Child’s pleated apron sewing pattern in Wizard of Oz fabric

So what was in Madison’s cookie jar birthday boxes to help celebrate her second birthday? Super fun numbers cookie cutters and a child’s size pink Wizard of Oz apron handmade by Aunt Kathy.

I’ve made many aprons in my time both from patterns and from scratch. I created this child’s size pattern inspired by Amy Butler’s adult-sized short pleated apron pattern and added a cute apron top and neckties.

Madison lives in Michigan so I’d like to thank my friend Julie for letting her two-year-old daughter Paige model it here for you. This child’s pattern should fit most two and three year olds. Madison’s specific measurements are waist 19½, waist to ground 17½, waist to shoulder 10½.

While the apron is actually pretty straightforward to make, I’m breaking it into two posts so I can include tons of photos to better illustrate the instructions.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Supplies:

• Main fabric (I used Wizard of Oz fabric as a nod to her mom Michelle’s Oz fetish)
• Contrasting fabric (I used hot pink)
• Fusible interfacing
• Thread
• Rotary cutter, ruler and gridded self-healing rotary mat
• Sewing machine

Cut the pieces and mark the pleats
Cut out the apron pieces using a rotary cutter, ruler and rotary mat:

Main fabric
Apron top: 8” wide x 11.5” tall
Apron bottom panel: 26” wide x 11.5” tall

Contrasting fabric
Neckties (cut 2): 4” x 20”
Apron trim: 2.5” x 25”
Apron waistband: 5” x 14”
Waistband ties (cut 2): 5” x 20”

Fusible interfacing
Apron waistband: 5” x 14”

Then mark the following measurements across the top of the panel starting from the left.
2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22

Make side seams on apron panel and trim
On the bottom apron panel: Fold the right side under ½ inch and press the fabric, wrong sides together. Turn ½ inch again and press. Sew the seam close to the edge. Repeat on the left side.

Attach the apron trim to the apron panel
On the apron trim: Fold the top long side of the apron trim ½ inch with wrong sides together and press. Fold both short sides of the apron trim ½ inch with wrong sides together and press.

Put the right side of the apron trim onto the wrong side of the apron panel, lining up the raw edges on the bottom. Pin the trim in place. Sew ½ inch seam to attach the apron trim to the apron panel.

Press the apron trim so it touches the front of the apron. Turn the apron over so the right side of the apron panel is facing up. Pin the apron trim onto the panel. Stitch the apron trim onto the apron panel by stitching ¼ inch near the edge. So it ends up that the apron trim is on the 100% on the front of the panel.

Make and sew the pleats
Make 3 pleats on each side by matching up the first two marks with right sides together. Fold the pleat toward the center of the apron and pin in place. Repeat this step until you have 3 pleats on each side.

Press the pleats and sew a 3/8” stitch across the top of the raw edge to hold the pleats in place.

Make the top panel
Fold the right side ½” inches in towards the wrong side and press. Turn it ½” again, press and sew. Repeat on the left side. Fold the top side in towards the wrong side and press. Turn it again ½” again, press and sew. The bottom edge should still be raw.

Make and attach the neck ties
Fold the neck ties in half and press, wrong sides together. Open. Fold the long sides into the center, wrong sides together, and press. Fold in half and sew ¼” around the neck tie, creating a 1” wide finished tie. Repeat for the other neck tie.

Pin the tie onto the top panel by placing it ½” from the sides and 1” from the top. Sew a square with two Xs in the middle to secure the ties onto the apron top.

What do you think so far? Part 2 of the instructions to finish the apron coming soon…

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!