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Child’s Apron Pattern with Video Instructions

Today I have a fun sewing project to share with you, this Child’s Apron pattern.  It’s pretty simple to stitch up and would make a great gift for your favorite kid!  If you like this project then you may also like the Ruby Lou Bag sewing pattern. 

multi colored kids apron on white countertop with kitchen utensils

A few years ago, I wrote this Child’s Apron sewing pattern for the blog. Recently, I’ve gone in and updated and refreshed the tutorial AND added video instructions. I hope that you enjoy the updated project!

I adore making things for kids.  I think that children’s sewing projects must be some of my favorite sewing projects. When my girls were small, I stitched up Easter dresses skirts and aprons like they were going out of style.

Now that my girls are older, I no longer make them Easter dresses. However, I did just make my daughter a summer skirt to take with her on her internship. I have a tendency to jump at the chance to stitch something up for a little one.

child's apron on dress form
child's apron on dress form

Child’s Apron Sewing Pattern

I designed this Apron to coordinate well with my Ruby Lou Bag sewing pattern.  There are lots of cute illustrations in designer fabric collections to fussy cut for the pocket of the bag. The small pocket at the top of the Apron is the same as the sweet little one on the kid’s purse.

Ruby Lou Bag Sewing Pattern from polkadotchair.com

Kids Apron Sizes

This apron is sized for a small child, probably about 5 years old.  Since it’s an apron sewing pattern, it’s pretty forgiving as far as sizing goes.

Aprons are pretty forgiving as far as sizing goes. The one in the photo that I wrote the original tutorial for is a size 4-7.

If you’d like to make an apron that is kids size 8-12, I’ve listed those measurements separately BELOW the cutting directions.

If you’re looking for an adult-sized apron, then I recommend this Apron Tutorial instead.

Video Instructions

We are so excited to announce that we now have a video to help you create this apron. You can find the video on our Polka Dot Chair YouTube channel or in the instructions below.

blue apron on white countertop with kitchen utensils

The fabric above the apron is from my Summer Picnic Collection with Riley Blake Designs.

Instructions

blue apron on white countertop with kitchen utensils

Childs Apron Pattern

Melissa Mortenson
This Kids Apron pattern is pretty simple to stitch up and would make a great gift for your favorite kid!ย 
4.46 from 55 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Active Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 30 minutes

supplies

  • ยฝ Yard Fabric for Skirt
  • ยผ yard fabric for Apron Top
  • 1 Fat Quarter Fabric Fat Quarter for Pocket
  • ยฝ yard Fabric for Ties
  • 1 package ric rack

Instructions
 

Cutting Directions For a size 4-7 Apron:

  • For Skirt Cut:
  • 1 piece 24โ€ณ x 14โ€ณ (it is 24โ€ณ wide and 14โ€ณ tall- the 24โ€ณ will be gathered)
  • For Apron Top Cut:
  • 2 pieces 7โ€ณ x 7โ€ณ
  • From Pocket Fabric Cut:
  • 2 pieces 4 ยฝโ€ณ x 4 ยฝโ€ณ โ€“ note for this step I made sure to fussy cut the fabric so that the illustration I wanted was in the center of the pocket.
  • For Shoulder Straps:
  • 2 pieces each 3โ€ณ x 18โ€ณ
  • For Waistband:
  • 2 pieces each 3โ€ณ x 18โ€ณ
  • For Waist Ties:
  • 2 pieces each 6โ€ณ x 30"

Cutting Directions/Changes For a Size 8-12 Apron:

  • For Skirt Piece Cut:
  • 1 piece 17โ€ณ x 29โ€ณ (it is 29โ€ณ wide and 17โ€ณ tall- the 29โ€ณ will be gathered)
  • For Apron Top Piece Cut:
  • 2 pieces, 9โ€ณ x 9โ€ณ
  • Pocket Piece is not changed: 2 pieces, 4 ยฝโ€ณ x 4 ยฝโ€ณ
  • Shoulder Straps:
  • 2 pieces 3โ€ณ x 24โ€ณ
  • Waistband:
  • 2 pieces 3โ€ณ x 20โ€ณ
  • Ties:
  • 2 pieces 6โ€ณ x 40โ€ณ

Construction Steps

    Step One: Create the Pocket:

    • Using a Curved Corner Ruler, plate, or an old CD, round the bottom two corners of your two pocket pieces.
      fabric on cutting mat
    • Place the pocket pieces right sides facing, and stitch around the edge, leaving a 2โ€ณ opening in the bottom of the pocket.
    • Turn the pocket right side out.
    • Press well.

    Step Two: Create Ties

    • To Make Shoulder Straps;
    • Fold one of the shoulder straps in half lengthwise
    • Stitch along the outside edge using a ยผโ€ณ seam allowance. Leave one end of the strap open and miter the end of the other side of the strap.
      Turn the strap right side out. For this step, I find it helpful to use a turning tool (linked above).
    • Repeat for the other strap piece.
      fabric on cutting mat
    • Make Waistband Strap/Ties:
    • Fold the Waist Tie pieces in half lengthwise with right sides facing. Stitch with a ยผโ€ณ seam allowance down one long side and one short side.
      Turn right side out and press. I recommend mitering the ends as you did for the neckties.

