Child Apron Tutorial

This pattern can be adapted to make a small apron for a toy.

Children's craft projects are messy, but you can make an apron to protect their clothes. A child's apron should be large enough to cover most of his clothes with out hampering his movement. A bib apron which reaches to his knees and wraps completely around him is a good choice. This apron can be made from heavy fabric or plastic, depending on whether you prefer to launder it or wipe it clean. A pocket designed to hold his paint brushes or crayons is a cute, useful addition.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Large paper
• Pencil
• Fabric or plastic
• Pins
• Scissors
• Bias tape
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Measure the distance from a point two inches below the child's collarbone to his knees. Also measure around the child's waist.

2. Cut a rectangle of paper with a length equal to the first measurement and a width equal to the child's waist measurement. Place it on a table with a width side closest to you.

3. Measure the front of the child's chest and decide on width of the bib. It should be a inch or two smaller than the front of the child's chest. Mark the center of the top of the paper, the side farthest away from you. Divide the desired width of the bib in half and mark this distance on each side of the center mark. Draw lines straight down from both these points. This will be the top of the apron's bib.

4. Measure the child from waist to knee. Mark this distance on both sides of the paper, measuring up from the bottom corners. Draw a line connecting these points. Your paper will be divided into six rectangles. You will be removing the top outside rectangles, to make the "armholes" for the apron. Draw a curve inside the bottom inside corners of these rectangles to make armholes. This will give the armholes a nice curve and make it easier to sew on the bias tape.

5. Cut out the top rectangles on each side, cutting along the curves you drew. Cut the bottom corners of the paper into a curve also. This is your apron pattern. Pin it to your apron fabric and cut it out.

6. Fold a strip of double-fold bias tape over the top edge of the bib and sew it in place. Be careful to catch both sides of the tape in your stitching. Encase the edges below the armholes in bias tape, in the same way.

7. Measure the distance along the armhole edge. Add 4 feet to this measurement and cut a piece of bias tape this length. Sew the tape to the armhole edge leaving a 2-foot tie on each end. Do the same with the other armhole. Sew along the folded edges of the ties to hold the edges together and give them a finished look. The apron ties together around the child's waist and neck.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a pocket to the apron by finishing the edges of a fabric rectangle with bias tape and sewing it to the apron. You can add several pockets in just the right sizes for all your child's supplies.

• After you draw the curves on the paper and before you cut them out, fold the pattern in half from top to bottom and cut along the lines you drew on one side so that both sides will be even.