As you can probably guess, I wear aprons pretty often. I highly recommend them. Honestly I don’t think home cooks wear them enough. I cannot tell you how many shirts I have saved because of my love of aprons. No really, I don’t know how many because I don’t keep track, but it’s a lot. Aprons, man, they are awesome. Plus they can be totally cute.
Anyway, as I mentioned in this post where I shared my first homemade dress, I’m getting into sewing this year. I really want to make a quilt this year, or at least start one. Maybe something like this, which was SO inspiring. But my latest project is two square aprons, one of which I didn’t even sew.
What’s a square apron? You can probably guess, but here you go anyway:
A square apron is made from a square piece of fabric. Which makes it SUPER simple to make, but you can change the size of the square depending on your height and desired fit.
Supplies:
-23 inch square piece of fabric*
-scissors
-sewing machine and thread (or none if you do the no sew version)
-1 1/2 yards ribbon, canvas trim or rope for the straps
-4 small grommets (for the no sew version)
-fray check (for the no sew version)
For the sewn apron (black and white stripes), my supplies, not including sewing machine, came to $7.50. For the no sew version (red plaid), my supplies, not including fray check because I already had it, came to $12.
*The 23 inches I recommend is what works for me. I’m 5’4″, so you may want to adjust this some for yourself if you choose to recreate this. Also if you are making this as a gift, try to keep your recipient in mind. 🙂
First I snipped off a small triangle on the “top” of the apron, to give it that straight line across.
For the sewn version I just folded and pinned all around my edges with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Then I stitched the edges in place. Then I pressed my edges.
Next I pinned my canvas trim in place. As you can see, it’s just one long piece that I can pull over my head. Once I pinned this, I tried it on, careful not to prick myself, and adjusted it a few times so it looked right and was easy to take on and off. Then I stitched it into place and I was done! This was probably a 20 minute project from start to finish for me, which made me feel like a much more experienced seamstress than I am. 🙂
Please note my little sewing helper in the bottom right of this photo. He follows me from room to room and I have to use my dining room table as a cutting board because there isn’t space in my sewing room (we use that room for multiple purposes). So my pug got really worn out and needed a nap at this point. 🙂
But what if you don’t want to sew? Well, then the project gets even easier. You simply cut out your square (This can be an inch smaller than the sewn version since we won’t lose any length from sewing the edges). Fray check along all the edges. Attach the grommets to the top and sides. Add rope or ribbon that you can remove later when you need to wash the apron. That’s it—way, way easy.
Thanks for letting me share my latest sewing project with you guys!
Credits // Author: Emma Chapman, Photography: Janae Hardy and Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
35 Comments
You’re officially one of my favourite bloggers, keep up the great work! xxx
Ghost Girl Fragrance- Dare to be YOU!
Love it! I just made aprons for my daughter’s strawberry shortcake party. http://www.snugglebuguniversity.com/2015/08/tutorial-shirt-dress-and-basic-apron.html
I thought mine were easy, but this is simpler yet! Thanks for the great gift idea!
I love this. Emma you look totally hot in these pictures, by the way. Plaid is a good look for you.
Very cute and simple! http://www.hannamarielei.com
Adorable! You are so talented. 🙂
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
OMG these are SO cute! Thanks for sharing a link to yours!
-Emma
I’m definitely going to make this! Easy but special too. My apron collection currently numbers only 2- I defo need some more 🙂
I also bought some cup-measurements yesterday so I can make your lovely recipes on this side of the Atlantic. Keep up inspiring us, you do a great job!
Aprons are so awesome! I love both versions but the striped fabric is my favorite!
Amazing article! Thank you so much for sharing passion 🙂
SO cute! This would be a great gift idea for the holidays. No sew projects are my favorite. I made no sew pillows a while back out of placemats, still love them! You can see them here:
http://www.runtoradiance.com/2013/09/30/fun-with-clearance-tableware/
Such a simple and cute project – love it!
This is amazing and I think i’ll have to have my baby sister make me one. She does more of the sewing kind of stuff 🙂
This was an amazing idea! Thank you for sharing with us, I hate sewing and this makes the whole process seems easy 🙂
https://glitterbunnies.wordpress.com
-Heather
Love this! I totally agree (we) home-cooks don’t wear them enough…I have a really great one I forget about a lot of the time. Need to find a spot out in my kitchen to hang it!
So cute and easy! I also have a love for aprons! Thanks for the tutorial!
Laura
http://laurahager.blogspot.com/
Love these and will be making some soon! The pup is too cute! My kitty, Louie, totally does the same thing. He’ll often get to the point where he jumps in my lap while I’m at the machine. Almost like he is trying to hold me in place. Ha! Great work!
These are fab!!
I think these would be great as a project to do with your kids!
Thanks
http://www.homemadebyhail.blogspot.com
this are really cute!!xx
https://justthatdiy.wordpress.com
HOW CUTE!
our blog the wonderlanders
our store / wonderland clothing
Great idea and both versions are so easy. I really need to make some because I wreck so many shirts! Thanks!
So genius and cute! I, too, wear aprons, mostly when baking because of the flour and sticky dough, etc. and they have saved many a piece of clothing. This is such a great idea, so chic and fabric conserving! Thanks for the great idea!
I love these! Great fabric choices and simple. Thanks so much for the instruction and inspiration!
This is really nice! But I am more curious about your manequin! Did you buy it or make yourself? It looks like a wire, and you just gave me a new DIY idea 🙂
This is such a clever idea for an apron. I love it and will certainly be making one or two using your method. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea! Enjoy your creative sewing day! ~Vickie
I love this! it’s so cool and easy :3
Mint and coriander lime are probably the best summer !! Another suggestion is gummy bears and sprite … Yum!
I love your blog since I’m a craft addict totally !!
Yes to no sew! I have this amazing skull fabric I’ve been meaning to turn into an apron. I think I’ll have to use this tutorial to finally make it. Thanks!
Love this! Saving for later!!
Abbie
http://abulouslife.blogspot.com/
Thank you for this pattern! I slightly modified it for what materials I had available but I’m so in love with my new apron!
This is a great idea for childrens craft play dates. I have so many pieces of material that could be used for this and the thinner pieces could be put together to make it reversable!! Thanks for this easy tutorial…!!!
LOVE this.
Got me to thinking of trying to make this into a dress by adding a square back.
I [ L O V E ] this idea! I really like the corner at the bottom. It is a nice visual, feminine touch but also practical to move in. Nice work!
This is such a fun, easy idea! Exactly what I need for my baking & sewing hobbies! What kind of fabric would you recommend for an apron?
Something sturdy that washes well. Other than that many different kind of fabrics can work.
I’ve got a couple of vintage tablecloths that have seen better days. I think this idea might be a way to repurpose them. Thanks