Making a cottagecore Apron || beginner friendly sewing diy

Hello everyone and welcome to a new video!
A few weeks ago I discovered #cottagecore and honestly I've been trying to transform my small city flat into a cottage in the woods (with low success). After a particularly frustrating time washing the dishes and yet again getting drenched courtesy of a spoon, I decided it was time to get an apron. My new motto is 'if I can make it I will', so here we are!
I am still on my linen high, so it was a natural decision (heh). I wanted something I could wear around the house, but also that I could add to historically inspired outfits if I wanted to. I've also really been into that working class Georgian and Victorian look (more to come in the future...) and an apron is a great addition to both of those styles.
A couple of things to note: the beeswax thing was a whole fiasco, although it did make my fabric a bit sturdier. The only good thing about it is that I poured the leftovers into my Marvel ice cube tray and made some Captain American and Iron Man shaped beeswax.The second is that my apron ended up being a little narrow because I only used one meter of fabric. One meter of fabric is pretty affordable and this is a really easy, beginner friendly sewing project. However, if you want a fuller look, I would say go for the two meters, as cartridge pleating eats up a lot of fabric. You can also do everything by machine, rather than sewing by hand, but if you don't have a sewing machine, the handsewing is really nice, relaxing and looks pretty in the end. If you're looking to start sewing, this is a super simple project, beginner friendly sewing.
I have been wearing this around the house constantly and it improves my spirit while cooking and cleaning! Now all I'm missing is my actual cottage...
If you are interested in seeing some more of my work, here are some links:
Please consider supporting me on Patreon, / catscostumery :)
Instagram: @catscostumery
/ catscostumery
Blog: happilyevertaffeta.wordpress.com
Facebook: / catscostumery
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/V7V7HRLN
For business inquiries, email [e-mail]

[@Ezrawake]

next time, just rub the hard wax on the fabric evenly, then heat to melt. Repeat process till satisfied with the water resistance. It's how I make my outdoor clothes water resistant :)

[@brissygirl4997]

That's what I thought Cat would've done in the first place since she had such a lovely huge piece of wax.

[@jessyozoemena3805]

Hard beeswax or just a random piece of wax?

[@jessyozoemena3805]

Also how do you melt it?

[@jessyozoemena3805]

@serendipidus1 thank you! I was really confused about how it worked

[@jessyozoemena3805]

@serendipidus1 I'm a beginner so by cool cracked effect do you mean the layer of wax is cracky or does it change how the fabric looks? Is it even a layer of wax or does it blend into the fabric? This seems like a cool way of waterproofing clothing

[@BebiSpinster]

Me: *reaching for my beeswax* Cat: "It was a mistake. " Me: *slowly retreats... *

[@Diniecita]

Adding water was the mistake.

[@bethanymcmullen7429]

"I thinned it out" me: Oh cool, did she use an oil or... *sees the carnage* "Beeswax and water don't mix" OH DEAR

[@marik8875]

my exact response

[@katieyeti4420]

I waterproofed a linen shower curtain using beeswax. It took roughly a full week to do but I made it work by using an extremely hot iron and TONS of newspaper. Instead of using more wax to fill the gaps, I ironed the heck out of it between two sheets of newspaper. The wax gradually redistributed but like I say, it took me about a week of ironing. It's certainly a process that requires extreme patience and stubbornness.

[@jessig6555]

I make cotton beeswax food wraps, and grate or use beeswax pellets sprinkled on the fabric and then put them in the oven on a medium heat, (keep watch as they all melt super quickly, and you don't want to burn your fabric!) It should be a really simple and safe way to get the melted beeswax into linen etc

[@squeezedlemonydemon4472]

It would definitely work and be safer for smaller cuts of fabric, but it probably won't be doable when you have for example a meter (or a yard) of fabric to waterproof. It simply won't fit in the oven. That's probably the reason why she didn't use that method.

[@jessig6555]

@@squeezedlemonydemon4472 I agree that for particularly bulky fabrics it may be difficult, and worth a test piece first, but you can fold the layers of fabric (not poly or blended just in case the heat melts them) and sprinkle pellets of wax in between the layers. Just press the fabric into the melted max with a utensil that you don't mind possibly ruining, and place back into the oven until everything is fully covered. Best to also do this on a baking sheet with slightly raised sides that you are happy to sacrifice too! Once melted, and with care not to burn your fingers, pull the fabric off of the tray and separate the layers gently, wafting slightly to cool the fabric til you can grab it properly. I have managed this on about a metre of cotton so it can work, just be patient with adding more wax where needed.

[@emilytambree7429]

I was literally just googling on the hunt for an apron pattern (as making a sweet apron for my home life has been on my mind all day long). I gave up entirely, opened youtube whilst quite frustrated, and saw this video. The most PERFECT timing ever. Thank you so much! It looks so lovely.

[@annebennett313]

I really appreciate the nice quality detail shots you get of the stitching and of the fabric grain. It's very helpful for a beginner who is still learning the basics of sewing and of fabric choice. Great videos, thank you

[@susanpilling8849]

I remember my Dad having a similar problem in the kitchen while making hot water crust pastry (water, lard and butter melted in a pan then mixed with flour to make pork pie crust). That was about 30 years ago and we still have a stain on the kitchen ceiling that comes through no matter how many times we try to paint it out. The pinny is great by the way.

[@brissygirl4997]

I would have thought with such a lovely big piece of wax that you would've just rubbed it over the fabric while it was still solid. The apron worked out really well despite your difficulties with the wax. Btw I was watching a video by Lofty Pursuits the other day where he made mushroom flavoured hard candy and during his research Greg found out that there are a TON of different mushrooms that can be used for dying fabric! I know you like to experiment with things in your costuming so I thought this bit of info might come in handy. 🙂

[@CatsCostumery]

Oh my goodness yes, I am so excited for mushroom season! I will check out their video thank you 😊

[@windyloweryking1826]

Ok, story time that could result in useful info: Over 20 yrs ago, in high school, I made 3 different batik art projects. We had an electric pan that sat in the middle of our table that had a combination of beeswax and paraffin wax melted in it and this pan was kept at a certain temperature to keep the wax melted without buring it. This continuous heat causes the wax to flow into the fabric better. Once I was all done with all the fabric dyeing layers, it was time to remove the wax. Now it is impossible to get all the wax out however you can get the fabric to a much more malleable form if you iron your fabric between layers of brown paper bags. This can take a while and use up lots of paper. It helps remove excess wax and can help distribute it a little more evenly in the fabric. In the future, if you should try this again, maybe if you have one of those scented wax warmers to keep the wax melted you will have an easier time applying your wax. But, I've haven't tried this method nor have I done it without the paraffin and bees wax combo so it could still be trial and error. Good Luck! Your apron still look wonderful despite the troubles!

[@BrenzerM]

newsprint paper works amazingly for ironing out the wax

[@windyloweryking1826]

@@BrenzerM do you know if the ink will transfer? I wasn't sure if it would or not.

[@nilamkarmila]

traditionally, you’d need to boil the dyed fabric in order to loosen the wax. it’s commonly used for fabrics such as cotton (NOT SILK, PLEASE DON’T BOIL SILK). grandma and i used to make batik. after we finished painting some batik, we’d bring a large pot of water to a simmer, add a little bit of liquid soap, and then submerge the fabric. i remember how she stitched plenty of ‘night gowns’ with her batik (some of which i still wear today🥰). in my hometown, we call them “baju kelawar batik”, because the sleeves kinda make you look like a kelawar (a bat🦇). they’re super comfortable to wear.

[@silverpromidi]

Using that Brown paper and iron method also works for getting wax out of carpets :)

[@yuukimare9847]

I have a great desire to run to my sewing machine and make this. So beautiful 😍

[@doitwithgrace3850]

Were 18th century bib fronts really that small? It’s so cute but I’m struggling to imagine it protecting them from much!

[@CatsCostumery]

I made mine a little narrow (more info in the description) due to limited fabric 😊

[@aprilharrison5814]

@@CatsCostumery That's fair. As Ma Ingles would have said, one must cut their coat to fit the cloth.

[@crystalgolden9492]

Not only is your final product beautiful, but your production quality on your video is stunning as well. So enjoyable to watch and listen too!

[@espere_]

Your poor kitchen! I do hope it has recovered. The apron is lovely!

