Block Print Aprons: How to Choose a Kitchen or Hostess Apron

The apron on the hook by our kitchen door is the one we reach for without thinking. It has a few spots on it, it has been through the wash more times than we can count, and it makes even a Tuesday supper feel a little more intentional. That's the whole case for a good apron: it's a small thing that earns its place every day.

If you're shopping for a block print apron, for yourself or as a gift, here's how we'd think it through: what to look for, how to wear it, how to care for it and how to pair it with the rest of a kitchen. We've also pulled together a few ideas for giving one as a hostess gift, since an apron wrapped with a set of tea towels is one of the easiest presents we know.

What makes a block print apron worth choosing?

A block print apron carries its pattern in the cloth rather than on top of it. The designs are printed in repeating motifs, so you get the slightly graphic, slightly folk-art look that suits a working kitchen. Pattern also does a practical job. A busy print hides the odd splash of tomato sauce far better than a plain colour does, which is exactly what you want from something that lives next to the stove.

When you're comparing aprons, we'd look at four things:

• The print. Do you want something bold and colourful, or a softer all-over pattern? A larger motif reads as a statement; a smaller repeat feels quieter on the hook.
• The neck tie. The aprons in our kitchen collection have a tie that feeds through the apron and around your neck, so you can adjust the length and sit the apron comfortably instead of settling for a fixed loop. It's a small detail that matters if more than one person shares the same apron.
• Washability. An apron that can't go in the machine will end up stuffed in a drawer. Ours are machine washable, which is the reason they actually get used.
• Your own routine. Baking, grilling, hosting, potting plants: where you'll wear it decides how much coverage and how much colour you want.

Which Indaba apron suits which kitchen?

All of our block print aprons are $50 CAD, so the choice comes down to pattern. Here's how we'd match them to a kitchen:

For a lively, colourful look, the Acapulco Block Print Apron brings a fresh, bright pattern to the room and is a good fit for a kitchen that already has some colour going on, such as a few bold dishes on open shelves.

The Flora Block Print Apron is another colourful block printed option at the same price, and a good pick if you'd like to choose between a few patterns before you decide.

The Cambria Block Print Apron is a practical everyday apron with the same block printed pattern and adjustable neck tie, and it's the one we see the most stock of right now.

And the Emmy Block Print Apron is a good first apron or gift when you're not sure what someone's kitchen looks like, since the adjustable tie means one size suits most cooks.

You can see the whole set together in our Aprons collection.

How should a kitchen apron fit?

The right fit is simple to check. Put it on and reach for the top shelf, then lean over the counter as if you were rolling out dough. The apron should stay where you put it, and the neck strap shouldn't tug at your collar. Because the tie on our aprons feeds around your neck, you can lengthen it for a lower, looser fit when you're cooking for hours, or shorten it for a higher fit when you're chopping and want more coverage across the chest.

If you're gifting an apron and you don't know the recipient's height, an adjustable neck tie is your friend. It means you can't really get the size wrong, and that's why we like it for presents.

Do you need a different apron for hosting?

Not really, and that's the nice thing about a printed apron. A plain work apron looks like it belongs to the prep stage of the evening. A block print apron looks like part of the setting. If you're the kind of host who is still stirring something when the first guests arrive, you can leave it on and look entirely at ease. If you'd rather take it off, hang it on a hook by the door and it becomes part of the room.

For a dinner party, we'd pair an apron with a few other things in the same spirit: a stack of tea towels within reach, a runner on the table and dishes you're happy to bring straight from the oven to the table. Our guide to choosing and styling tea towels has more on that side of the kitchen.

How do you care for a block print apron?

The good news is that care is easy. Our aprons are machine washable, so after a messy session you can put them in with your other kitchen linens. A few habits help any printed cotton-style kitchen textile last longer:

• Rinse or soak a stain as soon as you can, before it sets.
• Wash with similar colours the first few times, since printed cloth can soften and settle as it's laundered.
• Check the care label on your apron before you wash, and follow it.
• Hang it to air between wears so it's fresh for the next time.

Over time the cloth softens and the pattern mellows slightly, which is part of the charm. An apron that looks lived in is usually one that has been loved.

What goes with an apron as a hostess gift?

This is where an apron really shines. It's useful, it's personal without being intimate, and it wraps up neatly. To turn it into a proper hostess gift, add something small for the kitchen.

Tea towels are the obvious partner. The Nori Block Print Tea Towels S/2 and the Ishita Block Print Tea Towels S/2 both carry the same block print look as the aprons, so a set and an apron read as a matched pair. If you'd like something a little more classic, the Eliza Lace Linen Tea Towels S/2 bring a softer, more finished feel, and they're our suggestion for a host who already owns plenty of pattern.

For a smaller gesture, the I Followed My Heart Tea Towels S/3 come as a set of three at $28 CAD, which makes them a sweet add-on for a thank-you. And if you'd like something with a bit of texture, the Ruffle Stripe Tea Towels S/2 in Grey sit well beside a more neutral apron.

Looking for more ideas? Our Hostess Gifts collection is a good place to browse, and our housewarming gift guide has plenty of thoughts for gifting in Canada. You can also see every set in the Tea Towels collection.

A quick note if you're searching for a linen apron

Plenty of people search for a linen apron, and we understand why: linen has a lovely relaxed feel. Our current kitchen aprons are block printed rather than linen, so if linen is non-negotiable you'll want to look elsewhere for the apron itself. What we do have in linen is the Eliza Lace tea towels mentioned above, which pair nicely with a block print apron if you like to mix textures in the kitchen.

How do you style an apron when it isn't on you?

An apron can hang in plain sight. Here are a few ways we like to display one:

• On a hook by the pantry or back door. Choose a hook that's easy to reach, so the apron actually gets used.
• Over the oven handle. It adds a note of colour and keeps the apron where you'll look for it.
• With a tea towel on the next hook. A matched pair looks tidy, and it makes the whole corner feel considered.
• Folded in a basket. A small basket by the counter holds an apron and a couple of towels, ready for the next round of cooking.

Frequently asked questions

Are Indaba aprons machine washable?

Yes. The block print aprons in our Aprons collection are machine washable. Check the care label before you wash.

How much does a block print apron cost?

Our block print aprons are $50 CAD each.

Is the neck strap adjustable?

The tie feeds through the apron and around your neck, so you can adjust it to sit comfortably.

What's a good hostess gift to pair with an apron?

A set of tea towels is the easiest pairing. The block print tea towels above match the look of the aprons, and the lace linen towels add a softer note.

Do you sell linen aprons?

Not at the moment. Our aprons are block printed, and we do offer linen tea towels to pair with them.

If you're still deciding, a simple way to choose is to picture the person at the stove. Are they a colour lover, or someone who likes things quiet? Pick the print that sounds like them, tuck a pair of tea towels alongside, and you have a gift that will be used long after the evening is over. When you're ready, the full range of aprons is waiting.