DIY Pinafore Apron for Girls Free Pattern and Video Tutorial. Learn how to sew a simple pinafore apron.
This DIY pinafore apron for girls is easy to sew. It comes together in about an hour.
Linen has a beautiful, vintage texture and looks so perfect with farmhouse style. I love it in tea towels, pillow covers and clothing. I even made a DIY Linen and Flannel Ruffle Throw Blanket that I shared a tutorial for last winter.
Now I want 500 yards of linen in every single color to make my girls’ entire wardrobes in it.
To keep costs low, I used a linen blend for this project. Anything with 50-100% linen will work perfectly.
These would all be great options:
Gray Kaufmann Linen Blend Fabric by the yard from Amazon
Black Kaufman Linen Blend Fabric by the yard from Amazon
Rose Kaufman Linen Blend Fabric by the yard from Amazon
Flax Kaufman Linen Blend Fabric by the yard from Amazon
Watch the video Tutorial DIY Pinafore Apron for Girls
The Process
The video tutorial will give you everything you need to make a DIY Pinafore Apron, but if you’re more of a “see everything in print” person, I am including instructions here as well.
Start by cutting out all the pieces from the cut list below. Everything is just squares and rectangles. I included size guidelines for ages two all the way up to 10.
Cut List
Size 2-4
Main Piece 30″ wide by 18″ long
Straps (Cut 2) 11″ long by 4.5″ wide
Ruffle 45″ by 5.5″
Pockets (Cut 2) 5.5″ by 5.5″
Size 4-6
Main Piece 32″ wide by 20″ long
Straps (Cut 2) 13″ long by 5″ wide
Ruffle 48″ by 6″
Pockets (Cut 2) 6″ by 6″
Size 6-8
Main Piece 34″ wide by 22″ long
Straps (Cut 2) 15″ long by 5.5″ wide
Ruffle 51″ by 6.5″
Pockets (Cut 2) 6.5″ by 6.5″
Size 8-10
Main Piece 36″ wide by 24″ long
Straps (Cut 2) 17″ long by 6″ wide
Ruffle 54″ by 7″
Pockets (Cut 2) 7″ by 7″
Preparing the Straps
Fold the strap pieces in half right sides together, and sew a 1/4″ inch seam down the long edge. Turn the straps out and press them flat. Put a topstitch in close to the edges on both long sides.
WHAT IS A TOPSTITCH?
A topstitch is a stitch that is sewn close to the original seam. It is on top of the garment, or project, and visible when it is complete. Its purpose is to make a seam lay flat.
Preparing the main piece
Take the large main apron piece, and press, along the sides and top, to the back about 1/2″ and then another 1/2″ to hide the raw edges inside. Don’t press the bottom. We will leave that raw to attach the ruffle to later.
Sew down the sides.
Attaching the straps
Place the strap pieces underneath the pressed area at the top, flush with the outside edges of the apron. Sew the straps in place.
Cross the straps over each other, so they are criss cross. Pin the straps in place toward the middle of the front of the apron. Refer to the strap placing guide below to find out how far to pin the straps in from the outside edge of the main piece.
For example, for the 4-6 size I pinned the straps 10.5″ from each outside edge. The straps ended up being 4.5″ apart in the front. This will be slightly different for each size, but I included all that in the guide below.
Sew the front straps in place under the top pressed edge.
Turn the strips up and sew all along the top.
I know this sounds confusing, but it makes a lot more sense on the video!
Preparing the pockets
Press the edges of the square pocket pieces to the back on all four sides. Sew a seam along one of the sides. This will be the top of the pocket.
Placing the pockets
Pin the pockets in place. Refer to the pocket placement guide below. Remember the part you already stitched will be the top of the pocket.
Adding the ruffle
If you are brand new to making ruffles, check out my video tutorial HERE.
Hem one long edge of the ruffle piece. Add a gathering stitch to the other long edge.
Pin the ruffle, with right sides together, to the bottom of the apron, and sew it in place. Finish the raw edges, where the ruffle joins with the apron, with a zigzag stitch or serger.
Topstitch the ruffle to make it lay flat.
Pocket and Strap Placing Guide
Since there will always be a slight variation in size of seams and pattern cutting, use the following measurements as guides only.
The pockets and straps should be centered on the apron. If you find that any part of my placing guide conflicts with that, just do your own measurements on the finished apron and make sure everything is centered and even.
Size 2-4
The top of the pocket should be placed 6″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 6.5″ from the outside edge of the apron.
Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 10″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 3.5″ apart in the front.
Size 4-6
The top of the pocket should be placed 8″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 8.5″ from the outside edge of the apron.
Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 10.5″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 4.5″ apart in the front.
Size 6-8
The top of the pocket should be placed 10″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 9.5″ from the outside edge of the apron.
Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 10.75″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 5.5″ apart in the front.
Size 8-10
The top of the pocket should be placed 12″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 10.5″ from the outside edge of the apron.
Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 11″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 6.5″ apart in the front.
