Sew your own apron

This subject was a slide off course from the thread about housecoats here: https://permies.com/t/153954/Housecoat-dressing-gown#1205565

Aprons come in lots of different styles, but some of the old, "real-life" designs are far more useful in the kitchen, garden or in my friend's case, for chicken management!

So if you've got a great apron and are willing to post a picture or link to instructions, let's see them.

Sewing an apron is a great project for people just learning to sew, as it's not something you usually wear in public.

I've been collecting ideas for awhile.

How to make an apron from jeans (Inventive Denim)


Levis apron (A Girl and A Glue Gun)


Men's Dress Shirt Repurposed to Apron Tutorial (Gabriel's Good Tidings)


DIY Tea Towel / Dish Cloth Apron Tutorial (Treasurie)

I want to make one of these: https://www.rockyhedgefarm.com/how-to-sew-a-linen-cross-back-pinafore-apron/

Rather than spending on linen fabric, I'll look for a second-hand cotton sheet I can use. They usually sell for only £1 or 2 in the local charity shops, and I've picked up a couple in fab vintage style fabric.

I like the half aprons. I want to make something similar to this one on Esty.

I really like the apron I made myself to hold all the clothes pegs for washing. It has six pockets!

I didn't use a pattern--just looked at the image below and made a pattern based on that image. The whole thing is made of unsaleable denim articles from an op-shop that was closing down. The blue were large jeans with wear in the crotch, the white were a pair of white denim pants with an unfortunate crotch stain, and the floral patterned material was from a printed denim short skirt that was not particularly well made or flattering. The pockets are in the four central floral panels, and the two white panels on the edges that have pocket flaps. The latter two are deep--running to the bottom edge of the apron. It's great for doing the washing, and it holds all my hand-turned wooden clothes pegs, which makes putting clothes in and taking them out much easier than the alternative of trying to balance an armful of washing and the peg basket at the same time. As per the original image, this style of apron would also be handy as a sort of tool belt, or even for harvesting some things from the garden.

I've seen some "harvest aprons" that have willow reinforcements in them which allow them to basically become a kangaroo-pouch style basket. I'm toying around with making something similar, as I am regularly harvesting armfuls of kale, spinach, lemons, and herbs, and have a tendency to stack high and then drop bits. Of course, now that I go looking for the primary source material, none of my searches are bringing it back up! If anyone has seen aprons with wooden reinforcing along the bottom edge, do let me know.

I have a half apron and two of the  bib style. Next one I am going to try the Japanese type with cross over back. Faster and easier to put on.

May Lotito wrote: Next one I am going to try the Japanese type with cross over back. Faster and easier to put on.

Yes, it was seeing one of those that got me moving on starting this thread - good coverage as I'm prone to splattering "above the waist", but quick to put on and doesn't pull on the neck. I'll need to look through my fabric stash. A cotton sheet seems a bit thin compared to what I'd like.

Jay Angler wrote:

May Lotito wrote: Next one I am going to try the Japanese type with cross over back. Faster and easier to put on.

Yes, it was seeing one of those that got me moving on starting this thread - good coverage as I'm prone to splattering "above the waist", but quick to put on and doesn't pull on the neck. I'll need to look through my fabric stash. A cotton sheet seems a bit thin compared to what I'd like.

I've seen some of these, using dead jeans, and that's the direction I'm leaning in. Being able to swap one apron for another - quickly - is another attractive aspect of the Japanese style. So, I might have one with pockets full of painting supplies, in my craft room, and one in the kitchen with pot mits an other odds & ends, and another in my workshop, with tools and another with the goat milkink, first aid, & kidding supplies - and be able to seamlessly switch easily from one job to the next. Length could vary, too - so a shorter one for gardening, and a longer one in the paint supplies,etc.

I'm a major apron fan!! I cook and get messy a lot, and used to entertain a lot back in "normal times" and I have a lot of aprons of all different kinds.... lately I decided I wanted one of these Japanese-style pinafore aprons with more coverage. I used the pattern cited above from Purl Soho and I made some modifications-- no pockets, since I had a bit less fabric than the pattern called for, and I rarely use the pockets for kitchen aprons anyway (garden aprons is a different story; I figured if I really needed a pocket I could add a patch).
I used some leftover fabric cut from linen curtains I bought on clearance, and to cover the shortfall from the pocket I didn't make I used some antique handwoven belting that had been laying in my fabric box for the last 20 years giving me the stink eye. Made it a bit shorter than the pattern called for, since in my kitchen the mess tends to stay at about mid-thigh.

Some comments specifically on the Purl Soho pattern. I feel like the front panel is a bit narrow. If I make it again I will probably broaden it by at least an inch and also fool around with the strap length, which also affects how the back hangs. I wear a women's size L, am 5'9 with a large bust and broad shoulders; I get the feeling this pattern was made for someone much, much smaller and more delicate than me! Then again, it was a very easy project that I did in a day. Clear pattern, clear instructions, easy peasy.

