Help with sewing an apron

[CathyA]

I haven't sewn for a long time. But recently, I got out my old Kenmore, oiled it up and I'm ready to go.

I found one of those pre-stamped apron designs that you just cut out the pieces. It's very Italian looking and I want to make it for DD. I bought a complementary fabric to line it with.
There's a good You-Tube video on doing this, but she stopped short of explaining a few things.

I will cut out the backing, using the shape of the main apron piece. I know to put the right sides together, except for the bottom, and then I would turn it right-sides out.

BUT....Since it's lined, I need to deal with the neck straps and waist ties differently. I'm having trouble visualizing this............
Would I sew the ties, turn them right side out and then (before sewing the main apron pieces together right-sides together), sew the finished ties while sewing up the main apron pieces.......but with the finished ties INSIDE the pieces, so that when I turned the right-sides out.........everything would be where they should be?

Everyone totally confused?? haha

It would be easier if I just lined the apron and then sewed all the ties to the back side of the apron..........but since I am lining it, I figured I might as well hide the strap stitching.

Also.........Is there a reason to somehow stitch the lining elsewhere to the main apron? There aren't any pockets and I don't want to get creative.....

Thanks for any suggestions!
P.S.....I did wash and dry them, so I think they're pretty pre-shrunk.

[Zoe Girl]

I think I can visualize this. So I would make the straps, sew them to the front of the apron with a basting stich, then sew the lining to the front of the apron. I would also recommend top stitching the entire apron which will help it lay flat and secure the straps even more.

I don't think you need to attach the front to the back in any way, however I have an idea to leave the bottom open (like a pillow case instead of a throw pillow style) so that if it needs to be washed any dirt can easily come out. That would mean hemming the bottom of both lining and apron front (lining 1/4 inch or more shorter than the front) and then putting together the rest. That may be what you already said,

[rodeosweetheart]

If I am visualizing this correctly, it's like Zoe said, thinking of three layers, like a sandwich, with the strap the middle layer between apron front and lining, with both apron front and lining pinned right sides together, so that wrong sides are on the outside and strap in the middle.

Right?

[CathyA]

Thanks! That's what I was thinking. I think I'll just have to do it slowly as I go, and keep making sure when I pull everything out to the right-sides out.........theties aren't inside out! It's really hard for me to visualize this, so I guess I'll just go very slowly, constantly thinking ahead about what might be the way to go. It's pretty much just the straps/ties that are confusing me, since they will be on the inside of the 2 layers. But If I just finish the ties (right side out) and then pin them to the right sides-together panels, then when I turn everything out, the ties will be coming out of the apron and I can reinforce them a little then.

Man.......am I confused! haha
Maybe I'll take a few small pieces of scrap material and play this out ahead of time.. That might help me understand it more.

[CathyA]

Well, I'm almost finished with the apron. It definitely involved critical thinking/spatial aptitude and some other stuff that isn't always easy for me. Putting the bodices (right sides together) was easy. It was making the 4 ties, turning them inside out and then attaching them in-between the front and the lining.......trying to be sure what it all would look like, once it was all right-sides out.
I bought the material on ebay and it's really pretty thin, so it was a challenge with it not holding up well. I'm glad I lined it.
But......it's almost done and looks pretty good. I just hope it can last through one washing!

You Tube videos come in really handy when you're trying to see people actually doing what you're trying to do. That was very helpful.