DIY Reversible Apron

I often come home from work, or from the gym, and need to immediately begin cooking due to evening meetings, Bible studies, etc, and I'm always worried that I will get something on my clothes.  I have needed an apron for some time but couldn't justify the cost of the ones that I like (besides the fact that most of the standard ones would be huge on me).  I found a couple of cute fabrics at the craft store and decided to try making my own (try being the operative word because I am not exactly an experienced seamstress).

Materials:  

2 fabrics that work well together (1-yard each)

Large pad of paper

Writing utensils

Measuring tools

Pins

Sewing machine and thread

I started by creating my own pattern because I wanted to make sure my apron fit me. 

I used a measuring tape to measure the length of my arpon (I chose to create my apron so that it would begin just above my chest and end at my mid-thigh).  I drew a line on my paper that was the length that I measured (center line).  Then I measured across the top of my chest to get the length of the top of the apron, half of my waist to get the waist measurement, and half of my hips to get the length of the bottom.  I drew those lengths on my paper and connected them.  Then, to create a seam allotment, I added one inch to each side.  I cut both fabrics (which I will call flowered and green for the purpose of differentiating them) using the pattern that I created.

Next I created a pattern for the waist band (I would have preferred for the waist band and straps to be one continuous piece of fabric, but my fabric wasn't long enough), cut it (from both fabrics) and sewed seams.

Then I sewed the waistbands onto the fabric (green on flowers, flowers on green - for contrast).

Next I created a pocket (I chose to only create one pocket so the green side of my apron doesn't have one) using a pocket pattern that I created by measuring my hand.  I measured the width of my hand and the length so that I would have the necessary width and depth for my pocket (plus an extra inch for seams).  I used a compass and a ruler to draw the pattern then cut three pieces of fabric using the pocket pattern (I used 2 green and one flowered but as long as you have at least one from the contrasting fabric, it really doesn't matter which fabric they are cut from).

To put them together, I put the two green pieces back to back (front side of fabric out) and sewed them together (top only).  Then I added the flowered fabric (front side out - back side facing the green pieces that I already sewed together) and sewed all three together.  I flipped the pocket right side out and ironed it to flatten it out.  Then, I sewed the pocket (green side out) onto my flowered apron (remember not to sew the pocket closed at the top).

   
Next, I made the neck strap and the waist tie straps by sewing two pieces of contrasting fabric back to back (length and width based on requirements and preference - I used the width from my waist strap pattern from earlier), then flipping them so that they were right side out (this will take a few minutes and the thinner you make the straps, the harder it will be).  Also, while the fabric is still inside out, you will need to sew one end of each of the waist strap pieces.  I then ironed all 3 pieces to make flatten them out.

Then, I sewed the tops of the two apron pieces together (inside out), with the neck strap (each end positioned on each edge of the top - leaving room for the seam) and piping (the piping should be positioned towards the inside, right at the edge of the seam).  When you flip the apron back to right side out, the edge of the piping should show and the neck strap should be sticking out of the top.

I did the same with the two sides of the apron (of course sewing the edge of the waist strap in rather than the neck strap - one per side).  Be careful to position the waist strap so that the fabric matches the fabric that was already sewed onto the waist. 

To sew the bottom of the apron, turn the apron right side out, position the piping and sew (this seam will not be hidden).

And there you have it, a custom fit apron!