I do plan to do another version of this apron for the garden in some sort of stronger fabric with pockets. I have some old denim that I will probably cut up for it, but the pattern involves a lot of folded seams and going through 4+ layers of denim means I'll probably be modifying the pattern even more, but the general dimensions and process are worth keeping.

Tereza, I like that apron -- will have to play around with that for myself.  I also like a wide bib front -- I tend to drip or splash things on my shirts and ruin them, so that's the area that needs the most coverage.  My lower half isn't nearly so much at risk, so a short apron is fine, but the bib part is important.  I might try just 'pinners,' which don't have straps at all -- the bib is held in place with a couple of pins.  Back in the 1700's those would have been large straight pins, and still could be, but I'll probably use safety pins.  Though straight pins might be faster to take off and put on.

A pinner apron would have a waist tie; I'll use velcro to fasten the waist, because I don't like the knot at my back if I sit down in the apron.  Several inches of velcro would still allow some leeway for adjusting the length of the waist 'tie.'

And a heavier fabric will give more protection.  I think it's important to not use synthetic fabrics that melt if exposed to a lot of heat -- those can cause severe burns.  It would be a good idea to make a few test strips of different fabrics and expose them to heat from a candle or a hot burner and see what happens -- if it melts, especially if it drips, better not use it anywhere it might be exposed to heat.  Wool is quite resistant to burning, but might be too warm for a summer apron.

The tie is such an important feature, Kathleen!!
I have a Williams Sonoma denim apron I bought in a consignment shop a long time ago. It gets unsalvageably dirty, I clean it up and dye it dark blue again, and the fabric is still nice and intact after 10+ years.
This apron has eeeeeeextra long ties-- which go around the back and come back to tie in the front, even if you're not a small person. I will totally incorporate that into any future aprons I make- such a small thing but so important.

I gifted my sisters japanese style crossover aprons modified to harvest aprons for xmas this year. I confess I bought the base bib crossover cotton/linen aprons from an ebay seller, I knew I would not have the time to make them from scratch.  I modified them with pockets (one on bib and two large on skirt) plus three buttons at waist, three button-loops at hem, and drawcord at hem converting the apron to a harvest apron.  One had a couple of rows of egg pockets, rather than large pockets a bit like this on on etsy.  Each was also decorated with suitable applique designs.

I loved the repurposed dress shirt idea...I like anything repurposed!  I truly dislike (OK, scratch that. I truly hate the throw away society we have become...Sorry for the emotional outburst)...When WE have nothing left, to where will we turn?...Our ancestors knew the VALUE of hard work, quality work and things that were made to last. Made to last only works if we properly maintain what we have...(take care of what Grandpa and dad gave you ) Please folks, I don't mean this to sound like I'm bashing the younger generation. There are some brilliant younger minds out there but, with finite resources to work with, now what?..."reduce, reuse, and recycle"...and take darned good care of what you have now for, tomorrow it could easily be gone forever

I took a pic of my hubby's cook book. Noted the lady chefs' aprons have princess seams for better fit.

My husband made me an apron last year from his old jeans (and he doesn't sew) and I love it! It won't win any beauty contests but is so practical with all the pockets and belt loops. There's a buckle clasp thing in the back at the waist. His hope was to make it look like a pair of daisy dukes, lol.

I always use aprons in the kitchen (bought second-hand but they were as good as new before I started using them). Now my plan is to make a garden apron from a striped jeans 'salopette' (female type overalls) which I bought in the thrift store but did not fit me. Some parts can stay as they were.
Thanks for the reminder and all good ideas in this topic!

bethany Vedder wrote:My husband made me an apron last year from his old jeans There's a buckle clasp thing in the back at the waist.

Your husband did a great job! I thought about alternatives to ties, such as velcro or magnetic snaps. Great idea to use a buckle clasp.

I bought a Japanese style apron on Etsy. I love that there are no strings to fuss with. I haven't made an apron since junior high, but I have a lot of favorite fabric. I got rid of the old jeans and shirts a while back. I should use the Etsy apron as a pattern and use up that fabric, or get rid of it.

Jay Angler wrote:

May Lotito wrote: Next one I am going to try the Japanese type with cross over back. Faster and easier to put on.

Yes, it was seeing one of those that got me moving on starting this thread - good coverage as I'm prone to splattering "above the waist", but quick to put on and doesn't pull on the neck. I'll need to look through my fabric stash. A cotton sheet seems a bit thin compared to what I'd like.

