use it as the stitching line. Once bias is pinned all of the way around sew on your machine.

Clothespin Apron - bias binding pinned to apron by removing pins and resetting

Clothespin Apron - measuring the seam allowance as it was difficult to see the fold

Clothespin Apron - bias binding basted on

Trim off excess seam allowance and clip curves. Fold binding to back side of apron and blind stitch in place. Press the binding once its all sewn on.

Clothespin Apron - trim excess seam allowance

Clothespin Apron - fold bias binding to back of apron

Clothespin Apron - blind stitch in place

Clothespin Apron - press the apron and recently attached binding prior to attaching waistband

Create a template that is 17" x 3" for the ties. One of the short sides of the template should be placed on a fold, so that your ties will be 35" long. Cut two ties.

Clothespin Apron - pin apron tie patten on fold

Clothespin Apron - cut out first tie and repeat

Fold your tie template down to 10" x 3" and use it to cut out the waistband. Place the template on the fold, creating a waistband that is 20" long.

Clothespin Apron - get your waistband pattern

Clothespin Apron - pin waistband pattern on the fold and cut out

Pin ties to waistband, right sides together and stitch with 1/2 in. seam.

Clothespin Apron - pin ties and waistband together with right sides together

Clothespin Apron - stitch ties to waistband

Clothespin Apron - seam can be finger pressed

Hem the ties with a 1/2 in. seam, right sides together. Trim seam allowances and clip corners.

Clothespin Apron - pin the ties together right sides facing

Clothespin Apron - stitch ties, stopping short of the waistband

Clothespin Apron - view of tie seam and turn to close ends

Clothespin Apron - trimming excess fabric on long seam

Turn your ties right side out. We used a chopstick to assist in this step. Flatten along the seam and press.

Clothespin Apron - turning the ties right side out

Fold your waistband over the machine basting along the top edge and pin in place.

Clothespin Apron - fold waistband to the back along the center and pin in place

Begin top stitching on one tie and continue across waistband (this is actually also stitching it together over the apron top) and other tie. Turn at the end of tie and stitch up short end and turn again to continue top stitching across back to first tie. Close top stitching by turning and connecting to initial stitches.

Clothespin Apron - begin topstitching on ties close to edge

Clothespin Apron - continue topstitching to also include attaching the waistband

Clothespin Apron - continue around complete length of both ties and turn to stitch top, ends, and bottom

Clothespin Apron - topstitching across the waistband

It is done. See the front and back views below.

Clothespin Apron - view of finished apron from the back

Tie it on and hang some laundry. The spacious pouch holds lots of pins.

Clothespin Apron - Mom wearing the clothespin apron

Clothespin Apron - hanging Peanuts sheets

Clothespin Apron - closeup of pins in pouch

Comment Pin it! Was this helpful? 4

Comments

By littergitter [254 Posts, 773 Comments]

April 29, 20170 found this helpful

A long time ago, I had an apron clothespin bag made like that and I loved it.

I miss my clothesline. A Breezecatcher would be perfect for me. I think I will start hinting around and see what happens. With Mothers Day and my birthday coming up, maybe something will happen.

Reply Was this helpful? Yes

By attosa [529 Posts, 2,848 Comments]

April 30, 20170 found this helpful

It's beautiful! I'll work on one of these with my mum :)

Reply Was this helpful? Yes

By andrea.henderso80 [5 Posts, 189 Comments]

May 22, 20170 found this helpful

This is a very neat idea!! This is a must try! & I'm going to try it! I just love hanging my clothes out, but always have an issue of how to keep my pins handy. This would save me time & pain from bending down too!

Reply Was this helpful? Yes

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