One of my favorite gifts for preschoolers is a child-sized apron. Combine it with a cookbook, teaspons, and a chef hat to make a terrific holiday gift.
This involves VERY minimal sewing. As in, I learned how to operate a sewing machine in 7th grade Home Ec, didn't touch one again for 25 years, and then was able to make these using my mother's sewing machine, which she bought at a garage sale in the 70s.
You'll need:
- Two pieces of fabric at least 18" by 18". I used this adorable cupcake fabric from Joann's for the front, and plain pink for the back
- a little more than 4 feet of coordinating ribbon. Mine is 1.5" wide, but any width would work.
- Pattern for apron top and apron bottom - this is my pattern which you are welcome to use, but please credit me here.
1. Print the two pages of the pattern, use the dotted line to tape them together, and cut along the solid black lines so that you have a pattern that looks like half of an apron.
2. Fold your front fabric the long way so that you have a rectangle 18 inches long by 9 inches wide
3. Place the long side of the pattern on the fold of the fabric and cut 1/4-1/2 inch larger than the pattern all the way around.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the back fabric
5. Use an iron to turn down 1/4-1/2 inch of the front fabric all the way around
6. On the back fabric, turn down 1/4-1/2 inch on two adjoining sides (such as the bottom and left sides)
7. Place the front fabric, good side down, on your ironing board
8. Line up the two ironed sides of the back fabric with the corresponding sides of the front fabric
9. Work your way around the back piece, ironing each side under. Use the front piece as a guide so that you end up making the two pieces equally sized
10. Pin the two pieces together, seams facing in
11. Add approximately 16 inches of ribbon at each hip; pin in place
12. Use 19 inches of ribbon to make a U at the top; pin in place
13. Stitch around the perimeter of the apron, 1/4 inch from the edge
14. Use a candle to lightly melt the ends of the apron so it won't fray. Hold it a few inches above the flame for a few seconds until it gets melty (if you put it right into the flame, it will blacken).
You're done! That wasn't so bad, was it?
Chef's hat instructions here!
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14 comments:
This is absolutely adorable. I love it!! I am also your newest follower!!
You can find me at www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com
Precious!!!! I LOVE it!!! I've seen that fabric before and thought about making the girls some aprons. Too cute. :) Thanks so much for linking to my party. I hope you'll come back again soon. :)
Oh! What a beautiful apron on an adorable little girl. I have a 'thing' for aprons...I always where one when I am in the kitchen!
Angie xo
This is adorable and it would make a cute gift, too!
What a cute apron! And a cute little cook, too! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-child-sized-apron/2010/11/15/
--Anne
So cute - we do this all the time. I pair it with sprinkles, cake mix, and frosting!
Thank you for sharing this! I am going to make a holiday apron for each of the littles in my life this Christmas.
Cheers~!
That turned out beautifully. I love the prints you choose for this! Now I'm really wishing I could sew. ^_^
Okay. This is such a cute idea! I can think of a dozen little girls in my life that would LOVE this! Filing it away, for sure!
Made a bunch of these for my neice and nephews this holiday season.
here is the link to some pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/5274905813/
thanks for sharing!
Yay! This is exactly what I've been looking for. Thanks so much!
So cute just like the Waist apron of my baby girl. i love the Color
that work aprons are very pleasing to the eye of a baby girl i think i will do purchase that for my little baby girl.
Just love this idea. I’ve added it to NZ Ecochick’s homemade kiddies gifts ideas. I can’t wait to make one of these. Please check out this post on: http://www.nzecochick.com/2011/11/homemade-kiddies-gifts.html
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