Thankful Apron Pattern – Free apron pattern DIY sizes child to plus

This free apron pattern and tutorial includes a video tutorial! You can make a classic apron that is cute enough for hosting, but practical for everyday use.  I confess I love a cute apron – I have several (but my ratio of cooking to aprons is a little lopsided).  For me cooking can be a chore but a cute apron can lighten my mood.  

This apron tutorial was first offered nearly ten years ago.  Since then I’ve gotten comments and requests and have modified the pattern a little to make it easier.  This pattern comes in child ( ages 5 to 10) and adult (fits most up to a size 14).  I also am including a “plus” size bodice option for my friends that are a US size 16 and up.

This vintage style apron is designed so you can choose the length of the skirt.

For this sewing project you will need:
1.5 -2 yards cotton (1 yard fabric A , 1/2 yard fabric B for standard size 3/4 for plus)

Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

Cording (optional)

Thread

Iron

Sewing Essentials (scissors, pins, etc.)

Sewing Machine

Fleece Fun’s Free PDF pattern available by filling out the form at the end of the post.

Video Tutorial Here, Written Below:

Thankful Apron Pattern – Free Apron Pattern Instructions

Step 1 – Cut out pattern

Print up the free apron pattern (you can get assembly instructions here).

Cut out the liner to the cute apron bodice

(The liner is the full pattern).

Cut down the bodice to the dotted line.

Cut one of the front bodice.  Tip:  If your fabric has little scenes on it like mine does take a little time to center it on the front of the apron.  

It uses a little more fabric but it really adds to the look of the completed sewing project.

The same is for the waist piece.  Since this will be front and center on the apron take time and make sure that the placement is nice.

In addition to the top you will need to cut the following:
Cut 3 of the Neck strap A / waist tie pieces – be sure to set on the fold where it says on the pattern.  The final pieces should be twice as long as the pattern since it’s cut on the fold.

You will need to cut one of neck strap  B(the shorter one) again be sure to place on the fold.

You will then need to cut the skirt.  Since it’s basically a large rectangle I didn’t include it in the pattern (it saves time and paper). Using a rotary cutter cut across the full width of the fabric to make the skirt. The length you desire is up to you – In the example I chose to make a longer skirt that was about 24 inches long.

All pieces to the free apron pattern are now cut out.  You should have:

1 bodice front (shorter)

1 bodice lining/ back (longer)

1 neck strap B

1 neck strap A (waist ties pattern piece)

2 Waist ties 

1 waist piece

1 apron skirt

Step 2 – Iron to prep the apron pieces

Ironing is an important step in this free apron pattern. Don’t skip it.

The two neck straps are not the same length on purpose – it’s part of the pattern to tie a bow on the side rather than in the back.
Taking the two strips that will be the neck ties, fold each of them in half length wise, right sides together (so it makes a strip that is approx. 1.75 inches wide), and lightly press into place. Set aside.

Next, take the bodice lining and press the bottom up 1 inch (so wrong sides of the fabric are touching).

Set the apron bodice aside.

For the waist ties and apron skirt the edges will be finished using a baby hem also known as a turned hem.  There are a couple of ways to do this.  If you have a turning foot.  Just lightly press the pieces to get wrinkles out to make working with them easier.  If you don’t have a turning foot – don’t worry you can still make this hem it just takes a little more elbow grease.

For the waist ties:  on the long sides turn the raw edge in 1/4 of an inch and press.

Then turn under once more 1/4 of and inch and press.  This will make the turned hem.    Make sure to make a turned hem at on of the ends of the ties (the end that won’t be sewn into the apron. Set aside.

For the apron skirt repeat this process for the sides and bottom (the top will be sewn into the bodice so no need).  Baby hems are a pain but it makes the garment durable in the wash and is less expensive/ time consuming than bias tape.  Set the skirt aside.

Step 3 – Make the Apron Bodice

Gather the front bodice pieces, the waist piece and the cording.  Note: The cording is optional.

Line up the waist piece and cording with the bodice, right sides together.  Using a .5 inch seam allowance sew the waist piece and cording to the bodice front.

Now let’s work on the neck straps.

They’re all pressed and ready to sew.  Starting with strap A sew it together using a .25 inch seam allowance.  Repeat with strap B.

Turn Each strap right side out.

Now it’s time to finish on end of the strap for tying.

Press the strap flat.

Tuck on end in on it’s self about .5 of an inch.

Topstitch shut. Set aside.

Take a waist ties.  If using a turning foot finish the long edges of the ties plus one end.  If you’ve pressed a baby hem, topstitch your pressed hem into place.

Let’s add these pieces to the bodice.  Take one wait tie – placing the side that is not finished on the waist piece – center it and sew on using a .25 inch seam allowance.

Repeat with the other tie.

Now center the short strap B on one side of the bodice top.  Note: The side the short strap is on is the side the bow will go on.  Sew into place using a .25″ seam allowance.

Repeat on the other side with strap A.

Nice.  The bodice front is put together.

Step 4 – Add the apron skirt

Finish the sides and bottom of the skirt with a turned hem.  If you’ve already pressed your hem, simply topstitch into place. 

Along the top (where you didn’t finish the edge) make two basting stitches along the edge so we can gather the skirt.

BEFORE you gather mark with a pin the center of the skirt ( you can do this by folding it in half).  And then marking the quarter sections of the skirt ( old a half in half) with a pin.  This will help you make the gathers more even on your apron.

Gently gather the apron skirt, try to make the gathers as even as possible between the quarters of the skirt.

Grab the bodice and turn it upside down.

Mark the half way point. With a pin.

The fold the half in half and mark the quarter section of the bodice. Note: This is just the sections of the  bodice piece and not the ties.

With right sides together, line up the pins on the bodice and the skirt.  The skirt should end where the waist piece and ties meet.  Line up the center and quarter pins, taking time to evenly distribute the gathers between all the sections.  Pin and sew into place using a .5 inch seam allowance.

Step 5 – Add the bodice lining

This step will bring the free apron pattern together.

To add the lining we want to make sure that the straps don’t get sewn in wrong!  

Pin them out of the way of the seam allowance (.25″).

Place the apron bodice lining on the bodice front right sides together. Double check that the straps are out of the way.

Sew around the bodice using a .25″ seam allowance.  Leave the bottom open.

Turn right side out.

To finish off the apron, top stitch all the way around the bodice.  By stitching in the ditch on the front side where the waist piece meets the skirt it will sew the bottom of the bodice lining shut.

Tip: Pin the bottom of the bodice lining into place so it won’t shift under the needle.

Trim your threads and that’s it!  You just completed the free apron pattern.

Download the free pattern here.

You can get a free copy of Adobe reader here. By downloading you are agreeing to pattern terms of use. Fill out the form below to download the .pdf !

Other Free Apron Patterns to Enjoy:

• Vintage Apron
• The Easy Apron
• The Child Apron
• The Tween Apron

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