apron - no seams exposed

I love to sew and wear aprons.  Most days I just wear jeans and a t-shirt and nothing brightens this 'mama uniform' like a colorful apron.  Plus it has the added benefit of giving others the impression that you spend your days baking, tidying up the house, and folding laundry! (I dare you to read that last sentence out loud without laughing.)

For a while now I've wanted to sew an apron without any exposed seams on the reverse side - mainly because I don't like the way the back looks after several washings.  I made a reversible apron a while ago but it was too thick for my liking.  Well, this week I finally took the time to figure out how to construct an apron with all the seams enclosed.  And should you be interested in making such an apron, I put together a little tutorial for you - you knew I would.

One caveat:  I miscalculated the length of the ties and they are too short to tie into a bow in front.  The instructions below include the modifications you will need to make if you would like the extra length.

See?  All the seams on the back are enclosed.  For some reason this makes me very happy.

Two rules to live by:  (or at least sew by):

1.  Always choose fabrics you love - and you will love the end result.

2.  Make sure all fabric is prewashed.  You wouldn't want to go through all the trouble of sewing a garment only to have it shrink unevenly and wrinkle after washing.

 

You will need:

26 x 18 inch rectangle for the apron

3 - 41 x 8 inch strips for the trim and sash.  Just cut 8 inch strips selvage to selvage. (4- 41 x 8 inch strips if you would like the extra length to make a bow in the front.)

 

Take your three (or four) 41 x 8 inch strips and iron each strip in half lengthwise.

Then open up each strip and iron in 1" on each of the long sides.  (see photo)

 

Lay one 41 x 8 inch strip along the 26 inch side of the apron rectangle.  Cut off a 26" length to sew along the bottom edge.  Reserve the rest of the strip for the ties. (If you are using 4 strips for the longer ties you will not need this extra piece.  Just save it for your next scrappy quilt.)

Open up the now 26" x 8" strip that you cut and align the apron fabric along the 1" fold of the trim.

Fold the trim around the apron fabric and pin in place.  Make sure you have pinned through both sides of the trim with the apron fabric sandwiched in the center.

Sew along the top edge with a 1/8" seam allowance - be sure you match your thread color to the trim fabric. 

Next, fold and press in 1" on each side of the apron body.  Then fold over and press another inch on each side to hide all exposed edges.  Pin along both sides.  (see photo)

Sew along both edges with a 1/8" seam allowance.

 

The front side will look like this.
 
 

Take the 2 - 41" x 8" strips you prepared earlier plus the piece of strip remaining from the bottom trim. (If you are making the longer ties, simply use the 3 remaining strips - do not use the short strip.)

 

Sew the three strips together like so, right sides together, with a 1/4" seam allowance.  For the shorter ties be sure the short strip is in the middle.  Press seam allowances open.  (For the longer ties, it won't matter which is in the center because all 3 strips will be the same size.)

 

The right side of the strip will look like this.

 

Re-fold the strips in half along the center.  It's a good idea to press again here to be sure that this long strip is flat and folded in half evenly.

Now tuck in the 2 short edges of the strip about 1" to conceal the raw edges.  Press.

 

You are now ready to attach the sash strip to the apron rectangle.  Stay with me here - we're almost done. 

Center the apron fabric on the sash strip.

Align the top of the apron fabric with the 1" fold in the strip.

 

Fold the strip in half with the apron fabric sandwich in between and pin.  Make sure you have pinned through both sides of the sash strip with the apron fabric sandwiched in the center.

 

Starting at one end (where the apron body fabric meets the sash) sew along the bottom edge with a 1/8" seam allowance. Continue sewing along the edge of the sash strip until you are 1/8" from the end.  Stop with the needle in the down position, pivot the fabric sash and sew along the 3" end edge.

Turn the apron to sew the other half of the sash strip closed.  Begin sewing exactly where you began the previous seam - this time sew in the opposite direction.  Sew along the length of the sash with a 1/8" seam allowance until you are 1/8" from the end.  Stop with the needle in the down position, pivot the fabric sash and sew along the 3" end edge.  All done!

 

Here's the back.  Notice the absence of any exposed seams.

Now put on your super-cute new apron and dance around the living room. (Or take pictures of yourself in the bedroom mirror) 

Be Warned:  Partaking in household activities such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry is not required in order to fully enjoy this apron. 

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

Comments

[Lisa Q]

love this! you look so cute in it! do you think people would find it odd if I wore a cute apron like this to one of our basketball games? seems like that's where I've been spending all my time lately.