I rarely wear aprons because I have not found one that would fit comfortably, with pockets that would not spill the contents when I lean forward. This Japanese style looks to be a lot better. For those like me who don't have a sewing machine [and hate sewing, and are not good at it,] they are for sale too in more specialized places: This one is made of denim 14, so it should be sturdy. Now, if it could *also* be a bit cheaper... There may be other sites and brands? As far as creativity, using the back side of old jeans, with the crotch under your armpits, that is really cool. The back pockets could be preserved if they ended in the right place?
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-cross-back-shop-apron?country=US&sid=V91040&promo=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=CjwKCAiAuoqABhAsEiwAdSkVVCLgi2Mbcmvga-D-1HXhkoWJf2usQDgJCmhK6yguZaauofgLIA_cnRoCsCEQAvD_BwE

May Lotito wrote:

bethany Vedder wrote:My husband made me an apron last year from his old jeans There's a buckle clasp thing in the back at the waist.

Your husband did a great job! I thought about alternatives to ties, such as velcro or magnetic snaps. Great idea to use a buckle clasp.

Thanks, I think he did too! The clasp is easily adjustable which makes it extra nice, and very easy to put it together behind your back.

I recently ran across that men's dress shirt pattern on Pinterest and grabbed it. Looks like something I'd wear, and could have several in different colors and patterns (like plaids and Hawaiian prints). I have probably 50 pair of worn out jeans from myself and my 6'4" hubby that I could turn into a few aprons for everyone in my near-future household (moving to be with daughter and 4 grandkids). I've been saving those to make a large pieced something, like a quilt top or just a simple bedcover, or curtains...

I too get lots of spills and splatters on my shirts, often of the grease variety or other permanently staining sort. And there goes another good shirt into the work around the yard and house type! Bah humbug!

I need pockets. And I need heavy-duty. So making my own aprons to fit my needs seems the way to go. I am currently eyeballing the valance of some kitchen curtains to chop up and make at least one. I also have a nice linen tablecloth found at the thrift store I might use for an apron. It has a blue and yellow plaid pattern on a white background. But these aren't the men's shirt idea. I may need to visit the thrift store again!

Kathleen Sanderson wrote:

And a heavier fabric will give more protection.  I think it's important to not use synthetic fabrics that melt if exposed to a lot of heat -- those can cause severe burns.  It would be a good idea to make a few test strips of different fabrics and expose them to heat from a candle or a hot burner and see what happens -- if it melts, especially if it drips, better not use it anywhere it might be exposed to heat.  Wool is quite resistant to burning, but might be too warm for a summer apron.

Cotton twill, or cotton or linen canvas would work well. Used to be you could buy heavy cotton painters drop cloths and use as fabric, but most of 'em use a synthetic in the blend now. There is a fabric site that sells linen from Russia (fabric-store.com), if you get on their email list you get a daily special sale notice. The one today was for a heavy wt. rustic weave natural (lt. brown) linen for $6 and change a yd (~60 inch wide).

Lynn Wilson wrote:

Kathleen Sanderson wrote:

And a heavier fabric will give more protection.  I think it's important to not use synthetic fabrics that melt if exposed to a lot of heat -- those can cause severe burns.  It would be a good idea to make a few test strips of different fabrics and expose them to heat from a candle or a hot burner and see what happens -- if it melts, especially if it drips, better not use it anywhere it might be exposed to heat.  Wool is quite resistant to burning, but might be too warm for a summer apron.

Cotton twill, or cotton or linen canvas would work well. Used to be you could buy heavy cotton painters drop cloths and use as fabric, but most of 'em use a synthetic in the blend now. There is a fabric site that sells linen from Russia (fabric-store.com), if you get on their email list you get a daily special sale notice. The one today was for a heavy wt. rustic weave natural (lt. brown) linen for $6 and change a yd (~60 inch wide).

That is an excellent price for a wide linen!  I'll have to take a look.

Lately, I've spent hours perusing the farmer's bullteins on this site. I found one about aprons with pattern inside FYI. The pattern is NOT full size.

https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6276/?q=home

J

I had some new fabrics ready but the repurposed aprons shown above were so inspiring so I made one out of my husband's old Jeans instead. It's my first denim jeans repurposing project actually.  Pretty funu but it can be challenging to sew in some places.

Here are some details in design:
 Reuse back york of jeans for a bit shaping across my busts
 Ribbon in back of straps to reduce bulk and friction.
 Straps attached with D rings in the front and at an angle in the back so the apron hangs better.

The whole thing feels comfortable, no shifting or pulling. Love it!

May Lotito wrote:I had some new fabrics ready but the repurposed aprons shown above were so inspiring so I made one out of my husband's old Jeans instead. It's my first denim jeans repurposing project actually.  Pretty funu but it can be challenging to sew in some places.

