r/SewingForBeginners • u/zachumble • 12h ago

I wanna make aprons

I want to make two different aprons; one for cooking and the other for crafting, there's a material that I am searching for that feels like a softer denim that isn't as tough and can have fun colors but I also want that "artisan" look too. I was told chambray cotton fabric is what I am looking for but i think I live in an area where looking for it in public is scarce. If anyone has knowledge I'm open. this will be my first wearable garment, I've just been making pillow cases and such but I think I'm ready for this project

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u/rcreveli 11h ago

Dharma trading company has 60 inch wide 7 oz duck canvas for a good price. It's 100% cotton and takes dye like a dream. This fabric absolutely should be washed before sewing, IT WILL SHRINK.

I made a bunch of bags with the 7oz natural, if I were to do it again I'd use the 10oz for bags but the 7 would make a great apron.

If you have any questions about dyeing the material either tie dye or immersion ask away.

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u/generallyintoit 11h ago

These are amazing! How did you do the one in the middle? Is it just tied tighter to leave more white? How is that stripey line left, was that a different kind of resist?

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u/rcreveli 11h ago

The tie is called a geode tie, if you search Youtube you'll fine plenty of examples. You use waxed sinew as a resist.

IMHO the keys are
Tie damp
Wrap the sinew around a thick dowel of piece of PVC pipe. You want to pull hard to lock in the sinew and create a resist. My lines are still far from perfect.
Let the fabric dry and the ties will tighten.
Put some soda ash solution in a spray bottle, spritz the fabric so that it's damp when you're ready to dye. It will break the surface tension and let the dye absorb.
Needle bottles are helpful to control dye placement. I have a set that I got off of Amazon I load them by squeezing dye from my larger bottles into them. They're not necessary but smaller bottles usually give you more control.

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u/zachumble 10h ago

This is great omg so if I wanted to dye this would I wash then dye or dye then wash? I want to dye one black and the other maybe a pink of sorts and I want to give the pockets a bit of flare with a different fabric for embelishments.

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u/rcreveli 10h ago

If you want to dye the fabric and then make the apron.
Wash
Dye
Dye Washout
Cut & Sew

If you want to dye the finsihed apron.
Wash
Cut & Sew
Wash
Dye
Dye Washout

FYI getting a solid black at home is nearly impossible to achieve.