Once upon a time, about 6 months ago, my daughter came to me and asked me to make her a hat for a fancy-dress party. Me, a woman who couldn’t even sew a button on was being asked to do something inconceivable. I thought about her request and thought, why not, let’s give it a go. I found her sewing machine hidden away in a cupboard, sans the pedal and power cord.

Not to be perturbed, I headed for a nearby sewing machine shop and requested a basic machine, nothing too fancy, considering it would probably only be used this once. I took it home, unboxed it, worked out how to load a bobbin and thread the cotton. Luckily for me it had a needle threader built in (my eyesight is not what it once was!!)

I looked up a pattern and watched a short tutorial on how to make the hat and amazingly it wasn’t half bad. My daughter was suitably impressed. She wore the hat to the party and even now will occasionally put it on. It is still intact remarkably.

It was from this first project that I became hooked.

With Christmas approaching, I decided to make some Christmas themed bunting, it seemed easy enough and 75 Christmas trees later I hung it up proudly in our home.

After Christmas I wasn’t sure what to work on next, until my sister asked me to design a harvest apron that she could use in her vegetable garden to save her skirts and tops being ruined when collecting her produce. I worked with her on the design and after a lot of testing and rejigging, we settled on the Aproned Harvest Apron which meets all her expectations.

After asking other friends to test out the apron, I was approached to make a child size version. I did this and they were also well received. The handy pouch can also be used for transporting teddies and dollies around as well, we found out. 

As I do not have the need for the gathering pouch and multiple pockets, I decided to simplify the design to create the Aproned Kitchen Apron, which is ideal for use around the house. 

After multiple requests for my products and encouragement from my family I decided to start my business. Thinking of a name was a challenge but at a boozy dinner with my husband, my sister and brother-in-law we came up with Aproned, a combination of Apron and my childhood family nickname of Ned!

I hand make every apron and I use quality fabric, with attractive designs. The fabric I choose for the Harvest and Kitchen aprons is very durable so they will last for years to come and still look great after multiple washes.

I am continuing to work on new designs, and I have recently invested in an embroidery machine so that going forward, my aprons can be personalised and customised.

If you had told me 12 months ago that this is what I’d be doing I would have laughed in your face. I’m still pinching myself that Aproned is here and I am loving it.

Hope to see you in an Aproned apron soon!

Nerida