Here are some details in design:
 Reuse back york of jeans for a bit shaping across my busts
 Ribbon in back of straps to reduce bulk and friction.
 Straps attached with D rings in the front and at an angle in the back so the apron hangs better.

The whole thing feels comfortable, no shifting or pulling. Love it!

May, I love that!  Well done!  And I like that it apparently doesn't even need a waist tie!  Do you find that it stays in place while you are working?

I'm looking at your apron, trying to figure out where you got each piece from.  Could you tell us how you cut and resewed the old jeans to make that apron?  I've got a pair of Carhartt jeans here that my mother bought for me years ago (on sale, thankfully).  They were too small for me when she bought them, and I've gained weight since then, so they've never been worn, and I've pretty much accepted that I probably never will be able to wear them.  But they are so sturdy and well-made I've never quite been able to send them off to a thrift shop, either.  If I could turn those into an apron like yours, that would be perfect!

Hi Kathleen, I made mine out of two pairs of 34×34Jeans, each had one pocket and knee area worn out badly. So they were even good for donation and I had no guilt experimenting. Yours are probably too good for an apron and may not have enough fabric.

Yes, the apron stays as I move around or bend over briefly. But I think some belts and buckle claps like Bethany's will prevent the back pieces from flaring out, if I have to bent over longer.

Also one tip for making such apron: test the length and position of the straps first before sewing them down permanently. Make them longer and pin to the body piece for a trial. Put the apron on and off a couple times, move around a bit to see if any thing need to be adjusted.

May Lotito wrote:Hi Kathleen, I made mine out of two pairs of 34×34Jeans, each had one pocket and knee area worn out badly. So they were even good for donation and I had no guilt experimenting. Yours are probably too good for an apron and may not have enough fabric.

Yes, the apron stays as I move around or bend over briefly. But I think some belts and buckle claps like Bethany's will prevent the back pieces from flaring out, if I have to bent over longer.

Also one tip for making such apron: test the length and position of the straps first before sewing them down permanently. Make them longer and pin to the body piece for a trial. Put the apron on and off a couple times, move around a bit to see if any thing need to be adjusted.

Thank you!  I was wondering if I had enough fabric.  I may still experiment with them.  The more I think about it, the more I think I would really like to have an apron made out of that fabric!

Kathleen Sanderson wrote:

I was wondering if I had enough fabric.  I may still experiment with them.  The more I think about it, the more I think I would really like to have an apron made out of that fabric!  

If you have an old damaged sheet, you could make sample sections out of that and experiment with the most efficient way to cut and whether you can piece bits together in ways you like.

May's apron uses the back pants panel as one continuous panel from the waist band to the length she wanted.
Bethany's keeps the waist at the waist and sews the bib from material elsewhere.
Neither have taken advantage of the normal front jeans pockets which I find more practical than the flat back pockets. I can also picture turning the front fly area on its side and turning it into a zippered patch pocket - not so needed for a kitchen apron, but it would be useful for me for a garden or animal care apron.

Lastly, there are no "rules" here - no reason not to combine different fabrics - jeans make a sturdy front, but possibly back panels could be out of a lighter pair of pants that are no longer desired as pants.

Such good examples of what's possible with just some old jeans!
My 'material' is waiting (I decided to make my Garden Apron in February) and in the mean time I can get more and more inspiration here!

So my little ‘pockets for people who sometimes wear pants with no pockets” apron began its life in roughly 2008 as a hardware store worker apron.  I then used it for holding shears in the garden etcetera and it needed some repairs from holes from sharp stuff, so then those patches kept getting fancier and fancier until this piece de resistance came to be.  I really love it because it has totally stood the test of time (with much maintenance!) and in its current instanciation makes me feel like I am a magician helping magical things to happen in my garden whenever I don it! Its a little bit Mrs Whosits and Whatsits with the eyeglasses patch meets Harry Potter in the greenhouse training to repot screaming plants with some solid sparkly 90s kid thrown in.  And it does its job, every time!

My Garden Apron, made from a striped jeans 'salopette'(I mentioned it somewhere before, maybe in this thread ... ):


Started 'ripping' it apart, but then thought ... no that seam doesn't need to be apart!
And then cut off half of the legs (kept those for other purposes)


Sewed on extra pockets (this used to be a thing I kept knitting needles in, but I will be making a different needle-holder).
Closed seams and stitched through one more time for strength. Zigzagged the cut sides under and at the back.


Put on closing bands (which were in fact band for curtains).
Then decided to change the back parts and the shoulder straps.


Finished! Maybe you don't see, but there aren't two shoulder straps now anymore, it's only one behind my neck.
The back is now more sloped, in the direction of the button (of the strap).

I need another apron for use in a different building so here comes the second recycled denim apron. Front view looks like I am wearing a pinafore.