[wishes, true and kind]

I LOVE your apron! And great fabric choices! I put on an apron a couple of times over Christmas (just a black Starbucks apron), and I haven't worn an apron in years! But, you're right, it did make chores seem more important and I felt more competent for some reason when cooking -- like maybe I actually knew what I was doing -- or at least looked like it. I need to upgrade to stylish with some fun fabrics now! Thanks for the inspiration :)

[Stephanie]

I think you need to use the same fabric and just finish it all the way around and make a skirt! Beautiful fabrics and I love the knot tie in front (I'm not much of a bow person), it's perfect!

[Christina]

Beautiful work! I always make aprons with enclosed seams; it's just the best way. I love how you made the waistband. I'll keep it in my mental folder of great sewing tips!

[Jodi]

I would be afraid to get such a thing of beauty dirty. I'm a messy cook, so I've been wearing full aprons lately -- from my vintage stash (they're already a bit stained and worn).

You did a wonderful job on this and the fabrics are really exquisite. Does this match your kitchen?

[ilena]

Love it & hate the unraveling of the seams after a wash. I'm definitely going to give this a try!

[lucy]

this is sassy and smartly sewn.

[Meg Evans]

I love it! I have several aprons that I wear on a daily basis, and I'm always looking for an excuse to make another. I love your fabrics--they look so great together.

[julia]

I have two aprons in progress right now. But I like the look of yours as well.

I think I found my newest one, so thanks!

[amber johnson]

I love the pattern and your choice of fabrics are beautiful! I like it with the knot, probably even more than I would a bow. Thanks for the tutorial!

[Plain and Joyful Living]

Love the fabric you chose and you look great!
Thanks for sharing the how-to.
Warm wishes, Tonya

[Nancy]

Sooo stylish! I prefer it without the bow myself. Thank you for taking all this time to pull the tutorial together.

[elizabeth ~ so wabi sabi]

absolutely gorgeous...can you say that about an apron...I think so. anyway, your fabric choices were awesome and I can't wait to give this a go.
blessings~

[seashoreknits]

thank you so much for the fun tutorial - your apron is adorable!!!

[ali]

Very cute! I have GOT to make an apron one of these days, I always end up wearing a lot of flour whe I bake :-)

[darlene]

I loooooooooooooove it! Ask my girls, I wear an apron alot. I just have one bib and it would be so nice to change it up. Sometimes I wonder if I am "dowdy" because I like them so much. But that apron is not remotely like that! too cute.

[Karen]

I never have thought about the seams before but now that you mention it, I know what you mean. Your apron is SOOOOO cute. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us!

[jessica]

Genius idea!!!! I need to make one-NOW!

[mjb]

Super cute! This looks like a great pattern to have on hand for last minute gifts.

[kristyn]

love it larissa!
i don't wear aprons. but if I looked as cute as you I think I would!

[theresa/t does wool]

great apron!
thank you for sharing with the tutorial...
I MUST make one!

[beki]

that is so, so cute!!

[Jane]

so so cute! gonna give it a try later this week! thanks!

[Heather]

So this is what you used that beautiful fabric for :)
This is agreat tutorial, and I can not wait to give it a try.
Thank you SO much for sharing. Impeccable work as always

[Courtney]

This is adorable! Thanks for the tutorial, too!

[Shana Fey]

Thanks for the tutorial, just finished the apron and a matching set of napkins, that are absolutely adorable! The length of the ties in the pattern though are way too long. I had to keep trimming and trimming. Perhaps you meant 31 inches and not 41?
But thanks, keep up the excellent work! (I'll figure out a way to send a photo of the project!)

[alessandra]

Thanks for the tutorial . was really helpful . I star to sew a month ago.. I love sew. !!

[attidaatoff]

Very well written article. I'm really impressed by you knowledge of the subject. Fell free to write more.
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[cheryl]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. It was so easy to follow!

[Gwen @ Gwenny Penny]

Made one of these for my mother for Christmas. Great tutorial! Thanks :)

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WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for ado.net tutorial

[Shawnee the Apronista]

Just shared this at Apronista. com -- greaet tutorial!!

[Shawnee the Apronista]

*great

[Krissy]

I found you on Pinterest and love this apron! It looks easy and cute! I have included it in a round-up on my blog. http://hotcommodityhome.blog.com/2013/04/17/diy-apron-round-up/

[Sarah]

I just made this! Thank you for the super easy tutorial!

[NICOLE]

Found you on Pinterest. Literally had sewn one tissue cover before starting this and I was able, with your directions, to sew this in a half day. Thank you so much for the wonderful tutorial. You are one heck of an instructor.

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[Mrs. Jones]

I used your tutorial to make an apron, and it turned out great! Thank you so much for the tutorial. Here's my blog post on it: http://heatherjslife.blogspot.com/2014/07/i-sewed-apron.html

[Virginia mccaskey]

I just found your tutorial and made an apron. I absolutely love it!! This is the best apron pattern I have found and I am sure I'll make many more! Thank you so much for sharing.