Aprons are the perfect, homemaker accessory. If they are not already a part of your everyday home ensemble, you should truly consider having some on hand. They will not just keep your clothes clean the entire day, but they can be very cute as well.
The best thing about it is that you can easily make one at home! Learning how to make an apron without a pattern is simple and pretty straightforward. It’s a great project for any beginner to sewing since you don’t need any fancy tools or skills to create one.
An apron is useful, fun to make, and you can even customize it by adding trimmings, various pockets. You may also change up its style a bit to make it your own. Plus, aprons are an excellent gift idea for your loved ones, especially during the holidays.
Table of Contents
Tools and Equipment You Need
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Thread
- Sewing Machine
- Clothes Pin
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Fabric marker
- Bias tape (optional)
- 18-inch length of elastic
Step-by-Step Instructions On How To Make An Apron Without A Pattern
Step 1: Create the shape of your apron
If you have a favorite apron, you can simply use that to trace the shape onto your fabric and cut it. Then follow step 2. If not, fold your chosen fabric lengthwise and mark it. The allowance we’ll use here is 1/2 inch.
Mark a straight 6-inch line perpendicular to the fold. Next, down 10 inches from that line, and mark the fabric 13 inches from the fold. For the side curve of your apron, you may use a measuring tape, a ruler, or simply draw a straight line from the top of the apron to the waist.
Along the fold, measure 32 inches down from the top of your DIY apron. Then, draw another 13-inch line perpendicular to the fold. Draw the side edge of your apron by connecting the two 13-inch lines.
Now that all your pieces are drawn, you can cut out the apron shape.
Step 2: Finish the curved edges
Add bias tape to the two curved edges. Apply it on the inside, then fold it toward the right side. Press and stitch into place.
You also have an option not to add this. What you can do is to finish the raw edges by folding them toward the inside of the apron, pressing, folding again, and stitching.
Step 3: Add a pocket
There are several ways you can add a pocket. Also, if you have a piece of scrap fabric on your stash, now is the best time to use it.
For an upper pocket with a clean finish, cut your scrap fabric at 13 by 12 inches. Afterward, press the top edge under by 1/2 inch. Then, fold it again another 1 inch and stitch across the top of the pocket. Press the other edges in by 1/2 inch.
Place the pocket on the center of your homemade apron with the right side up at around 4 inches down from the top edge of the apron side. Stitch around the sides and the bottom of the pocket with two rows of stitching. You can stitch down the center of the pocket to create a couple of separate compartments as well if you wish.
Step 4: Finish the remaining edges
Double fold and stitch the top, sides, and bottom of your simple apron to finish the edges. You may utilize bias tape or other trims and accent fabrics to add color and texture if you want to.
Step 5: Make the apron neckband
You can either add a basic neckband or sew an elastic one that eliminates the need for closure or tie at the neck.
To create the elastic neckband, begin by cutting an 18-inch length of 1-inch wide elastic. Then cut a 22 by 3-inch length of your apron fabric.
Stitch the neckband fabric of your apron neckband fabric into a tube with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave both ends open, turn it right side out, and press flat. Next, pull the elastic piece through the fabric tube, keeping the end of the elastic even with the fabric tube at both ends. You may use a safety pin for this step.
Step 6: Sew the neckband to the apron
Tuck the ends of the fabric tube in at around 1/4 inch. Make sure to keep the elastic covered and the elastic ends in place at the ends of the tube. Stitch one end of the neckband to each side of the apron top, ensuring that the neckband stays flat and does not get distorted when you attach it.
Step 7: Make the waist ties
You can make the waist ties any length you want. However, make sure that they are extra long if you plan to wrap them around the front. Additionally, you may use an accent fabric or even a lovely ribbon or twill tape.
To make 1-inch wide ties, cut two lengths of fabric with a size of 3 by 43 inches. Sew the wrong sides of both tubes together, leaving a 1/2 inch seam allowance, and turn it right side out. Finish by tucking in the open ends and stitching them closed.
To attach the waist ties to your apron, simply fold the raw edges of the tube under and attach them. Then, enclose that edge and create a clean finish inside your custom-made apron. Give the tube a few rows of stitching to make it more secure.
That’s it! You’re done with how to make an apron without a pattern. You may now try your DIY apron on and have some fun around your kitchen.
Final Words
With this tutorial, you can work with its principles and adapt them to make a skirt apron if you want more options. You can customize your apron any way you want or play with mixing and matching different types of fabrics and colors. You may even create holiday-themed aprons! The possibilities are endless once you’ve mastered making an apron without a pattern.