Recycled gardening apron

Activity

Use a clean recycled compost bag to make this handy protective apron for your gardening activities.

  • Estimated time: 30 minutes
  • Location: Outdoors & Indoors
  • School term: All year round
  • Level of experience: No experience needed
  • Subject(s): Art&DT

Learning objectives

  • Recycle compost bags to make a useful item
  • Select materials and components for the task

Preparation

Remember to save large compost bags as you use their contents, always try to make a neat cut along the top seam. It is a good idea to cut them into rectangles and wash them beforehand.

Use the diameter of cord or cotton tape most suitable for the intended wearer.

Equipment

  • Large, clean compost bags
  • Scissors
  • Reinforced tape
  • Thick cord or cotton tape
  • Single hole punch
  • Coloured permanent marker pens

Step by step

  1. Select which size compost bag is required for the intended wearer. Decide if the printed or plain side of the plastic will be on show. You may like to make a design template or pattern for this.
  2. Cut two semi- circles either side of the neck piece.
  3. Reinforce the area for the cord holes using reinforced tape on the reverse side to that which will be on show.
  4. Use a single hole punch to make the holes. Two either side of the neck and one either side at waist height. You may need to use scissors to finish them off.
  5. Cut the three peices of cord to the required length, one for the  neck and one for either side of the waist. Try not to fray the cord at this point, use some of the tape to finish the ends off.
  6. Once the cord has been threaded through the holes, tie a single knot at each end.
  7. Use marker pens to decorate the on show side of the apon. Hold a fashion parade of aprons for the class to show off their designs.

Hints & tips

  • Make the neck strap slightly longer than required so it can be adjusted according to the height of the wearer.