Apron from Cloth Napkin Tutorial

Alrighty folks! Here's the apron tutorial I've been working on for months. I was asked to help create an easy to sew apron for the youth at our church. They are participating in a big trek conference-- to celebrate and honor the pioneers who journeyed all the way across America to the Salt Lake Valley to unite as a group. {We will also be making Pioneer Bonnets, so when I figure out a pattern for that I will post it as well.}

This apron would also be great for cooking, cleaning and mommy dress up for little girls! It is so simple! You can make it in less than a half hour with just a cloth napkin and 1/2 yard of coordinating cotton fabric.

So here we go!!

Step 1:

Cut out the following pieces from your 1/2 yard--

1 waistband piece: 6 X 14 1/2 inches (or measure front of hip to hip to get length measurement)

4 pieces to create the straps: 3 X 30 inches (4 of them)

2 pocket pieces (optional): 6 X 8 inches (2 of them). You will cut this from the leftovers from the 6 inch strip you cut for the waistband piece. Or you can use a different coordinating fabric!

Step 2:

Take waistband piece- fold under 1/4 inch on each of the short sides, iron. Fold entire piece in half lengthwise and iron so it measures 3X14 now with folds.

Step 3: Sew a wide stitch along top of cloth napkin (do not backstitch at beginning or end) then pull on the bottom thread to gather the napkin along the top edge. Compare to waistband piece and gather napkin until they are the same length.

Step 4: With napkin face up, and raw edges of waistband along the gathered edge of the napkin, pin and sew along the top edge.

(pretend that the waistband piece is folded and she is sewing both layers of the waistband, raw edges on top, wrong sides together)

Step 5: Turn waistband over and iron along that edge. Now all you have to do is create the straps and the pocket.

(once again, pretend that the waistband piece is folded and sewn along edge. I did this a couple different ways until I got the easiest process and best results :))

Step 6: Take 2 of the strap pieces and pin them right sides together. Sew all 3 edges together, leaving a short side open. Clip 2 corners, flip, iron. Repeat for other strap piece.

Step 7: Pleat the open/raw side of the strap by finding and marking the center. Fold both edges into the center and sew a stay stitch.

Step 8: Insert the straps into the open slot of the waistband (about 1/2 inch in) and sew as close to the edge as you can, making sure you catch the 1/4 inch turned in edge of the waistband and the ends of the straps. Do this on both sides.

(and again, pretend that the waistband piece is folded in half, insert the strap into the slot with pleat in front)

Step 9: Take pocket pieces and sew right sides together, leaving a gap to turn on the bottom edge. Clip edges, turn right side out, and iron. Place it about 1 inch from the bottom and side edge of the apron and sew along 3 edges of the pocket (leaving the top open, of course so it is a pocket!)

And you are done!! In less than 10 steps, you have created an apron!!

If you'd like to make a bigger apron for an adult or larger youth, you can do the same thing using fabric instead of a cloth napkin. Just measure the front of your waist, from hip to hip and double that to get your measurements. So, for example, if your hip to hip measurement is 17 inches, multiply that by 1 1/2. (17+8.5=25.5) So cut a 25.5 inch square, hem edges and go from there starting at step 1. The only thing you will adjust is making the waistband piece 6X 17. {I hope that makes sense- I am SO NOT a math person :) }

Linking up with my favorites: