Utility Apron Tutorial

I Love, love, love, this utility apron.
Perfect for teachers, crafters, gardeners, vendors, sewers, homemakers, children's church 
music leaders and so many more.

How do I use my utility apron?
When I'm cleaning up around the house one pocket is for little trash bits, one pocket is for things that need to go in another room, a smaller pocket on the side is for my phone and there are a couple more pockets for pens.
Perfect!

How does my sister use her apron?
She's a first grade teacher. She carries extra scissors, tape, markers, stamps, all those little things teachers always need to have on hand.

How will you use your utility apron?!!!

Let's get started!

Utility Apron Tutorial

Materials:

1/3 yard Fabric A: main part of apron

1/3 yard Fabric B: pocket

1/2 yard Fabric C: top of pocket and ties

Cutting:

From fabric A, cut

2 rectangles, 12" x 21"

From fabric B, cut;

2 smaller rectangles 6 1/2" x 21"

From fabric C, cut:

2 strips (ties) 6" x 41"

and

1 strip, 2" x 21"

Sew the Apron:

Pocket:

1. Using a 1/4" seam allowance and matching the 21"-long edges sew the fabric C strip (2" x 21") right sides together with one of the pocket rectangles (6 1/2" x 21")

Open up the pieces you just sewed and press the seam to one side.

Pin the other pocket rectangle to the other side of the 2" x 21" strip.

Sew, again using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Open and press the seam to one side.

Press on both the right and wrong sides of the fabric.

Fold your pocket section in half, wrong sides together and press.

Use a little bit of steam if you need to, to get a nice tight crease.

Top stitch 1/8" away from the seam.

Make sure to lengthen your stitch length to 3 or 4 to get a professional look on your top stitching.

Lay out one of the main apron rectangles (12" x 21") right side up.

Place your pocket on top of your main apron rectangle, right side up.

Match the raw edges at the bottom and sides.

Decide what you want to hold in your pockets and mark the stitch lines for each pocket accordingly.

Add 1/2" to each side pocket measurement for the seam allowance.

For example my pockets from left to right are

1 1/2"

7"

7"

5 1/2"

After marking your stitching lines attack your pocket and apron rectangle with pins (if you take a close look at the picture that's what it looks like I did)

Stitch over the lines you marked for the pockets.

Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of each line.

Apron:

Right sides together place the other apron rectangle on top of the apron rectangle with the pocket.

Pin the edges and place a few pins in the middle to keep the fabric from sliding.

Sew the sides and bottom with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Leave the top completely open for turning.

Clip the corners.

I like to angle them. This reduces the bulk so you can get a nice corner when you turn it.

Turn right side out.

Spray, with water, the lines you marked for the pockets.

Your water soluble marker will just disappear.

You want to do this before you press the apron because heat can set some water soluble markers(make the marker permanent).

Use a chopstick to poke out the corners.

Press.

Ties:

Pin the 6" side of the two tie sections together, right sides together, sew with a 1/2" seam allowance to make to create an 81" long strip.

Press the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.

Unfold and turn the raw edges of the strip in to the center crease and press.

On the ends of the strip, fold the corners into the center crease at a 45 degree angle and press.

Refold the entire strip on the center crease and press the entire strip.

Find and mark the center, top point of the apron.

Open up the center fold of the tie and place it over the top raw edge of the apron. Sandwiching the apron in the tie.

Match the tie's center seam with the center point of the apron.

Pin in place.

Sewing as close to the edge as possible, stitch from the open edge of the tie at one end point all the way across the apron and to the opposite end of the tie.

This will close the open edges of the tie and attach it to the apron.

You're done!

That wasn't too bad was it!

Now, go, enjoy your apron!

You'll look FANTASTIC doing whatever you're doing in your apron. and you'll feel fantastic because you know you made it!!!!

P.S. Remember, if you don't want to make your own there's a couple in the shop.

Edit: If you're interested in an updated printable pdf version of this tutorial it's available in my Etsy shop  HERE

Best wishes!