Reversible square neckline children’s apron tutorial

Materials:
1/2 yard cotton quilting fabric (fabric A)
1/2 yard coordinating cotton quilting fabric for reverse side (fabric B)
1 coordinating fat quarter for making bias binding and neck strap                                                                                                     1/8 yard of lightweight fusible interfacing
thread to match
4 jiffy buttons that look nice with your fabrics

Pattern making:
1. To make your pattern for the apron body, tape 2 sheets of typing paper together on the short side. Draw a line 6″ down and 4 1/4″ in.  Continue the line from the 4 1/4″ mark across for 3 1/4″ inches. Draw up 6″ parallel to the 6″ line you just drew. Cut out the space indicated (this will be the upper pocket).  Continue the 3 1/4″ line down the length of the pattern–cut all of this away.

You will need to cut:
Apron body: 1 from fabric A, 1 from fabric B
Bottom pocket: 2 from fabric A, 2 from fabric B, 2 from interfacing, measuring 15″ X 5″
Upper pocket: 2 from fabric A, 2 from fabric B, 2 from interfacing, measuring 8 1/2″X 6″                                                  Apron ties: 2 from fabric A, 2 from fabric B, measuring 20″ X  3″  

Directions:

1.  Cut an 18″ square from your fat quarter.  Save the extra for making your neck strap.  Make the square into bias binding (I used this tutorial–to make it into binding, either fold in half lengthwise and press or pass the tape through a bias tape maker).   Set aside your binding.

2.  Iron the interfacing bumpy side down onto the wrong side of 2 bottom pockets and 2 upper pockets (the other sections will be for the pocket lining).   You can decide if you want to have your pockets lined with the same fabric or if you want them to be lined with the opposite fabric.

3.  Bottom pockets:  Pin together 1 bottom pocket lining section and 1 interfaced bottom pocket section with the wrong sides facing.  Baste around the entire section with a 1/8″ seam.  Apply bias binding to the upper edge.  Baste the pocket with a 1/8″ seam to the bottom of 1 apron body around the 3 raw edges.  Repeat  with the other bottom pocket.

4.  Upper pockets:  Pin together 1 upper pocket lining section and 1 interfaced upper pocket section with the right sides facing.  Sew around 3 sides, leaving one of the upper edges unsewn.  Clip the corners and turn the pocket right sides out.  Press.  Apply bias binding to the upper raw edge.  Position the pocket on 1 apron body about 1 1/2″ below the neckline base.  Pin.  Topstitch around the bottom and sides.  Repeat with the other upper pocket.  

5.  Lay one apron body on top of the other, right sides facing in.  Using a 1/8″ seam, baste the entire apron together leaving this part open:

     

6. Apron ties:  Pin together 1 tie each of fabric A and B, wrong sides facing.  Using a 1/4″ seam, stich around the two long sides and one short side.  Clip corners and turn the tube inside out.  Press and topstitch around the bottom and sides.  Pin the raw edge of each tie 4″ up from the upper edge of the bottom pocket and so that the edge of the tie is flush with the edge of the apron.  Baste the ties to the apron with a 1/8″ seam.

7.  Bottom pocket sections:  Make two vertical lines on one of the bottom pockets at 5″ and at 10.”  Stitch through all layers down those lines to create smaller pockets on both sides of your apron.

8.  Binding: Apply bias binding along the edge of your apron, still leaving that small section open at the top of the arm.  Stitch the apron ties to the edge of the binding so that they lie flat.

9.  Neck strap:  On the leftover piece of your fat quarter, fold in half on the short side and stitch down the raw side and bottom with a 3/8″ seam.  Clip the corners and turn the tube inside out and press.  Topstitch around the bottom and sides.  Turn the raw edge of the apron section you’ve left open in 1/2.”  Slip the raw edge of your strap into this opening and pin.  Stitch across this opening to enclose the raw seams.  You can add some more bias tape here to decorate if you wish.  On the opposite end of your neck strap, create 3 vertical buttonholes that will accomodate the buttons you’ve selected, leaving a 1/2″ between each buttonhole–this will allow your child to adjust the strap to fit.

10.  Buttons:  Sew on your buttons at the top of the arm on both sides.  Ta da!  You’re done!