[@jkabholat]

I enjoy your videos so much. They are so calming.

[@CottageTales]

Oh God, when you said you added water to the beeswax 😨 May be, if you try something like this again, you could try what the do for the beeswax wraps with adding (jojoba) oil or shea butter or something to make the beeswax mor compliant? The apron came out super cute though 💐

[@michellecelesteNW]

Those cartridge pleats look darling.

[@kikizalewski]

This turned out so cute! You've definitely inspired me to finally get around to making a linen apron of my own!

[@joannecarroll5504]

Oh my dear girl, you are SO lucky! You obviously didn't notice the close similarities between melted wax & hot oil - or I guess it would have triggered an 'oil & water don't mix' warning. Don't underestimate how lucky you are not to have received burns or even been blinded; that explosion is why Fire Wardens are trained not to throw water on an oil fire, but to smother it instead. When I was a tiny girl in the 70s, there were always govt safety commercials on tv about stuff like that (frightened the crap out of us kids lol). So glad you are ok.

[@sposwellness8653]

Love This whole video and delightful apron! Great work, Thank you for sharing! in love w your perseverance

[@rosedewittbukater5763]

This was so pleasing to watch. That apron is gorgeous and so are you!

[@inkeriy5760]

If you don’t want the top to stick out like that, try making it a bit curved. My mum told me to do this when I made my first overalls and it worked out quite well!

[@inkeriy5760]

A Journey At the very top, the side where you’re attaching the neck loop. If it’s curved inward just a little bit, it’ll work better with the body. Of course, I don’t know how this works with the 18th century style where you pin the top, but with the neck loop this should work. (Please take this with a grain of salt, as I’m not an expert. I’m just sharing some information my mum told me)

[@eightchickens4415]

@@inkeriy5760 Thanks for the tip! I have made three aprons (my old clothes get their second life as house aprons) and I couldn't figure out how to stop that 'pucker' from happening on my bib. I will try this next time.

[@ramyai1803]

It truly looks lovely. I hope that after all that trouble, it was satisfactorily waterproof!

[@brendancull]

Oh my goodness the scene of your kitchen post-wax explosion was truly tragic. I hope you didn't burn yourself. If you are going to try this again, I suggest grating your beeswax block (or buying pellets) over your fabric, folding it to fit into a lined baking tray and popping it into the oven for a couple of mins JUST until the wax has melted. Watch it very carefully though as the beeswax melts at a relatively low temperature and burns easily. Take the hot fabric out of the oven as soon as the beeswax has melted into it and unfold it carefully so that it doesn't cool with fold lines in it. If you wave it gently in the air, it'll solidify within seconds. This is how I make my own beeswax wrap for food. But I'm sure it would work for larger pieces of fabric too.

[@mrs.knecro7044]

An apron is on my list of things to make and a note to my self not to add water to beeswax if I try water proofing anything with it. I hope you and your kitchen came out ok in the end. Thank you for the wonderful videos ❤️🌻

[@ncalgal4699]

The apron turned out great!

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

It looks great! Thank you for the video.

[@chinesecabbagefarmer]

Thank you for liking my promise

[@az_twist6267]

I'm impressed with your persistence- and what a great versatile apron!

[@reformvideos4303]

Yesss! Nice job 🥰 aprons are my favorite thing to make

[@jessicalawrence3074]

I want to say "Townsends" has a video on 17th c. oilcloth making... might interest you. Thanks for the video!

[@eightchickens4415]

Thank you for sharing, even with the beeswax mistakes its a charming apron!

[@YahveAnne]

I actually used this but made it way more complicated than it needed to be by adding three pockets(one on the chest, two in the skirt) and crisscross straps that loop through the skirt and tie underneath as well as adding roughly 200 inches worth of ruffles on the bottom 😅 I also tailored it by taking in two darts from the waistband which helps indicate where the pockets are. It’s cute but the fabric is a bit to bright a white for me so it’s gonna be dyed probably an olive or moss green! But all in all not a bad use for fabric I inherited from my grandma that’s just been collecting dust forever.