Enjoy making this simple DIY Pinafore Apron for Girls!
Shop Linen for this project from Amazon
Gray Kaufmann Linen Blend Fabric by the yard
Black Kaufman Linen Blend Fabric by the yard
Rose Kaufman Linen Blend Fabric by the yard
Flax Kaufman Linen Blend Fabric by the yard
Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse!
This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. See my full disclosure HERE.
DIY Pinafore Apron for Girls Free Pattern
Equipment
- Sewing machine
Ingredients
- linen-blend fabric
Instructions
- The video tutorial will give you everything you need to make a DIY Pinafore Apron, but if you’re more of a “see everything in print” person, I am including instructions here as well. Start by cutting out all the pieces from the cut list. Everything is just squares and rectangles. I included size guidelines for ages two all the way up to 10.
PREPARING THE STRAPS
- Fold the strap pieces in half right sides together, and sew a 1/4″ inch seam down the long edge. Turn the straps out and press them flat. Put a topstitch in close to the edges on both long sides.
PREPARING THE MAIN PIECE
- Take the large main apron piece, and press, along the sides and top, to the back about 1/2″ and then another 1/2″ to hide the raw edges inside. Don’t press the bottom. We will leave that raw to attach the ruffle to later. Sew down the sides.
ATTACHING THE STRAPS
- Place the strap pieces underneath the pressed area at the top, flush with the outside edges of the apron. Sew the straps in place.
- Cross the straps over each other, so they are criss cross. Pin the straps in place toward the middle of the front of the apron. Refer to the strap placing guide below to find out how far to pin the straps in from the outside edge of the main piece. For example, for the 4-6 size I pinned the straps 10.5″ from each outside edge.
- The straps ended up being 4.5″ apart in the front. This will be slightly different for each size, but I included all that in the guide below. Sew the front straps in place under the top pressed edge. Turn the strips up and sew all along the top. I know this sounds confusing, but it makes a lot more sense on the video!
PREPARING THE POCKETS
- Press the edges of the square pocket pieces to the back on all four sides. Sew a seam along one of the sides. This will be the top of the pocket.
PLACING THE POCKETS
- Pin the pockets in place. Refer to the pocket placement guide below. Remember the part you already stitched will be the top of the pocket.
ADDING THE RUFFLE
- Hem one long edge of the ruffle piece. Add a gathering stitch to the other long edge. Pin the ruffle, with right sides together, to the bottom of the apron, and sew it in place. Finish the raw edges, where the ruffle joins with the apron, with a zigzag stitch or serger.Topstitch the ruffle to make it lay flat.
POCKET AND STRAP PLACING GUIDE
- Since there will always be a slight variation in size of seams and pattern cutting, use the following measurements as guides only. The pockets and straps should be centered on the apron. If you find that any part of my placing guide conflicts with that, just do your own measurements on the finished apron and make sure everything is centered and even.
SIZE 2-4
- The top of the pocket should be placed 6″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 6.5″ from the outside edge of the apron. Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 10″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 3.5″ apart in the front.
SIZE 4-6
- The top of the pocket should be placed 8″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 8.5″ from the outside edge of the apron. Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 10.5″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 4.5″ apart in the front.
SIZE 6-8
- The top of the pocket should be placed 10″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 9.5″ from the outside edge of the apron. Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 10.75″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 5.5″ apart in the front.
SIZE 8-10
- The top of the pocket should be placed 12″ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 10.5″ from the outside edge of the apron. Put the back straps in flush with the outside of the main apron piece. Place the outside edges of the front straps in 11″ from the outside of the apron. They should be 6.5″ apart in the front.
Notes
- Main Piece 32″ wide by 20″ long
- Straps (Cut 2) 13″ long by 5″ wide
- Ruffle 48″ by 6″Pockets (Cut 2) 6″ by 6″
- Main Piece 34″ wide by 22″ long
- Straps (Cut 2) 15″ long by 5.5″ wide
- Ruffle 51″ by 6.5″Pockets (Cut 2) 6.5″ by 6.5″
- Main Piece 36″ wide by 24″ long
- Straps (Cut 2) 17″ long by 6″ wide
- Ruffle 54″ by 7″
- Pockets (Cut 2) 7″ by 7″
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pin it for later
I’m going to attempt to making a few for my daughter and her cousins, but the video says it’s private now. I think I can figure it out though.
I absolutely love this! So so so cute and easy instructions. I haven’t sewed besides good ole homec in high school where we made pj pants, 10-15 years ago. This was the first project I went for since trying again and I’m so happy with how it turned out!! Lisa, you’re my go to blog for absolutely everything! Simple and great content!! Thank you!!!
I’d like to make the 8-10 size, but I’m wondering how much total fabric I’d need to buy for the project. How would I tabulate how much I need? Sorry if this is a basic question. It looks adorable!!!
Hi Kelly! I would get 2 yards of fabric to be on the safe side.
Just made one for my daughter and she loves it! Very easy to follow along. Thank you!
Great! That’s wonderful to hear.