    Step Three: Apron Top

    • Pin the sewn pocket piece to one of the Apron Top pieces.
      fabric on cutting mat
    • Make sure the pocket piece is in the center of the apron top piece. Stitch around the edge of the pocket, making sure to backstitch at the top and the bottom of the pocket.
    • Pin the two shoulder straps to the top of the apron top piece, ยฝโ€ณ in from the edge. Stitch in place.
      fabric on cutting mat
    • Pin the other apron top piece to the sewn apron top piece, right sides facing. Stitch around the top and two sides with a ยฝโ€ณ seam allowance making sure not to catch the straps as you sew.
    • Turn right side out and press. The bottom seam will still be open.

    Step Four: Apply Ric Rack

    • Round the bottom two corners of the Apron Skirt piece.
    • Stitch a piece of ric rack to the outside edge of the right side of the apron skirt piece. The rick rack will be on top of the edge of the skirt and you will stitch right down the middle of the rick rack.
      fabric on cutting mat
    • Turn the rick rack to the wrong side of the fabric and press.
    • Top stitch the right side of the fabric.
      fabric on cutting mat
    • Step Five: Skirt Assembly

    For Size 4-6:

    • Find the center of one of your waistband pieces.
    • Find the center of your apron skirt piece.
    • Run two lines of gathering threads (set your machine stitch length to a 6) along the top of the apron skirt piece.
    • Pull up on the gathering threads until your skirt piece is 12โ€ณ wide.
    • Pin the right side of the gathered skirt to the right side of the marked waistband piece, matching the center of the skirt with the center of the strap.
      The gathered shirt will NOT extend to the waistband ends as the gathered piece is 12โ€ณ and your waistband piece is 18โ€ณ.
      fabric on cutting mat

    For Size 8-12:

    • Find the center of one of your waistband pieces.
    • Find the center of your apron skirt piece.
    • Run two lines of gathering threads (set your machine stitch length to a 6) along the top of the apron skirt piece.
    • Pull up on the gathering threads until your skirt piece is 16โ€ณ wide.
    • Pin the right side of the gathered skirt to the right side of the marked waistband piece, matching the center of the skirt with the center of the strap.

    For All Sizes:

    • Stitch the skirt to the waistband with a ยฝโ€ณ seam allowance. You are stitching the top of the skirt to the bottom of the waistband piece right sides facing.
    • Press along the seam you just stitched. Flip the waistband piece up so that all fabrics are right side up, pressing the seam allowance towards the waistband.
    • If desired, topstitch this seam along the edge of the waistband.

    Attach Apron Top Piece:

    • Find the center of the sewn apron top piece.
    • Place it on the TOP of the right side of the apron skirt/waistband piece on the other side of the waistband (the side of the waistband that does not have the skirt stitched to it).
      Stitch in place with a ยฝโ€ณ seam allowance.
      fabric on cutting mat

    Attach Waist Ties:

    • Pin one of the sewn waistband STRAPS to the edge of the waistband piece. You will want to โ€œpleatโ€ the sewn straps so that they fit inside of the waistband with ยฝโ€ณ left on each side of the strap.
      Baste in place. Repeat with the other strap on the other side of the waistband.
    • Note: Make sure that the waistband ties stay TUCKED in as shown in the illustration above during all of the remaining construction steps. I like to pin mine in place so they donโ€™t slip out.

    Attach the waistband lining:

    • You are going to make a โ€œsandwichโ€ with the apron top as the โ€œmeatโ€ and the waistband and waistband lining pieces as the โ€œbreadโ€.
    • Pin the 2nd waistband piece (this is your waistband lining piece) to the sewn waistband/apron top piece along the top edge of the waistband right sides facing, pinning around to the sides of the waistband but not the bottom of the waistband.
    • Photo is from another apron I made, construction steps are identical.

    Finishing:

    • Make sure that the waistband lining and waistband pieces are RIGHT SIDES FACING.
    • Stitch the waistband lining with a ยฝโ€ณ seam allowance beginning at one side and all the way around the top of the waistband to the other side. Again, do not stitch the bottom. Make sure the waist ties are โ€œtucked inโ€ towards the center of the apron as shown in the illustration above)
    • Turn the waistband lining right side out to the back of the apron and press. The waist ties will โ€œpop outโ€ when you turn it right side out.
    • Fold under the raw edge of the waistband lining and hand stitch in place to finish the apron. You can also machine stitch it if you like.
    • For an extra finishing touch, topstitch the top of the center strap just below the seam between the apron top and center strap.

    Notes

    Note: A few of you have been confused by these steps. Would you please read each step individually? Also, I feel like it helps to โ€œjust do itโ€ than to visualize it first. I promise these steps have been tested multiple times, and the construction process does work.
    Keyword Sewing
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    Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram
    child's apron on dress form

    More Apron Patterns you May Like:

    Kids BBQ Apron Pattern

    Kids Apron Made from Laminate Fabrics

    Halloween American Girl Doll Apron Pattern

    Halloween Apron Pattern 

    Giving this as a gift?

    Stitch up a set of cute pot holders to match!

    Round pot holders on white table
    child's apron on dress form

    Original post date June 25, 2018.

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