[@Gandellion]

The music you use is always sooooo pretty

[@davidbayley4441]

When I use to live in Oregon, some of the loggers and hunters I lived near would treat their trousers with wax thinned down with naphtha, I think they called them 'Tin Pants'

[@ingaguenther9311]

You have so much patience...nice!

[@lindseymae4065]

Getting a sewing machine for my birthday and this is the first thing I’m making!

[@monikamiroslava4074]

Pretty and very practical - that's always a win :)

[@empressofbuttons3478]

Haha I remember you trying to figure out an appealing title for this on instagram, well played. Very very beautiful apron 💖

[@honoraweaver788]

Aprons are my favorite thing to sew. I love making them in Christmas fabric and giving them as gifts. Yours turned out cute.

[@BeQueerMakeStuff]

It's lovely. :) Your tenacity in getting that beeswax to cooperate is impressive haha.

[@anneyhorlacher8792]

Thank you so much for this video! I enjoyed watching the process and I can't wait to make one for myself! ☺️ . It's a beautiful apron and your way of teaching is very calming.

[@lillyfranzen7802]

Thank you so very much for sharing this with us. I've been concerting making one for some time.snd very great ful you showed the entire process including your problems! But it did turn out very cute!❤️❤️❤️ Thank you again!

[@jeanperrotta2414]

Wonderful job!!

[@cheliae8560]

Beautiful!

[@susanharris-rohde1127]

Coconut oil and Bee's wax make a good emulsion for this. 💚😊

[@BeverleyButterfly]

Another lovely and relaxing video oh goodness what a lovely idea to make an apron to protect your clothes I might have to have a try in the future xx

[@sysysala6139]

My daughter likes it a lot i will sew one for her🤗

[@WalkingScriptureWithShanna]

Best walk through video

[@lauramcguire7970]

It turned out so sweet. I bet your kitchen smelled amazing at least!

[@ushere5791]

lovely!

[@jackiejames4551]

I think it looks really nice.

[@bookmouse2719]

Your apron turned out so cute!

[@camillefaisandier2790]

Aaah now I need an apron!

[@1wolfpup]

Really nice apron!

[@mentatphilosopher]

For waterproofing cloth see Sidney Morse’s Household Discoveries (1908/1909) Chapter 2. The simplest (and safest) method involves just soaking in dissolved yellow soap.

[@CatsCostumery]

Ooh I hadn’t heard of that book, thank you! 😊

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I sure hope you didn't get injured during your wax incident! I hope you thought to use the heat gun to help loosen it to wipe off the kitchen with paper towels... for future reference, to thin a wax, use an oil (research one that won't go funky on you) and always melt the solid into the liquid. Apron is adorable and now I want to see if I can make one of one of the many random 1 metre fabric pieces I keep accumulating!

[@nicolemariefashion1]

Super cute~ I just finished my new apron as well and love it. I am LOVING your skirt as well. Is it purchased or made? I love me some pockets so I'm all about it! Ezra's comment on how to apply the beeswax should work much easier for next time you want to waterproof.

[@CatsCostumery]

Skirt is made, I have a video on how I made it on this channel :)

[@nicolemariefashion1]

@@CatsCostumery is it the walking skirt? Thats the only skirt vid im seeing? I might be blind :(

[@lugomez8084]

A way ive seen beeswax applied to fabric is by shreading it and then ironing it on with oven paper between the iron and the beeswax. I haven't done it myself, but it might be worth a try next time!

[@Thewitchescookery]

Amazing! I was just looking for some inspiration to make my kitchen witch apron and this is perfect 😍

[@melissaann513]

If you put the fabric between 2 pieces of parchment baking paper and then iron it it will help thin it out. As the heat melts the wax and the pressure of the iron helps even it out and presses out the excess wax..

[@sharacasey4071]

Oh I am making this asap

[@dkdc451]

Thank you for posting. I was looking for inspiration for a new pinafore. I was loaned one with embroidery and ties. I'm not sure that I need the waxing but I liked the gathered front. The version I am borrowing has three pleats on either side of the center.

[@fionafiona1146]

5:00 try layering baking paper and ironing it

[@fionafiona1146]

I made (intentionally stiff) cling wraps for food storage/wax cloth by putting my fabric on the parchment and grating the wax on it before covering it with a second pice and ironing it until well dispersed.

