Learn How to Easily Create an Apron With This Tutorial

Rubyvale Road
by Rubyvale Road
13 Materials
$15
2 Hours
Easy


I don’t know about you, but when I cook it can get pretty messy. The best way to protect my clothes, of course, is by using an apron. And it turns out that they are remarkably easy to sew from scratch. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the steps of making your own apron. It’s a fun and easy project and you’ll be cooking up a storm in no time!


Tools and materials


Tools and materials:

  • Fabric
  • 2 D buckles
  • Sewing machine
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Thread
  • Needles
  • Sewing pins
  • Butcher’s paper
  • Pen 
  • Calculator 
  • French curve ruler
  • Iron
How to sew an apron
Take your measurements


The first thing you’ll need to do is take your measurements. Grab your measuring tape and measure the width you want your apron to be across your chest. Then measure the width you want the apron to be across your waistline. For the length, you’ll need to measure from the point where you want your apron to start to your waist, and from the same starting point down to where you want the apron to end. 

Sew an apron
Make your pattern


To draft your pattern, take half of your chest measurement, plus 1.5 cm (0.6”) seam allowance, and mark it across the top of your paper. Then, on the paper, measure down the length from your chest to your waist and trace half of your waist measurement plus 1.5 cm (0.6”) for seam allowance. Next, you’re going to connect the chest to the waist. After that, measure down from the chest to your finished length and add 3 cm (1.2”) for seam allowance. Lastly, mark from the waist to the bottom, and your pattern is ready to be cut out. 

DIY apron
Cut out your fabric


Take your fabric and fold it over, right sides together, making sure the width is enough to fit the apron pattern. Then lie your pattern on your fabric and pin it down, placing the long, straight edge of the pattern along the fold of the fabric. Now cut out the fabric along the edges of the pattern, but don’t cut on the fold. Do this twice so that you have both a front and a back.

Easy apron pattern
Cut out the straps


The next thing you’re going to cut out is the two ties for the apron. You can choose whatever width you want for them, but I went with 3 cm (1.2”), which meant that I had to cut them 6 cm (2.4”) wide to include seam allowance. As for the length, just make sure each one is long enough to wrap twice around your waist. 

DIY apron pattern
Sew the ties


Fold each strap in half lengthwise, with the right sides together, and pin then sew along the edge. Then fasten a safety pin to the end and use it to help you turn the straps right sides out. Once you’re done turning them out, press them down with an iron to make them flat. Then sew closed one side of the strap. You don’t need to worry about the other side because you’ll be sewing it straight onto the apron. 

How to make an apron
Cut out rectangles


The last thing you need to cut out is a small rectangle for each D buckle. They don’t have to be too long, and the width just needs to allow them to fit through the buckles. Once you have them cut out, fold each one in half, right sides together, and stitch along the long edge. Then you’re going to use a safety pin to turn them right side out just as you did with the straps. 

How to sew an apron
Lay out your pieces


Lay out your front piece facing up. Then grab your ties and position each one in each top corner. Measure each tie 1.5 cm (0.6”) in from the side edge and leave 1.5 cm (0.6”) of the tie in the top edge seam. Leave the ties hanging down through the front of the apron. 

How to easily sew an apron
Attach the D buckles


Take your D buckles and fold the tabs you made over the edge of each D buckle. Then pin the tabs at the waist of the apron, just below the curved edge. Again, measure 1.5 cm (0.6”) in from the edge, and have the D buckles facing into the center of the apron. 

Make your own apron
Pin the back piece onto the apron


You’re now going to grab your back piece and lay the right side down onto the front piece so that your buckles and ties are sandwiched between the layers. Then pin around all the edges, leaving a 5 cm (2”) gap at the bottom, and stick the ties through that gap. As you pin all three layers together, replace and remove the pins that are underneath so that you don’t accidentally sew on top of them. 

How to DIY an apron
Sew the pieces together


It’s finally time to head over to your sewing machine! Start sewing all the way around where you pinned, using a 1.5 cm (0.6”) seam allowance, and remove the pins as you go. When you get to the tabs and the ties, reverse stitch over them to keep them secure. 

Easy apron DIY
Cut slits


Once you finish sewing, press the seams flat. Then grab some scissors and carefully cut little triangle slits in the seams, making sure not to cut the stitch, along the curves of the armholes. This will help the apron stay flat.

Homemade apron
Turn the apron right side out


Lastly, you’re going to turn your apron right side out by pulling the apron through the opening you left at the bottom. Then all you have left to do is to iron the apron and hand-stitch closed the opening at the bottom.

Homemade apron DIY


How to make a homemade apron


That’s all there is to it! This is such an easy project to do and so incredibly useful! I mean, who doesn’t need an apron?! Of course, you can customize your apron any way you want by choosing fabric in a color or pattern that speaks to you. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong. The possibilities are truly endless. I’d absolutely love to see the different aprons you all come up with, so be sure to leave a picture in the comments! 

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • 2 D-buckles
  • Sewing machine
See all materials

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