Making a Driving Apron - Need Some Help

[fluffypony]

I am making a driving apron for my mother for Christmas. She is new to driving, so this would be her first and only apron.

I bought some pretty light-weight wool for the apron. I’ve got trim and piping, too. I searched previous threads on the topic, but I still have a few questions:

#1. I think the fabric is too light weight to be on its own and needs a liner. What should it be lined with – suit-type lining, or cotton? I can see pros and cons of both materials. I wasn’t able to find a coordinating wool that I liked to make it reversible.

#2. In Google searches, I’ve seen both angled corners and curved corners for the bottom corners. Is there a preference?

#3. Do I put the trim and piping only along the bottom, or the two sides, too? Wondering if piping would be uncomfortable when everything is tucked under you?

#4. Do people add a weight of any kind to the bottom hem?

#5. Monograms: I read that the corner of the aprons are more typical now (?) for the placement of a monogram. If this is correct, which corner? The left corner when you are looking at the apron (the right side of the person wearing the apron)? Does the monogram go straight up and down, or is it at an angle?

#6. Waist band: sits on your natural waist?

Thanks for any and all advice!

[rugbygirl]

When you say the fabric is too lightweight, does it need to be lined, or could you get it to sit/hang properly with drapery weights, something common in sidesaddle aprons? I would worry about most suit linings being slippery, and the apron getting all twisted around.

Are you using a pattern? I have the Suitability pattern for a sidesaddle apron, and it comes with one for a driving apron…very good descriptions and illustrations with the pattern, which might answer some questions.

[China_Doll]

I had used a suitability apron and it really was not the proper style. You should line it with a slippering fabric is so that it won’t stick to your legs and it will lay better. Curved corners is what I have seen from the pros.

. The edge or trim is around the whole apron on the ones with curved corners.

The apron should overlap quite a bit in back so you do not see pants.

The monogram is on the right side of driver and I think it is angled so when sitting it is straighter but don’t hold me to that.

it should also coordinate with seat color of cart.

No weight needed in bottom. Preferred fabrics are wool or a gaberdine.

[China_Doll]

Oh and waist is just below your ribs and above belly button

[romewhip]

Around here some aprons are lined with waterproof ripstop nylon as it slides and drapes well but is waterproof for our less than ideal weather.

I think corners are personal preference, I prefer angled corners but I don’t know if a certain corner goes with a certain style vehicle or not. Trim goes all the way around. If I were making one I’d want flat trim, not rounded cording. Another personal preference of mine is snaps or Velcro at the back, I don’t like the tie style as I am pretty thick and don’t need any help in that department.