[@skengels]

I've tried multiple methods for waxing cloth and this method is by far the easiest, most effective, and least wasteful. Better yet, melt the wax, dribble it over the cloth, then cover with parchment paper and iron for the absolute least amount of work. The iron mushes the melted wax around, so there's little fiddling with even dispersing.

[@amandamarquart2047]

Oh my! That beeswax was a mess. I hope you are okay and didn’t get burned! Your apron turned out super cute 💕

[@Yukimiko0001]

When I made wax wrapping paper for food I graded the wax and sprinkled it evenly on the fabric, then I placed it between parchment paper and ironed it.

[@SonyaandSidney]

Cute! ❤️

[@BVoshol]

If you mix the beeswax with paraffin you'll get a more traditional wax used for waterproofing fabrics and should be a bit easier to use, and it will be a bit less stiff.

[@selkiemorien9006]

Oh no, I'm so sorry about your beeswax mishap :O For future projects, it's easier to rub the hard wax on the fabric and the iron it inbetween baking sheets (or put small grated bits on instead of rubbing it on). It turned out lovely, but you're right, the bib is a bit narrow on you. (edited for typos)

[@Nessi-dances]

Alternate option question: would putting the fabric in the pot of wax, like a dye vat, work as well?

[@selkiemorien9006]

@@Nessi-dances That would probably put way too much wax on and make it really stiff, but I never tried that (I never tried applying wax on such a big piece like an apron either though). I would experiment at a small scale for this :)

[@Nessi-dances]

@@selkiemorien9006 Ooooh, good point! Thanks!

[@fabioferreiragomes]

.......ESPETACULAR.........INCRÍVEL.........

[@Feelicitasy]

Despite all the trouble (I really do not envy you on cleaning your wax soiled kitchen, I did it once at a friend's house. Nopedinopenope never again) your apron looks very lovely. I planned on doing a ruffled apron and black work dress combination for a victorian maid look, now I can use your instructions for it, thanks!

[@kei220]

Your finished apron is beautiful! I love cartridge pleats 😍 But commiserations on your kitchen, that looked like it would be a nightmare!

[@helloworld5028]

Ah, that's terrible what happened with the beeswax and your kitchen! I hope you weren't in the vicinity when it went off. If you try using beeswax again the future, you can try using a solid bar and rubbing it into the fabric before heating it up with an iron/hair blowdryer/heatgun/etc. I have a Fjallraven pack that the brand recommends waxing to preserve the fabric (it is semi-labor intensive). Here's a quick video on their site on how they wax their clothing items for an example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6nHlWSKesiaebc

[@raeafoley6131]

Maybe it would have worked if you had dipped the linen into the wax? I hope you didn't get burned! Hot wax can be so nasty!

[@user-zm5tt9bq5u]

You should rub the wax block onto the fabric, then cover it with a sheet of oven paper and iron it (without steam), then repeat if needed. You can make waxed cloths to replace plastic wrapping with the same method.

[@elisabethcuningham3526]

I wonder if the beeswax issue could be solved by doing it the same way we apply lanolin to wool cloth diaper covers? We melt the lanolin in boiling water and add a few drops of Castile soap. This is an emollient and it makes the lanolin oil mix with the water so it stops separating. Then I dump the water into the sink filled with water water and swish so it’s evenly distributed and soak my wool in there for around an hour before removing and hanging to dry. I wonder if something like would be done with beeswax? I haven’t worked with wax very much so I don’t know if it behaves the same as an oil? Or maybe you could even try lanolin, I don’t know if it works with fabrics that aren’t wool or not. Worth a try!

[@Lyu_60]

Молодец, красивый фартук

[@spiritussancto]

You can remove some of the wax and even it out by sandwiching between paper towel and ironing

[@laila.tov.]

On absolute history Chanel, they have a show showing farming trough out history. They showed a water proof method in war farm and victorian farm but i don’t remember which episode

[@Shorty24136]

I tend to rub in hard wax over the fabric then use the heat gun to melt it in xx good job regardless

[@mayloomis9638]

Sorry! I laughed so hard though! I bet that was incredibly hard to clean up. Beeswax is rough. We've all been there.. The finished apron was awesome though. Now I want an apron. I wonder if thinning the wax with another oil would work...

