Making a reversible apron is easy and fun! I made the following apron from start to finish in just under an hour. This tutorial assumes that you have basic sewing skills.
1. Find two large pieces of cotton fabric. I used these coordinating polka-dot fabrics.
2. Draw an apron shape on a large piece of pattern paper (or whatever paper you have). I decided to do a kids apron for the tutorial. I traced the base shape of my favorite apron (without the frills or ruffles) and scaled it down a few inches on all sides. Then I folded it in half and layed the straight edge on the fold of the fabric. This allows the sides of the cut piece to be uniform. Do this for both pieces of fabric.
3. Cut out the pockets if you want them on the apron. For this apron I cut one of each fabric in a 6 by 9 inch piece.
4. Cut out the straps. For this apron, you will need four straps in two sizes. I made my straps 3 by 16 inches for the neck, and 3 by 24 inches for the waist.
5. Fold the straps in half the long way so that the right sides are together. Sew one short end and the long side closed. Make sure you leave one end open for turning. Do this for all four straps.
6. Turn your straps right-side out and iron flat. Set aside for now.
7. Grab your pocket pieces. I like to finish the raw edges with the serger, but this isn't absolutely necessary. Fold the four edges of the pockets toward the back of the pocket (toward the wrong side of the fabric). Iron these edges flat. I like to double fold the top of the pocket to give it some dimension from the rest of the pocket. Then I stitch across the top edge.
8. Place your pocket in the middle of one of the apron pieces. Make sure it is the right side of the fabric. I have put the contrasting pockets on the apron pieces. Pin down and stitch the sides and bottom of the pocket to the apron. Be sure to leave the top open. Repeat for other pocket.
9. Lay straps on apron piece. Short straps at top, long straps in middle. I place mine about an inch below where the apron starts to curve out. Make sure the straps are pinned to the right side of the fabric, matching raw edges of the straps to the raw edge of the apron. I extend my straps an inch over the edge of the apron, but they are still raw edge to raw edge.
10. See how the raw edges are matching up and the straps are on the right side of the fabric? Very important. I have pinned them at the ends to keep them in place, but you can also baste across these ends if you like.
11. Lay the other apron piece on top of the first apron piece. Make sure that right sides are together. Pin down to secure. Starting about an inch below one of the middle straps, sew the entire way around the apron. Stop when you are about five inches from your starting point. The arrow in the photo shows you where to start.
12. Here's what you should have when you are finished sewing. A hole. Remove pins and turn apron right-side out through the hole.
13. Turning the fabric right-side out.
14. Now you have a completed apron with a hole in one side. If you are handy with a needle and thread you can hand sew that baby shut with a french seam. I can not stand to hand sew and so I iron my apron flat and top-stitch the whole way around it. It's fun to use contrasting thread for this step as it is going to show. I used white for this apron.
TA-DA! Your completed apron is ready to wear.
12. Here's what you should have when you are finished sewing. A hole. Remove pins and turn apron right-side out through the hole.
13. Turning the fabric right-side out.
14. Now you have a completed apron with a hole in one side. If you are handy with a needle and thread you can hand sew that baby shut with a french seam. I can not stand to hand sew and so I iron my apron flat and top-stitch the whole way around it. It's fun to use contrasting thread for this step as it is going to show. I used white for this apron.
TA-DA! Your completed apron is ready to wear.
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