How to Make a Basket Apron ( A Zero Waste Sewing Project)

This one is for my sister.  Happy Birthday!!

For years, she has been asking me to make her a basket apron so she can harvest lemons & other produce from the yard.  To that end, she sent me this 1940s pattern--originally published in a magazine, the name of which I can not find for all my searching. 

 I did make a few alterations to the pattern: most notably, I added a bib from this other vintage pattern--

It is possibly my favorite apron pattern.  I have made it multiple times and it is *just the right length and *just the right amount of coverage to my upper body.  I also like the yoke in the back; I feel that it makes a more stable garment.  

I think skirt aprons are very cute but, for me, not particularly practical as I tend to get dirt and shmutz *all over.  I figured that the same would be doubly true if one were working in the garden harvesting produce.

The other alterations had to do with adapting to the amount of fabric I had.  I decided to use this lovely patterned cotton, which was more than enough for the skirt, but not enough for the bib & back yoke that I wanted.  

I decided to reinforce the waist & straps with this corduroy from my stash.  I figured the sturdier fabric was also more appropriate for possibly carrying heavy loads of lemons in the "basket" of the skirt.  

Also, the gathering part gave me pause for thought.  What is described in the article is not what is shown in the pictures--at least, not exactly.  The larger picture seems to have the same drawstring placement as the instructions but you would gather each side independently and tie them off.  The smaller picture seem to be a different placement (more like a hoody), which is what I did.  And here it is:

As a full apron. . .

And as a basket.