Tutorial includes both Adult & Youth sizes!

Featured Fabrics FreeSpirit Fabrics Nocturnal Creatures by Maria Matos

Pattern Design by Amy Simmonds of Stitched by Starlight ( @stitchedbystarlight )

Sewn by Amy Simmonds of Stitched by Starlight ( @stitchedbystarlight )

I love to be in the kitchen, especially when it involves cooking for and with others!  What I make varies greatly -- I’m just as likely to be making playdough as I am to be baking cookies. It doesn’t matter what I am making, I always wear an apron! I have very strong opinions about aprons too, since I wear them daily.  In my opinion, an apron shouldn’t be boring, it should show off your personality, have holiday flair, or just be a fun print you enjoy!  An apron should also be adjustable so you can accommodate friends or family who want to cook with you.  Also, and this is very important, an apron should be Reversible! Having a double-sided apron not only gives you the opportunity for two different looks, but also doubles the chances of protecting your clothes!  (I have had sauces splatter on enough single layer aprons to know that a single layer won’t prevent that sauce from soaking through and staining your clothes!)

Skill Level:  Beginner Friendly

Skills Learned:  Pleats, Adding a Casing

Finished Size: Adult Apron Length 27”, Youth Apron Length 20”

Fabric Requirements:

Note: Youth Size Fabric Requirements are found at the end of this tutorial.

Apron Side One:
Top:  ¼ yard - Nocturnal Creatures - Tile (PWMM001.TILE)
Waistband:  ¼ yard - Blossom Moth - Red (PWMM002.RED)
Skirt: ½ yard - Japanese Beetle - Black (PWMM004.BLACK)
Casing: ¼ yard - Night Garden - Black (PWMM003.BLACK)
Ties: ¼ yard - Spring - White (PWMM009.WHITE)

Apron Side 2:
Top:  ¼ yard - Silk Moth - White  (PWMM005.WHITE)
Waistband:  ¼ yard - Victorian Garden - Black (PWMM006.BLACK)
Skirt: ½ yard – Carnation - White (PWMM007.WHITE)

Additional Supplies:
Thread (Polyester is recommended, for durability)
Glass Head Sewing Pins
Sewing Clips (optional)
Scissors
Marking Pencil
Chopstick (or preferred point turning tool)
Safety Pin
Quilters Ruler
Cutting Surface, such as a self-healing mat
Sewing Machine with standard sewing foot (or walking foot)
Iron and Ironing Surface, such as an ironing board or wool pressing mat
Seam Ripper   *With luck you won’t need it*

Before you begin:

I highly recommend reading the instructions completely, before starting your project.

Seam Allowance:  1/2” seam allowance is used at all times, unless otherwise noted.

Abbreviations:

RST = Right Sides Together

WOF = Width of Fabric (selvage to selvage)

Tip!  Always backstitch every time you start or stop sewing, especially at corners.  This will improve the integrity and strength of your project.

Instructions: 

Step 1:  Gather fabrics, additional supplies, and print template

Download and print the Apron Curve Template by clicking HERE. 

Step 2:   Pre-wash and iron your fabrics (Optional)

Washing:

Whether or not you prewash your fabrics won’t necessarily change the outcome of your project, however I choose to always pre-wash fabrics for 3 reasons.

To identify any possible color bleeding, to handle any possible shrinkage ahead of time, and to eliminate the manufacturer’s creases.

Tip!  A Color Catcher will help save your fabrics if any bleeding does occur.

Ironing:

Always Iron your fabrics prior to beginning.  Eliminating creases in the fabric will improve cutting accuracy.

Step 3:  Cutting  (All dimensions listed are Width x Height)

Note:  Youth Size Cutting Instructions are found at the end of this tutorial.

