5 Dainty Tea Apron Patterns: Vintage Hank-afores

Step By Step Instructions For Making Your Hank-afore

Here’s a vintage pamphlet with instructions for making five different styles of tea aprons that you make from handkerchiefs (you can use finished squares of fabric as well–just make sure each are the exact same size…bandanas would work well too).

The pamphlet was included in a package of 4 handkerchiefs, each were needed to make one apron. View each of the patterns below, all instructions and pattern piece details are included.

The apron worn by the woman on the cover is the last one (Apron #5). There’s no date anywhere on this vintage treat, but I’m guessing 1940’s. The pamphlet is pretty delicate and worn which tells me it was used quite a bit.

Enjoy the goodies!

Apron #1

Directions:

Make two pleats in handkerchief A as indicated and stitch flat.

Cut handkerchief B in half. Stitch end to end lapping 1/8 inch making ruffle for one side. Make ruffle for other side in the same manner. Gather 1/4 inch from the upper edges.

Stitch ruffles B and C to A as shown above. Draw in gathers so that the ruffles end 2 inches from apron corners.

Cut D into six strips. Join in pairs. One pair for halter–other pairs for belt. Hem edges–stitch to A.

Apron #2

Directions:

Cut handkerchief A diagonally. Join cut edges and seam 7 inches from one end. Hem 1/8 inch on remainder of cut edges and tack ends together for neck opening.

Join handkerchiefs B and C. Gather 1/4 inch from upper edges. Draw in to 15 inches and fasten gathers.

Cut handkerchief D in four strips. Join ends. Fold through middle and sew over gathered edge of B and C as shown.

Stitch apron top to center of belt.

Apron #3

Directions:

Cut A in half and gather 1/4 inch from cut edges. Draw in gathers and stitch to lower edge of handkerchief B as shown.

Cut C diagonally. Stitch both halves to B and AA as shown.

Cut D into four strips. Join ends, hem edges and sew to B.

Apron #4

Directions:

Cut small circular corner from A, B and C as shown 1 1/2 inches from square corner.

Join A, B and C keeping circular cut edge at top for waistline.

Cut D into four strips. Join ends, hem edges, fold lengthwise and sew over top edge of A, B and C.

Apron #5

Directions:

Cut handkerchief A as shown to get pieces A 1 and A 2. Hem side cut edges. Seam A 2 to wrong side of A 1 at top edge. Turn to right side and tack corners.

Cut corners off handkerchiefs B and C 7 1/2 inches each side of one corner. Seam cut edges. Use cut off corners to make hexagonal pockets.

Cut D into six strips. Join in pairs. One pair for halter, other pairs for belt. Hem edges and stitch one pair to top of front and other pairs to each side for belt.

Note:

• There’s no size given for the handkerchiefs used to make the above aprons, but you would want to use a fairly large size for adults and a smaller size for children.

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