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Pleated Kids Apron Sewing Tutorial

A simple to follow sewing tutorial for a kids apron. Fits kids 6-10 years old! Add a pocket on the other side for a reversible apron. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 1 apron
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • sewing machine
  • scissors
  • measuring tape
  • straight pins
  • iron/ironing board

Materials

  • cotton fabric
  • thread

Instructions

  • You will need 2 (20" x 24") pieces of fabric. Fold each piece of fabric so that it measures 10" x 24" then use the cutting guide to cut out the apron shapes.
    cutting guide for pleated apron
  • You can use two different prints of fabric or the same. It's totally up to you.
    two apron cutouts on table
  • You will also need the following pieces:
    Neck strap: 4" x 16" (cut 1)
    Side ties: 4" x 22" (cut 2)
    Pocket: 8" x 12" (cut 1)
    Optional pocket decorative strip: 2" x 9" (cut 1)
    layout of fabric pieces needed to make kids apron
  • Fold each side tie and the neck strap in half so that they are 2" wide. Press.
    Open and fold each side towards the center crease. Press.
    side tie fabric folded in half
  • Fold in half once more. Press.
    iron pressing neck band
  • Your 4" wide strips should now be 1" wide (Watch my step by step video for a better visual).
    hand folding fabric over
  • Fold one end over on each side tie. Press. The other end can be left unfinished/raw.
    Stitch side seam on apron ties and neck band.
    apron ties ready to be sewn
  • Fold the pocket piece in half, with right sides together, so that it is 8" x 6". Sew around sides and bottom, leaving an opening to turn right side out.
    Turn right side out. Fold opening closed and pin. Set aside.
    Optional decorative strip: fold the strip in half with the right sides together and stitch the side seam. Turn right side out using a safety pin. Press flat.
    Place decorative strip 1" from top of the pocket piece. Pin.
    Sew across the top and bottom of the decorative strip to attach it to the pocket piece. Sew across the top of the pocket piece to close off the opening that you pinned.
    top stitching top of pocket
  • The pocket piece should now look like this.
    pocket with decorative strip on front
  • Pin side ties and neckband into place, the neckband being about 3/8" away from the side edges on the top, and the ties 3/8" under the side point (as shown in photo).
    Pin apron lining, right side down, sandwiching the ties and neckband.
    Sew around the entire apron, leaving a small opening on the bottom to turn right side out.
    side tie pinned to apron
  • Turn apron right side out. Fold the opening closed and pin.
  • Pleats: add a pin to the center of the apron front. Add pins 1" to the right and 1" to the left of the center pin.
    front of apron with pins for pleats
  • Bring the side pins to meet with the center pin. This will create a pleat. Remove center pin.
    Remove side pins and re-pin to hold the pleat in place.
    3 pins holding pleat together on front of apron
  • Topstitch around the entire apron. This will not only give the apron a finished look but will sew the pleat into place and close off the opening where you turned the apron right side out.
    close up of apron front showing off pleats

Video

Notes

Reversible apron option: You can easily make this apron reversible by cutting out an extra pocket and sewing it to the other side!