Apron Top:  From both Apron Top fabrics, cut the following:

• 12” x 9”

Apron Waistband:  From both Apron Waistband fabrics, cut the following:

• 30” x 6”

Apron Skirt:  From both Apron Skirt fabrics, cut the following:

• 34” x 16”

Casings:  From the Casing fabric, cut the following:

• 3” x 20”

Apron Ties:  From the Apron Ties fabric, cut the following:

• 2” x WOF

Step 4:  Pleating the Apron Skirt

Note:  Youth Size Pleating Instructions are found at the end of this tutorial.

Marking:  On the patterned side of both Apron Skirt pieces, mark the center-point along the top edge.  (Markings should be made on the right side of the fabric, not the wrong side, this makes lining up marks easier.)

Measuring from the center point, make markings at 2”, 3”, 5” and 6” away from center.

Mark these points to the right of center and to the left of center.

Pinning:  On the left side of the skirt, fold the top edge of the skirt, RST, to bring the markings at 6” and 5” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

Fold, RST, to bring markings at 3” and 2” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

On the right side of skirt, fold, RST, to bring markings at 2” and 3” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

Fold, RST, to bring markings at 5” and 6” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

Pressing:  Lay the skirt out on your ironing board, and manipulate the flaps created by pinning sections together so that flaps point toward the skirt center.   Add an extra pin to hold the flaps in place.

Manipulate the skirt so that the top edge is straight, this will help align the pleats so they are fairly straight.

Press to set the folds that form the pleats.

Sewing:  Stitch ¼” from top edge of both skirt pieces, to secure the pleats.

Step 5:  Assembling the Apron Body Units (Side One and Side Two)

Marking:  On both Apron Top pieces, mark the center of the bottom edge.

On both Apron Waistband pieces, mark the center of the top and bottom edges.

Sewing:  Align the bottom center of Side One Apron Top, RST, with the top center of Side One Apron Waistband.   Stitch to join.

Align the bottom center of Side One Apron Waistband, RST with the top center of Side One Apron Skirt.  Stitch to join.

Pressing:  Press seams toward the Apron Waistband.  Press the remaining un-sewn top edge of the Apron Waistband down ½” to match the seam that joins it to the Apron Top.

Repeat this process to create Apron Side 2.

Apron Curves Template:  Using the template printed in Step 1, cut the apron curves along the top edges of the apron waistband.  Cut curves on both the right and left side of the Apron Top.

For the left side, use template printed side up.    For the right side, use the template wrong side up.

Repeat to cut curves on right and left sides of Apron Side Two.

Step 6:  Joining Side One and Side Two of Apron Body

Clipping:  Align Apron Side One, RST, with Apron Side Two.  Clip or pin around the perimeter to secure.

Sewing:  Sew around the perimeter leaving a 6” opening along the bottom edge of the apron.

Preparing Corners:  Clip all 6 corners to reduce bulk.  (Note:  The second waistband

corner and second skirt bottom corner are not shown.)

Clip curves being careful to not cut into the stitching.

Turn the apron right side out, use a chopstick to gently poke the corners out.

Corner Before:                                                                                 

Corner After:

Pressing:  Iron the perimeter of the apron, rolling the seams between your fingers as you go, this will help bring the stithcing to the very edge giving you nice crisp edges.

Before Pressing:

After Pressing:

Sewing:  Topstitch 1/8” from the edge around the perimeter of the apron body and across the top and bottom edges of the Apron Waistband.

Step 7:  Creating and Installing the Casings

Marking:  On the wrong side of the Casing pieces, mark 1” from the edge along all four sides.

Pressing:   Press the 3” ends to the 1” marking, press to set the fold.

Top stitch 1/8” and 3/8” from fold.

Fold the 19” edges toward the 1” marking, press to set the folds.

Fold the casing in half along the length, the two folded edges should be aligned, press to set the fold.

Pinning:  Starting at the apron top edge, position the casing along the curved edge of the apron, pining as you go.

One folded edge of the Casing should extend ½” onto Side One of the apron, the other folded edge will extend ½” onto Side Two of the apron.

