ok folks, she is going to Africa for a mission...whether or not it will stay clean or wrinkle free is hardly the issue here...

USE what you have, and go ahead and starch it for the gifting...if you think it is not sturdy enough, then fuse two layers together with stitch witchery or another fusible web that has NO paper on it! it will be fine..really...

Being the mother of a doctor gives me another perspective on this issue. If it was a request from a doctor herself, she more than likely had a polyester fabric in mind BECAUSE:
1. She'll likely be using this instead of her white coat while seeing patients
2. Blood/body fluids wash out of polyester/blends easier.
3. It doesn't wrinkle which means it "appears" fresher.
4. It's easier to stain-treat, wash, rinse, and hang to dry if facilities are limited.

I'd definitely ask her for more guidelines about what she had in mind before you spend the time making these.

Jan in VA

wrinkled cotton looks terrible in an apron---- go for the easy care blend----dye your white scrunch it up so it dyes patchy looks great for skys +seas in blue-----greens for trees +leaves