Five year old Ivy is the girliest little girl I know. She loves to bake, just like her mom. The other day while her sisters and daddy were watching a movie she whispered in my ear, “Mommy, can we bake oatmeal cookies? They are daddy’s FAAAAAVORITE!” It was then and there that I knew this kiddo needed her own little apron! We have been making small batches of cookies several times a week ever since. She has learned to use the microwave, the kitchen aid and is slowly mastering the trick of cracking an egg, which I have to admit, even mommy has trouble with getting shells in the batter every now and then.
Not only can Ivy use this apron for baking with mommy but she can also use it for crafting. This same pattern would be great for boys too by making a flat pocket. I may just have to make one for my nephew!
Let’s make a ruched pocket apron – we all know I’ve been on a huge ruching kick. I love the frills! This pattern can, of course, be adapted for any size by adjusting the height and width of the apron body.
Materials: Cut the following pieces:
Apron Body – 15″ wide X 12″ long (cut 2 – one will make up the back of the apron and can be scrap fabric such as muslin)
Pocket – 35″ wide X 6″ high
Pocket Binding – 15″ wide X 2″ high
Tie – 60″ wide X 3″ high
Use a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Gather the top and bottom (long edges) of your pocket, adjusting the gathers until it is 15″ wide. I like to do the initial gathering of fabric by setting my tension up really high so that the fabric gathers on it’s own as I am basting the raw edges.
Place the right side of the pocket binding onto the wrong side of the gathered pocket. Sew or serge.
Press upward and fold the raw edge of the pocket binding down 1/4″ and press.
Bring hemmed edge of pocket binding to the right side of the gathered pocket to cover the raw edge. Pin and sew.
Your finished pocket should look like this:
Place the pocket onto the apron body and the muslin (or back of apron) right sides together and sew the sides and bottom of your apron together. Turn right side out and press.
You may notice in my first picture that my apron’s tie is cut into multiple pieces. Generally quilting fabric is only 45″ wide and even shorter after washing. In order to cut the 60 inches needed and to avoid a seam right in the middle of my apron tie, I cut the first piece 40″ long then cut my 2nd piece 20″ long and cut it in half so that I can attach the two 10″ pieces to either side of the center piece to create the 60″ apron tie. Sew together.
Find the middle of your tie and the middle of your apron and pin together so that the right side of your tie is facing the back of the apron. If using a serger, serge the full length of the tie. If using a sewing machine, sew your tie onto your apron then create a hem along the long edges of your ties by ironing the top and bottom in 1/4″.
Press upward just as you did for the pocket top. Bring to the front of the apron and cover the seam.
Sew entire length of apron tie.
Knot each raw edge of apron’s tie.
The final step is to sew down the middle of the pocket with a simple straight stitch to create two pocket sections. You can customize it with smaller pocket sections, if you’d like!
Was a fun 15 minute project and Ivy loves having her cooking supplies right at her finger tips!
WAY WAY WAY CUTE! That last picture of Ivy is my FAVORITE!
What a doll!
One of my favorite memories is baking with my mother (who hated baking as much as I do now–but tolerated it for me)…with my apron that my grandmother made…I still have it over 40 years later in my “baby box” of treasures! Thanks for the memories!