Please note that this means the Casing’s center fold will be ½” away from the finished edge of the Apron Body. 

Sewing:  Top stitch 1/8” from the edge of the Casing, then again ¼” from the Casing’s edge.

Step 8:  Creating the Apron Ties

Joining Strips:  Join all three Apron Tie strips using diagonal seams.

Align short ends of the strips, RST, at a 90-degree angle.  Mark then stitch a diagonal line from corner to corner, as shown.

Trim off excess fabric to create a ¼” seam allowance, press seam open.

Pressing:  On both 2” ends of the fabric strip, mark 1” from the edge.  Fold each to the line, press to set the seams.

Fold the fabric strip in half along the length, press to set the fold.

Open the fabric strip then fold both sides towards the center fold, press to set the folds.

Fold entire strip in half again, press to set the fold.

Sewing:  Topstitch 1/8” from the open edge of the apron tie, where the two folds meet.  Once finished, continue to topstitch the other long edge of the apron ties.

Step 9:  Finishing the Apron

Attach a safety pin to one end of the Apron Tie.  Insert the safety pin into the Casing opening on the right side of the waistband.  Use a push-pull method to move the safety pin and tie through the casing.  After inserting the safety pin and tie into the casing, hold the safety pin with your right hand and push as much casing fabric as you can onto the safety pin using your left hand.

Grab the safety pin with your left hand and using your right hand pull the bunched fabric away from the safety pin towards the starting point.  Repeat this process until the safety pin and Apron Tie emerges from the opening at the apron top.

Pull the Apron Tie though just enough to create some slack at the top, then insert the safety pin into the Casing opening on the top left side of the apron.  Use the push-pull method until the safety pin emerges from the opening on the left side of the Waistband.

Adjust the Apron Ties as needed so that the neck loop at the top is the desired length and the ends are the same length.

Congratulations, your Reversible Drawstring Apron is Complete!

Washing and Care Instructions: 

Machine was on cold with like colors, tumble dry on low heat, press with a warm iron if desired.

Tip!  If you’re worried that the Apron Ties will lose their alignment in the wash, tie a knot in the Apron Ties near the waistband on both sides before washing.  Just don’t pull the knot very tight, so it can be easily un-tied later.

Youth Size Reversible Drawstring Aron

The process, including seam allowances, is the same when making the Youth Sized apron. Note the only differences outlined below.

Fabric Requirements:   

Apron Side 1:
Apron Top:  ¼ Yard
Apron Waistband:  ¼ Yard
Apron Skirt:  1/3 Yard
Apron Casings:  1/8 Yard
Apron Ties:  1/8 Yard

Apron Side 2:
Apron Top:  ¼ Yard
Apron Waistband:  ¼ Yard
Apron Skirt:  1/3 Yard

Step 3:  Youth Apron Cutting Instructions

(All dimensions listed are Width x Height)

Apon Top:    (2) 9” x 6 ¾”

Apron Waistband:  (2) 21 ½” x 4 ½”

Apron Skirt:  (2)  25 ½” x 12”

Apron Casings:  (2) 14” x 3”

Apron Ties:  (2)  2” x WOF

Step 4:  Pleating the Youth Apron Skirt 

Marking:  Mark the center point on the Apron Skirt.

Measuring from the center point, make markings at 1”, 2” 3” and 4”

Mark these points to the right of center and to the left of center.

Pinning:  On the left side of the skirt, fold the top edge of the skirt, RST, to

bring the markings at 1” and 2” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

Fold, RST, to bring markings at 3” and 4” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

On the right side of skirt, fold, RST, to bring markings at 1” and 2” together.

Pin at the markings to secure.

Fold, RST, to bring markings at 3” and 4” together.  Pin at the markings to secure.

Step 5: 

Be sure to use the Youth Size template with cutting the Curves on the Apron Body.

Thank you for following along! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.