[@toryvidaurri]

if you don't want to completely change the properies of the wax (as with adding an oil to soften it would), use some NAPTHA (a solvent, and one of the *less toxic* ones- also it's great for removing stickers and labels, naptha will temporarily "sleep" the adhesive letting you peel it off cleanly where rubbing alcohol will completely dissolve the adhesive and make a goey mess), you can then brush your solvent thinned wax onto your surface and then when the solvent has evaporated off, the wax remains with the original properties of the wax. Comparatively, softening the wax with an oil will permanently make your wax softer and more flexible. Which might actually be more desirable for a garment....

[@charitealove]

I’ve read about the linseed method used to make oilcloth. Maybe something to check out? It takes a long time if you use linseed oil by itself, but other methods involve turpentine or mineral spirits.

[@AliciaB.]

wow. you did manage to save it quite successfully! did all the wax wash out or was there still some left in the fabric ? when it comes to applying beeswax as evenly as possible, I think the best method is to shred it to very thin chips and distribute them on the surface of the fabric, then heat the whole thing with a heatgun/hairdryer or even in the oven. then again this is a method I found when I was googling for reusable food wraps/lids so it might give a result that's too stiff for something meant to be worn, let alone cartridge-pleated.

[@CatsCostumery]

Some of it did wash out and after a few washes it is the final shown, it works well! It sturdied the fabric without being too stiff after being washed 😊

[@josefinebrannlund7297]

❤️

[@birthel.374]

I hope you didn't get hurt in that eruption! 😲

[@StephanieCanada]

Oh no! Your poor kitchen! I did something similar with a craft project recently (but mine was candle wax not beeswax). I hope it all came out!

[@enysofplays]

Surprised no one has suggested using a double boiler. There's a lot of videos on making it from honeycomb.

[@abigaelmacritchie1365]

Lovely apron 😱 I've had moderate success with ironing the wax into the fabric (with a sheet of cooking paper in between). Do you mind me asking, what's the music you used in the video?

[@CatsCostumery]

it's music from Epidemic Sound!

[@shaidabegum.]

❤️👍👏👌

[@k_tubbs]

Ok. But where did you get your skirt? So cute!

[@CatsCostumery]

I made it! there's a video on this channel :)

[@silverpromidi]

Cat, I LOVE your skirt. I am guessing with that 2 metres of cloth, that would make the bib wider? Or are they all meant to be that size and the person wearing them not a great mess maker like me?

[@CatsCostumery]

I think they are meant to be a little wider but I was limited by my amount of fabric! :)

[@tigersinlondon2152]

this is super cute! im glad the beeswax sort of worked out in the end :') unrelated question, but where did you get your glasses? im looking for a pair just like them :3

[@CatsCostumery]

I just go them at my local opticians, unbranded :)

[@sygirl101]

I know there's wax to rub on fabric, like the Fjallraven Greenland Wax. It's not melted, just rubbed on. Maybe something like that could work?

[@michelestout9438]

Beautiful ❣️. Does the wax washes off? Did it work?

[@CatsCostumery]

Some of the wax did wash off, so the fabric became softer again! I don’t think it will ever fully wash off but it’s the perfect weight now :)

[@staarvsraainbow]

You can buy pre waxed fabric or rub room temperature wax to the fabric

[@melissamanning2015]

I think someone in the comments mentioned Townsends' video on making oilcloth. It's really good. One thing he did talk about was how flammable oilcloth is.... Any problems with beeswax in that area?

[@CatsCostumery]

None so far! But I haven't held it to an open flame 😂

[@texassweetgrl]

I just kept my bowl of wax on a candle warmer to keep it liquid

[@nicolemulready6329]

Where is that darling skirt from? I'm praying there's a tutorial video of you making it so I can make one of my own

[@CatsCostumery]

I've made a video on it, it's called Vintage Inspired Circle Skirt! :)

[@MrsBrit1]

I've seen beeswax added to fabric by rubbing a bar of the wax on the fabric and then melting it in with a hair dryer/hot air gun. Maybe try that next time. And oh boy did I feel for you trying to thin the wax with water! Yikes! 😳😩

[@Lyu_60]

Спасибо, хочу сшить