Toddler Apron

     I got my first ever sewing machine just a couple weeks ago for my birthday.  Much to everyone in our home's happiness I was ready to take my crafts to the next step and hopefully make some household decor, clothes and accessories.  My awesome gift came complete with quite a few spools of thread, case, and essentials.  Being the Mom that I am, I wanted to/had to make something for my daughter first.  I searched for the perfect idea.  Now this was tough considering I hadn't sewn a thing since 7th grade Home EC!  I needed an idea that wouldn't need to be perfect, not to hard, but that she would love.  Then I found it!  My daughters favorite thing to play with is her kitchen.  She spends at minimum an hour in it daily.  For quite a while we even put it in the kitchen and she would be the master of her domain while I did my work in my (and it is mine) kitchen.  She's domestic already and doesn't even know it.  The idea would be perfect.  I could mess it up, because it was just for play but she would get tons of use out of it.  Her very own apron.  I altered another persons idea, created my own pattern and went to work.
    I started by taking some of her measurements and tried to visualize exactly how I would want it to fit her.  I also decided that unless I wanted to tie her apron 8 times a day, it would need velcro so she could put it on herself (granted that won't happen for a while, but eventually).

So here is how I made it...

You will need:

1. One yard of fabric (which is more than enough.)
2. One yard of coordinating fabric
3. One package of velcro (you will have leftovers)
4. Coordinating thread

Next I drew the pattern...this is truly very easy!  I measured about how big I wanted it to be and went from there...the picture might be a little hard to see. 

Next steps are:

1. Cut 2 pieces of apron pattern, one from each of your fabrics
2. Cut 2 pieces of pocket pattern, from the same fabric as your Neck strap, waist strap and ruffle.
3. Waist strap: cut 1 piece of 20 x 2.5 in.
4. Neck strap: cut 1 piece of 12 x 3.5 in.
5. Ruffle: cut 1 piece of 30 x 3 in.

-You can alter the waist, neck and ruffle measurements to suit the size of your child.  My daughter is in 12 month clothes.

Now you're ready to start!  We'll begin with the pocket.  Place your pocket pieces right sides together, and sew around, 1/4 inch, leaving a small gap at the bottom for turning it right side out.  Then, clip the corners and turn it right side out and press so it lays flat.  Next, top stitch the top of the pocket.  Decide where you want to put your pocket and pin the pocket in it's final place. Top stitch the pocket onto, the right side of your fabric leaving the top un-stitched so the pocket can be used...don't stitch it closed!

Onto the Waist Strap.  Fold and press both ends of the waist tie about a half inch, wrong sides facing each other.  Then stitch 1/4 an inch.  Next, fold and press this piece, right sides together, and stitch 1/8 inch away from edge.  Last, turn inside out and press with the seam in the middle.  This last part may take a bit, but apparently there is a handy dandy fabric turner thingie that THIS new sewing Mom doesn't own.

Continue onto the Neck Strap.  Fold both ends 1/2 inch, wrong sides together, press and stitch.  Press it in half wrong sides together. Open it back up and press again, folding the sides to meet the center line.  Now fold along the center line and press it.  Now top stitch 1/8 an inch on both sides.  Now attach a half inch piece of the scratchy velcro to one end of the neck tie.

Now onto the Ruffle:  Again, fold and press both ends of the ruffle piece.  Fold and press down the center line, wrong sides together, and then stitch the ends closed.  Ok, here was the scary part for me...remember I haven't used a sewing machine in about 15 years but I used this trick from someone else.  Set your machine to the longest stitch length and the highest tension. Then as your sewing, apply some resistance to the thread at the very top of your machine. It will gather the fabric up nicely so you won't have to do any pulling on threads when your finished stitching.  I honestly thought I would break it and of course I didn't!  Now, the ruffle probably won't measure perfectly to your apron bottom but you can clip it later. Pin the ruffle in place, right sides together and raw edges at the bottom.

Now we are ready to put it all together!  Baste your necktie onto the top where you want it. Make sure the velcro piece you sewed on earlier is at the bottom, facing inwards to the apron.

NOTE! Before you place the backing piece of the apron on top, you need to sew a long strip of velcro onto it. This makes your apron easily adjustable and apply-able for your child. Apply it to the other side of where the necktie attaches.

Pin the backing into place with the front piece, right sides together.  Leave an opening for turning right side out and sew all the way around 1/4 inch.

Clip curves and corners. Press seams open. Turn right side out and press.

Pin the Waist strap onto the front side where you want it located and pin it.  Starting at the ends of the waist tie, top stitch 1/8 inch away from the ends all around the whole waist tie, attaching it to the apron at the same time.
Top stitch all the way around the apron and make sure you close up the opening you had to turn it right side out.

ALMOST DONE!

Sew velcro on both ends of the waist tie, to allow for closure.  Make sure one piece is on the back side of the waist strap and the other piece is on the front side.  Otherwise when you velcro them together one side of the waist strap will be twisted.

DONE!  I hid a little something into the pocket (a Rollo) to prompt my daughter's interest into the Apron the first time I showed it to her. 

Hopefully you get a reaction as wonderful as I did!