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 girlsโ 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 youโre more of a โsee everything in printโ 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 30โณ wide by 18โณ long
Straps (Cut 2) 11โณ long by 4.5โณ wide
Ruffle 45โณ by 5.5โณ
Pockets (Cut 2) 5.5โณ by 5.5โณ
Size 4-6
Main Piece 32โณ wide by 20โณ long
Straps (Cut 2) 13โณ long by 5โณ wide
Ruffle 48โณ by 6โณ
Pockets (Cut 2) 6โณ by 6โณ
Size 6-8
Main Piece 34โณ wide by 22โณ long
Straps (Cut 2) 15โณ long by 5.5โณ wide
Ruffle 51โณ by 6.5โณ
Pockets (Cut 2) 6.5โณ by 6.5โณ
Size 8-10
Main Piece 36โณ wide by 24โณ long
Straps (Cut 2) 17โณ long by 6โณ wide
Ruffle 54โณ by 7โณ
Pockets (Cut 2) 7โณ by 7โณ
Preparing the Straps
Fold the strap pieces in half right sides together, and sew a 1/4โณ 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 1/2โณ and then another 1/2โณ to hide the raw edges inside. Donโt 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 10.5โณ from each outside edge. The straps ended up being 4.5โณ 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 6โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 6.5โณ 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 10โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 3.5โณ apart in the front.
Size 4-6
The top of the pocket should be placed 8โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 8.5โณ 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 10.5โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 4.5โณ apart in the front.
Size 6-8
The top of the pocket should be placed 10โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 9.5โณ 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 10.75โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 5.5โณ apart in the front.
Size 8-10
The top of the pocket should be placed 12โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 10.5โณ 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 11โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 6.5โณ 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 youโre more of a โsee everything in printโ 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 1/4โณ 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 1/2โณ and then another 1/2โณ to hide the raw edges inside. Donโt 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 10.5โณ from each outside edge.
- The straps ended up being 4.5โณ 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 6โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 6.5โณ 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 10โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 3.5โณ apart in the front.
SIZE 4-6
- The top of the pocket should be placed 8โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 8.5โณ 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 10.5โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 4.5โณ apart in the front.
SIZE 6-8
- The top of the pocket should be placed 10โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 9.5โณ 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 10.75โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 5.5โณ apart in the front.
SIZE 8-10
- The top of the pocket should be placed 12โณ from the top of the apron. Place the outside edge of the pocket 10.5โณ 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 11โณ from the outside of the apron. They should be 6.5โณ apart in the front.
Notes
- Main Piece 32โณ wide by 20โณ long
- Straps (Cut 2) 13โณ long by 5โณ wide
- Ruffle 48โณ by 6โณPockets (Cut 2) 6โณ by 6โณ
- Main Piece 34โณ wide by 22โณ long
- Straps (Cut 2) 15โณ long by 5.5โณ wide
- Ruffle 51โณ by 6.5โณPockets (Cut 2) 6.5โณ by 6.5โณ
- Main Piece 36โณ wide by 24โณ long
- Straps (Cut 2) 17โณ long by 6โณ wide
- Ruffle 54โณ by 7โณ
- Pockets (Cut 2) 7โณ by 7โณ
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love your instructons so well done!
Thank you!
Do you have to use linen or a linen blend for this?
We are making this with our homeschool co-op sewing class. It is super cute and very forgiving. Slightly difficult for our first time sewers, but that 8 year old is pushing ahead with adequate guidance. 8-11 year olds sewing some for the first time! They are super excited and cannot wait to be done and start using it. Many of the moms are requesting them as gifts.
Great pattern! Seems like this could easily be adapted into being a dress. Have you thought about doing a quick adaptation update?
Hi! Im looking at making a few of these for my girliea for Christmas gifts. Do you typically use around 2 yards per apron? Im looking at sizes 10 and 8.
Thanks!
I had the same question! Anyone know how many yards of fabric needed?
I would love an answer to this question as well! Just a general sense of how much fabric required for each of the sizing options would be SO helpful!
I am a completely novice sewer, up until now I have only made curtains and face masks. I loved this tutorial and making this.
Just whipped up two of these for my girls. Size 6-8 and 2-4. So cute!
I am a wee bit embarrassed to ask but is the blended linen really $50.00 per yard, seems like a very expensive apron, perhaps I am missing something. I love the apron, it is beautiful and so is your little girl. I see that you use a lot of linen in your projects, do you buy it by the bolt?
Thank you,
Love your blog.
Woah! Not the kind I usually buy! It is usually closer to $10 per yard. Sometimes the prices change on Amazon, so that could be what is happening.
I would love to have a women size pinafore apron tutorial or pattern please with a ruffle
I have on here: https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/farmhouse-on-boone/diy-linen-pinafore-apron-for-women-free-pattern/
Do you have women apron lpattern? Love kidโs apron.
Thank you! I donโt at the moment, but I am thinking about making one. It would only take minor measurement adjustments. ๐
I was making this apron for my 18 month old, and followed the instructions for size 2-4. But the straps wouldnโt fit over her head! Just a headโs up for others to maybe baste them in and try it on before doing the whole top seam. ๐
I love this and canโt wait to make it. Do you have this in adults. I would love the info on this as well.
Hi Joyce,
Yes! I sure do! Here you go: https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/farmhouse-on-boone/diy-linen-pinafore-apron-for-women-free-pattern/