The Little Apron Free Pattern and Tutorial

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Whether they're "helping" us cook, learning to become future Divinci's, or just having a good time getting their hands in whatever they can at the moment, one thing's for sure.  Kids get dirty.  As I made this apron recently, I was really surprised at the lack of free toddler and child apron patterns that are available online.  Off to work I went, and I'm so excited to share The Little Apron Free Pattern with you!

Description:
The Little Apron is a simple and easy project that can easily completed in less than an hour.  The pattern is sized for toddler/child 3-7, but can be easily adjusted for smaller or larger sizes.  Please remember this pattern is for personal use only.

Materials:

3/4 yd fabric (quilting cotton or home decor weight fabric recommended)

8"x5" contrasting fabric scrap for pocket

2 packages of extra wide double fold bias tape

Pieces to Cut:
Fabric: main body of apron from pattern piece (click on link below)
Contrasting fabric: 8"x5" piece for pocket
Bias Tape: pieces in the following lengths: 7", 8", 18", 37", 53" (cut 2)

Click to Download The Little Apron Free Pattern

Instructions:

Note: When sewing with bias tape, keep in mind that one side is folded narrower than the other.  Always sew with the narrow side on top, ensuring that the bottom folded side (the wider side) will be caught by the stitches.  It is also important to ensure that the fabric is sandwiched into the fold of the bias tape as snugly as possible.

1. Sandwich 7" length of bias tape around top of apron.  Stitch bias tape to apron close to folded edge.  Trim any excess bias tape (you will usually be left with a bit of extra bias tape to trim off since it stretches as you sew).

2. Sandwich 37" length of bias tape around one straight side of apron (leaving curved edges).  Begin topstitching, and stop when you reach the first corner (which will be the bottom corner of apron).  To make a nice mitered corner, lift the presser foot and remove the fabric, trimming the threads (second mitered corner is pictured in the next few steps).

3. Open the bias tape up and bring back down toward next side of apron.

4. Allow bias tape to fold in half as it originally was, sandwiching the fabric again between the tape.

5. Pin bias tape in place and begin stitching at diagonal fold.

6. Continue stitching bias tape to fabric along bottom and other straight side of apron, mitering second corner same as the first.

7. Mark 18" from the end of one 53" piece of bias tape.  At the 18" mark, begin sandwiching and pinning bias tape around one curved edge of apron, starting at the top of the apron.  You will be left with approximately 24" of bias tape free at the end.

8. Beginning at top free end of bias tape, topstitch close to edge of bias tape.  If you'd like, you can turn the raw edge under before beginning your stitches, but since bias tape does not tend to fray, it's not necessary.  Backstitch once or twice when you reach the fabric, and continue sewing, stitching the bias tape to the apron along the curved edge.  Backstitch again when you reach the end of the curved edge, and continue stitching to the end of the bias tape.

9. Repeat with other curved side of apron.  Although you can pin the bias tape to the fabric the same as you did the first curved side, you will have to begin stitching from the opposite end of the bias tape (that will be the waist tie) instead of the neck tie end.

10. For the pocket, sandwich 8" length of bias tape around one 8" side (top) of pocket.  Stitch close to edge of bias tape, joining it to the pocket fabric. Trim ends of bias tape if needed.

11. To finish other edges of pocket, sandwich and stitch bias tape to remaining three edges of pocket fabric, mitering corners as you did with the apron body.  Tuck the edges under before your beginning and ending stitches.

12. Center pocket on lower half of apron and pin in place.



13. Stitch around sides and bottom of pocket, close to edge, leaving top of pocket unstitched and open.

14. Measure 2" from edge of pocket on one side.  Stitch from top to bottom of pocket, keeping 2" distance from edge.

That's it, you are done!

Now you can both enjoy the messes!