Little Aprons

August 19, 2010 6:07 am jessica Crafts, Kid's Crafts, Projects, Sewing

By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog “Life Sew Good”.

My daughter Bee’s friend Em turned 4 years old last week and it was time to pony up and make a gift! Her mom informed me that she loved cooking, so an apron would be perfect. Although I made this apron for a 4 yr. old, you could add 1 more fat quarter, adjust the waist measurement, and have one made for yourself easily!

Here’s what you need:

2 coordinating Fat Quarters
Thread
Scissors
Measuring tape or ruler
Fabric pen

1). First, measure how wide & long you want your apron. While I was making mine for a little 4 year old, I wanted it to be something she could wear for years to come, so I made it fairly long, with the waist band coming around the sides of her waist. Measure the front of your waist, wrapping a little around the sides to come up with your finished apron width measurement.

I decided I wanted the finished apron—after gathering the waist–to be 12″ x 15″. I added ½” seam allowances to the top and bottom, so I cut my fabric 22″ (normal width of the fat quarter that we will be gathering) x 16″ (length).

2). Once you decide your measurements, mark & cut your fabric:

Main Fabric:

22″ x length [CUT 1 for main apron]

22″ x at least 2″ [CUT 1 for binding bottom]

Coodinating Fabric:

Finished apron width + 2″ (seam allowance) x 4″ [CUT 1 for waistband]

22″ x 4″ for ties [CUT 2 for ties]

22″ x 5 ¾” for pockets [CUT 1 for pockets]

3). We’re going to work with your coordinating fabric first. Take your 22” x 5 ¾” piece. Fold the long side ¼” and press. Fold again ½” then press again. Sew seam.

4). Sew seam.

5). Take your main piece of fabric and lay your pocket piece on top as shown. Make sure that your finished seam is on the top side of the pocket piece. Don’t worry! So far, it should be your only finished edge! Pin pieces together as shown. Note that both right sides are facing UP.

6). Baste bottom edge, so your pocket and main piece are attached. This will make your life easier!

7). Now, take your apron and fold in half, wrong sides together, & press. Open. Fold your right edge so that it meets the center fold. Press the fold. Open and repeat on left side. Your fabric should have 3 folds, so your fabric is separated by creases in 4 equal sections. Use picture below as a reference for what I mean!

8). Your creases now serve as guides for where to sew seams for the pockets. Sew seams along each crease only on pocket fabric (ie, in pic, floral fabric). Make sure to back-tack. Set that piece aside.

9). Make the binding for the bottom of your apron. Simply fold & press the piece in half, lengthwise. Open. Then, fold both ends in toward center crease. Press.

10). Attach binding to skirt. Take your binding, middle crease open, just like the picture above. Line up the center crease with the bottom of the apron, wrapping the folded creases around the bottom of the apron, enclosing the raw edges and pin. See picture below.

11). Sew binding on close to the top edge.

12). Take waistband piece and prepare it following the directions from step 9.

13). Gather your waistband by basting (use a long stitch) 1 seam ¼” from top of apron and 1 seam ½” from top of apron. Pull bottom threads, gathering the fabric until it measures your finished apron width + 2” (seam allowance).

14). Just like you did with the bottom binding, pin your waistband binding to the top of apron. Sew waistband onto apron. Sew seam close to the bottom of the waistband.

15). Make the ties. Again, prepare ties the same you made your bottom binding and waistband binding, following instructions in step #9.

16). For each tie, we want to make sure one end looks nice. The other end will be sewn into the apron, so the raw edge is okay.

17). Fold over one end ½”.

18). Fold corners in to make end pointed, like picture below.

19). Fold tie in ½ length-wise.

20). Sew ties closed, starting from point all the way to your raw edge.

21). Prepare side seam by folding side of apron over ½”. Lay the raw end of your tie on top of the first fold, lining up with the waistband like photo below.