Use Wool. You don't have to spend a great deal but only Wool will be capable of the skewing done in a traditional. In the apron tapers you will mold and force the fabric to take a curved shape and only wool is capable of doing that.

If you need to practice laying out the pleats and folds, buy a roll of butcher paper or brown wrapping paper. Lay out everything with a ball-point pen and fold on the scored lines.