Gathering Apron Pattern

A foraging apron has pockets for supplies and the harvest you collect. It comfortably carries everything while keeping your hands free.

Tuck your foraging kit supplies into the apron pockets, when foraging in the wild or tending your own garden. When you make it yourself, the pockets can be customized for any task.

Made of only rectangles cut from a painter’s drop cloth, the apron is easy to assemble. Beginners can easily tackle this project by following the step-by-step instructions and photos below.

Gathering Apron

Upcycling a canvas drop cloth is cheaper than purchasing fabric. You may even have one leftover from another project. Paint splotches will give it character, and this apron is bound to get dirty anyway.

The canvas is also breathable which helps keep everything stay fresh. Upper pockets can hold jars for keeping delicate treasures like berries or flowers to avoid squishing them.

There is also room for a knife, your phone, a small notebook or field guide – everything you need for a successful foraging trip.

If you are learning to sew, you might want to check out these clever things to help you sew a straight line. Now let’s get started!

Supplies

• Canvas Drop Cloth
• 1″ Elastic
• Thread
• Measuring Tape
• Scissors
• Sewing Clips
• Straight Pins
• Rotary Cutter
• Cutting Mat

Nearly two aprons can be cut from one 5′ x 5′ canvas drop cloth. The fabric is easy to cut with either scissors or a rotary cutter.

Non-roll elastic is also preferred, so it doesn’t twist over time while using the apron. Regular elastic can also be used.

You will also need the following basic sewing supplies.

Sewing clips are recommended, but can be substituted for straight pins.

Gathering Apron Tutorial

Before cutting into your canvas drop cloth, take note of which edges are hemmed and which are selvage edges (not hemmed).

Time spent on this project can be reduced by cutting the pocket pieces with their tops along the selvage edge. This eliminates the need to fold, iron and hem it yourself.

Step 1 – Cut Drop Cloth

Cut 6 pieces to the following dimensions:

• Main: (2) 17″ x 24″
• Top Pocket: 10″ x 32″
• Bottom Pocket: 8″ x 32″
• Strap: (2) 4″ x length of drop cloth

You can also go ahead and cut two lengths of elastic to 22″ each.

Step 2 – Make Straps

Let’s begin by forming the straps. Essentially, we are making double fold bias tape with the two long strips of drop cloth.

Lay one strip perpendicular to the other to form a 90 degree angle. There are no right or wrong sides.

Pin the strips in place. Then draw a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right as shown.

Sew along the diagonal line you drew.

Remove the straight pins, and trim any excess fabric remaining to the right of seam.

Now open up the seam and press. You should have one continuous strip of drop cloth with a diagonal seam in the center.

Fold the strip in half lengthwise and press.

Then open the strip and fold each side to the center. Press.

Fold it in half in lengthwise once more and press.

Your strap is completed. Set it aside for now.

Step 3 – Prepare Pockets

Next, fold the selvage edges of the top and bottom pocket pieces down 1.5″ and press.

Sew them at the bottom of the folds to form a casing in each pocket.

Step 4 – Insert Elastic

Then pin a safety pin to the end of a 22″ length of elastic, and feed it through the casing.

Use straight pins to secure the elastic at either end of the casing. Repeat for the other pocket.

Step 5 – Sew Pockets to Apron Front

Now take one of the main pieces (17″ x 24″), and lay the top pocket on it with the right side facing down. With the elastic at the bottom (upside down) pin the raw edge of the pocket 8″ from the top of the main piece.

Align the edges from left to right. Then pinch 1/2″ pleats or gathers wherever the pocket fabric is not touching the main fabric piece. Pin the pleats in place.

Sew across the raw edge of the pocket with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Then flip the pocket over your sewn line, so it is right side up.

Top stitch along the base of the pocket.

Step 6 – Divide Into Smaller Pockets

At this point, think about how you will use the pockets and how many you’d like. Do you want a pocket to hold a jar? A pencil? Your phone? Only vegetables? How many pockets will you need?

Once you have that figured out, mark where you would like to form the pockets. In the example shown, the top row has two pockets meant to hold jars, one in the center for snips and a field guide, and a skinny slot meant for a pen or pencil.

Sew from the base of the pocket through the elastic, ensuring you back stitch at the beginning and end for security.

Step 7 – Add Bottom Pocket

Next pin the bottom pocket piece to the main piece, right side up.

Once again form pleats or gathers until the length of the pocket is flush against the main piece and pin.

Sew from the bottom of the apron to the top of the elastic for form as many pockets as you’d like.

Then pull the elastic to meet the edge of the main fabric piece and pin them together.

Step 8 – Assemble Front and Back

Place the remaining piece (17″ x 24″) on top of the pockets, and align all edges.

Use sewing clips or straight pins to hold the layers together at the bottom and sides of the apron.

Sew the sides and bottom (not the top!) with a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Trim the corners to remove excess bulk.

Step 9 – Turn Right Side Out

Then turn the apron right side out.

Step 10 – Sew Strap to Apron

Finally, it is time to add the strap. Find the center of the strap by folding it in half.

Then insert the top, open end of the apron into the center opening of the strap, aligning the center of the strap with the center of the apron. Clip or pin it in place.

Top stitch along the top, bottom and sides of the strap, continuing all the way down the length of the strap.

Your foraging apron is ready to gather nature’s abundance.

After bringing home your harvest, you might want to make some hanging mesh produce bags to store it in too.

Don’t forget to pin this project for later, and check out some more awesome sewing projects for beginners listed below.

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