Soph's Frilly Apron Tutorial

I decided since Soph cooks with me EVERY TIME I'm in the kitchen, it would be fun to make some cute aprons. I saw one I liked at Anthropolgie the other day, but it was $40 and I didn't think it was cute enough to pay $40 for, so I decided I'd just make one. It turned out way cuter and only cost me $11 for fabric (including the fabric for mine). If I'd have thought ahead, I would have printed a 40% off coupon before I left for Hobby Lobby and it would have been even less.

Let me warn you, I'm a ROOKIE. In other words, I don't know how to sew, and I HATE reading directions, so I decided to come up with my own pattern. Sure it took me longer than the typical seamstress, but I'm happy with the way it turned out and Soph loves it.

I will now attempt to retrace my steps for those of you on facebook who said you'd like to make one.

#1 Choose what your main fabric will be, then choose 3 other fabrics. Now that I'm looking at it, I'm laughing because I originally had 5 fabrics...like I said, I was winging it, so who knows what happened along the way !?! 

Note: the ties are just a fat green ribbon, so choose a ribbon or decide what fabric you'll use for your ties.

#2 You'll need piece of fabric to sew all the ruffles to, I just took one of Soph's old skirts and cut down the sides, so I had a front panel to work with. You may want to just use plain fabric because explaining to a three year old girl why you're cutting up her skirt isn't easy!! Kids are so funny about their "stuff".  I am also noticing in some of the pics, you can see the heart fabric, so it would be better to use a solid white.

#3 Cut fabric for ruffles.

Main Fabric = Cut 2 strips. First one should be 28 1/2" x 3" (allows 1/4 " for seams on each side of stitch),

Second one should be 25" x 3").

White Dots = Cut a strip, 28 1/2" x 3"

Pink Print = 25 " x 3"

Pink Dots  = 25" x 3"

I started by taking the strips and folding the bottom over about 1/4" and ironed it.

Then I sewed that down, then folded the ends 1/4" over and then sewed them. You should have 5 strips now ready to be sewn to your underneath skirt piece.

I started sewing the bottom ruffle first, I pinned the ends first then the middle and put a few more pleats in the center to make sure it was puckering evenly. This is SO imbarrassing, I have no idea how to explain it in proper 'sewing terms' so PLEASE don't laugh!! :)

At this point I decided I wanted a bodice piece since she's so tiny...

I took the main fabric and cut a piece 9"x 8".

I folded down the top 1/4" and ironed. then ironed the sides in, folding it down 1/4", and folded the top corners in just a bit at an agle and ironed. I clipped the little bit of excess fabric at the corners, then sewed around all three sides. **You may want to cut your ribbon and pin it to the bodice before you sew, or like me, you can do it later. Just make sure you allow enough room for your childs head to easily come through.

Then I had to make the top strip for the waist band. I cut about a 4"x 17" strip, folded it in half and ironed it, I sewed a seam and left the two ends raw for the time being. Remember, I'm retracing my steps, should have taken pics before moving ahead, but I didn't plan on doing a tutorial at the time. Silly blogger!!

Now cut the ribbon for the back tie. Just cut 2 pieces 25" long, pin to each end of waist band and iron the raw edge of waist band over so you can sew both at once. 

 Last but not least, hand sew on the buttons, they were an after thought, but luckily I had a few to match. I obviously didn't do real button holes because I don't know how used ribbon. :)

She loves it and doesn't want to take it off. She insists on cooking something...too bad I'm pooped! Let me know if you make one, I'd love to hear how it turned out. Also, if you have any questions, or notice I forgot a step just shoot me an email.

Now I have to make me one, I'll mix it up a bit w/ the fabric or just use totally different fabric (and come up w/ a different pattern) since I'm sick of this one already. I'm A.D.D. like that.