FREE! Custom Fabric Every Day Apron DIY Sew Along Tutorial

Kristen Bunch December 12, 2021

Skill Level: Beginner

Learn how to make an apron just in time for the holidays! If you struggle to find time to sew during this busy season, this blog post is here to help! This Sew Along is set up to be completed over the course of 4 days by breaking down the project into small tasks to make it easier for busy people to find that small bit of “me” time to do something fun! At the end of 4 days, you will have a complete holiday apron perfect for gifting or baking those last-minute cookies for Santa! Check our of in stock woven fabrics HERE. 

DAY 1: PREPARATION

Gather Supplies:

• Pattern
• For this Sew Along, I will be using the Baking Fun Pattern from Ellie & Mac – this is a great pattern as it comes with multiple sizes from doll to adult, and also includes a pattern for an oven mitt. (Author’s note: while I used the apron pattern for this Sew Along, I did not directly follow the instructions; therefore, this Sew Along will not follow the same order as the instructions included with the pattern)
• Fabric (Recommend Cotton Woven [CW] or Canvas [CV])
• ¾ yard-1 yard Main Print 
• ¼ yard Coordinate (used for straps, facing, lining)
• Cutting Mat & Rotary Cutter

• If you don’t have these, that’s okay – you can use fabric scissors. A Cutting Mat and Rotary Cutter just make measuring and cutting a little faster and easier

• Straight Pins and Quilting Clips
• Used to hold your pieces together while sewing
• Iron and Ironing Board/Mat
• For pressing (as desired) 
• Sewing Machine 
• Used to assemble your apron
• A Serger can be used to finish the hem but it is not required. A zigzag stitch on the sewing machine can be used in place of a serger

Cut:

• Print and assemble your pattern 
• Cut fabrics – you should have an apron panel, facing, pockets (2), pockets lining (2), apron tie straps (2), apron neck ties (2)

DAY 2: TIE STRAPS AND NECK TIES

Fold: 

• Prepare your neck and tie straps by pressing the center of the ties lengthwise (wrong sides together) and folding in each end to enclose the raw edges. Make sure to fold in the ends of the ties in as well.

Sew:

• Topstitch the open edges of all 4 ties 
• Attach the ties to the Apron Panel with right sides together

DAY 3: POCKETS AND FACING

Sew:

• Sew the Pocket Main to the Pocket Lining (right sides together) leaving a hole at the top for turning. Clip corners.

• Turn pockets right side out and topstitch the top of each pocket, making sure to stitch the turning hole closed

• Finish the bottom edge of the facing to prevent your fabric from fraying – this can be accomplished by folding the fabric over and topstitching, finishing with a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine or serging the edge with a serger. 

• Attach the facing to the Apron Panel with right sides together. Snip corners

Authors Note: For my Front Apron Panel, I was a little too short on fabric to cover the entire panel; therefore, I cut the top part of my panel out of my coord. This is easy to do – when cutting, determine where you want to add the coord and add 1/4 inch to the bottom of your coord and the top of your main where you are combining them.

Once attached, I topstitched the seam allowance to reduce the chance of fraying

DAY 4: POCKETS, TOPSTITCHING, AND HEMMING

Sew:

• Attach pockets to front of Apron Panel. Make sure to backstitch on each end.

• Fold over Facing and topstitch Facing to Apron Panel

• Finish the edges of the bottom of the Apron Panel using either a serger or a zigzag stitch (this helps prevent the fabric from fraying)

• Fold over the stitched edges, press if desired, and topstitch to hem. 

All done! Congratulations on your new holiday apron! We would love it if you would share your photos in the Violet Snow Custom Fabric Insiders Community on Facebook! To check out our in stock woven fabrics to make your very own apron, click HERE!