I’m very excited about the coverall apron.  It’s design is one of those stories that encapsulates alot of the design process, where we don’t need to constantly reinvent the wheel, but rather be inspired by the work of others and respectfully come up with our own iterations.

This particular idea came from a Readers Digest Sewing book from 1976 (one of my favourite years for fashion). Alongside a project for a giant pencil cushion, denim foam furniture and a checkerboard beach towel, there is a pink denim garden apron.

My version of the apron is the one I use in the workshop on a daily basis. Wearing an apron that covers front and back means I can wear whatever I like to work without worrying that I’ll destroy and age my clothes prematurely. Aprons also make you feel like you’re at work. When worn at home also mean that you can work from the kitchen, to the garden to doing nothing at all without changing out of your designer denim jeans. I think kitchen aprons are well understood, but workshop and garden aprons aren’t used quite so much now.

My iteration of this design has changed quite a few elements to make the apron work well on a daily basis. The pocket, front attachment point, back strap arrangement are all simplified, and I’ve added the side openings for ease of removal as well as giving the option for extensions to the sides to make it larger. The book has one of those 70’s grid patterns that you’re supposed to enlarge on grid paper. I don’t know if these was something wrong with my grid, but it came out pretty tiny ;), So completely drawing up the apron had to also be done. It’s actually taken me a good couple of years between inspiration, prototypes, problem solving to being able to make a few for sale to spread the Readers Digest Complete Guide to sewing love.

Here endth the apron lesson.

And now for the pictures: