Summer Dress Apron Hack
I love baking with my kids, and one thing that always makes cooking and baking even more fun is pretty aprons! I have sewn several aprons for my children using Boo and Lu’s free Gingerbread apron pattern for children but I had been wanting a new one for myself. That’s when I had the idea for the Summer dress apron hack!
I had the inspiration that Boo and Lu’s Adult Summer Sun Dress pattern could easily be turned into an apron with a few changes…. and today I am sharing it with you! Read on for a step-by-step tutorial for the Summer dress apron hack!
You Will Need:
- The Adult Summer sewing pattern
- Enough fabric for the tiered skirt (not the ruffle, just the skirt) and front bodice in your size.
- Fabric for the sash and straps- it will depend a bit on the skirt size you sewed, but a yard should be plenty and then you have leftover for adding things like pockets if you want!
- Any desired trim
- Tracing paper
The Summer dress pattern has the unique feature of a multi-page customization guide with tips and tricks all about adding fun details and trim to your dress. Read through this guide and you may find yourself inspired to add some to your apron!
Prepare the Pattern Pieces
You will need the tiered skirt (skirt only, not ruffle) pattern piece, and the front bodice pattern piece. If you are adding pockets, you will want that too.
Cutting the Skirt Pattern Pieces
Cut the front skirt as directed in the pattern. For the two back skirt pieces, instead of using the back skirt cut line, measure one inch over from the front skirt fold line, and draw a line. In the photo above, this line is in red. Cut here. The idea is to cut roughly 1″ off the center back line if beginning with the fold line. In the Summer dress pattern, the two back pieces are joined with a zipper but for an apron we want a little gap there, so cutting an inch off either side plus the original back seam allowance gives us some space.
The above diagram shows a close up of what you are cutting. Cut on the red line.
Cutting the Front Bodice
Begin with the front bodice pattern piece in your size (see the measurement chart in the pattern tutorial to find your size.)
Draw a vertical line from the shoulder point, straight down to the bottom hem. Cut the pattern piece on this line.
Place the pattern piece on tracing paper and trace around it.
Using the fold line and the straight line you cut as guides, use a ruler to continue those lines down the tracing paper a couple inches.
Remove the original pattern piece from the tracing paper and draw a new hem line. The original bodice has a slightly curved hem line and we want to make it straight. Use the two vertical ruler lines as a guide, and draw a straight line across the paper connecting those two lines, one inch below the original hem line. We are adding length to the bodice in addition to making the hem line straight.
Cut the new pattern piece. Cut 2 in fabric: one main, one lining.
A note: this vintage style apron has a narrower bib- it will not fully come across the bust, as we drew our cut lines straight down from the strap points. If you prefer a fuller coverage bib on your apron, add 1″ in width to the side of the pattern piece that has the fold line. Do not add it to the outer side as it will change the neckline shape more. Just extend straight out from the fold line by 1″. Once you cut the pattern piece on the fold in fabric, you will have added 2″ to the bib.
Cutting the Straps and Sash
- Cut two straps, 2.25″ x 22″
- Cut two SIDE sash pieces, 4.75″ x 25″
- Cut one MIDDLE sash piece:
This piece should be cut to be 4.75″ long, and the width of the FINISHED skirt waistline, plus .75″. This means the skirt waistline after the front and back skirts have been sewn together and hemmed. I prefer to wait and finish the skirt and then measure it and cut my middle sash, because otherwise you need to do the math of taking into account seam and hem allowances. So if after you finish the skirt steps the finished waistline of the skirt from edge to edge is 35″, you would cut a middle sash piece of 35.75″. At that point in the tutorial, I will instruct you to cut! Otherwise, measure the pattern pieces, subtract seam and hem allowances, and cut now.
Sewing the Apron Bodice
Place one strap wrong side up. Fold the two long edges in wrong sides together 3/8″ and press. Then, fold one short edge in 3/8″ press. Finally, fold the two long pressed sides together and press. Pin/clip. Topstitch down the long side, and across the folded short side. Optionally, stitch down the opposite long side too. Repeat with second strap.
Cut the corners off the raw short edge of the straps, so the inner corner is shorter than the outer corner.
Place the bodice main right side up. If you are adding trim to your bodice, do it before proceeding. I added trim to the neckline of this one. Place the straps on the bodice. The angled edge of the strap will align with the neckline. The shorter side of the angle will be towards the inside/center. The outer edge of the strap will be 3/8″ from the corner of the bodice. Pin/clip. Baste in place.
Put the bodice lining right sides together with the main. Pin/clip around the top and sides. Sew. Turn right side out and press well.
Finish the bottom hem edge with a serger or zigzag stitch to prevent fraying, as it will not be further enclosed. If desired for a cleaner finish, tuck the hem allowance in wrong sides together and top stitch.
Sewing the Apron Skirt
Sew the back skirts to the front skirts. Place the front skirt right side up, and lay the two back skirts right side down on it, aligning the side seams. Sew. Finish the seam allowance with a zigzag stitch or serger.
Hem the back center edges. Fold the edge in 1/4″ wrong sides together and press. Fold another 1/4″ and press. Sew. Repeat with the skirt hem. Alternately, you can hem the sides or bottom with bias tape or trim. See the Summer dress tutorial for details.
If you want to add pockets to your apron, do so now. Read the Summer tutorial for pocket instructions, but place the pockets on the front of the skirt instead of the sides. Or, get creative and make your own pockets however you like!
At this point, cut the middle sash piece. Measure the skirt waist line from one finished/hemmed back edge all the way around the skirt and to the other top finished back edge. You want the measurement of the finished waistline. Cut the sash this width plus .75″.
Sewing the Apron Sash
Sew the three sash pieces together. Place one side sash right sides together on the middle sash aligning two short edges and sew. Open, and repeat with the opposite side. You will finish with one long sash, with the middle in the center, and a side piece on either side of it.
Fold the long edges of the sash in 3/8″ wrong sides together and press. Then, fold the short edges in 3/8″ and press. Finally, fold the sash in half matching the long edges and press. Everything should be very well pressed to create memory creases, but do not sew.
Unfold the memory creases and mark the center of the sash. Place the skirt wrong side up. Mark the center of the front skirt. Align these marks and pin the sash to the skirt matching centers. The RIGHT side of the sash faces the WRONG side of the skirt.
Pin/clip the rest of the sash middle to the skirt. The sash seams should meet the back center edge of the skirt. The memory crease is unfolded where it is pinned. Sew the sash to the skirt, from one skirt edge to the other, directly in the first memory crease.
Starting on one short edge of the sash, refold the sash on all the memory creases, pinning/clipping it shut as you go.
Continue doing so, with the skirt right side up. As you continue folding the sash, it will enclose the raw waistline of the skirt. The fold of the sash at the bottom will just cover the seam on the waistline. Pin the sash shut to the skirt, pinning from the RIGHT side of the skirt. Once you get to the end of the skirt waistline, continue pinning/clipping down the opposite side sash. Do not sew yet.
Attaching the Apron Bodice
Lay the skirt wrong side up. Mark the center front of the skirt/sash. Place the bodice wrong side up on the sash. Pin the center of the bodice hem to the center marking of the skirt/sash. Both skirt and bodice are WRONG side up. Align the hem of the bodice to the bottom of the sash. Pin in place, but reach under and place the pins in through the front as you will be sewing from the front. I like to use sew-line glue for this step! Remove the one pin you placed at the center from the wrong side after you have finished pinning.
Sew all along this pinned/clipped seam, from one sash end to the opposite end, from the RIGHT side of the apron. Use coordinating thread as it will show on your finished apron.
Lay the apron right side up. Press the sash well. Lay the apron bodice nice and flat, and smooth the sash over it. When it is smooth and you like the placement, pin the top edge of the sash to the bodice. Top stitch one short edge of the sash, across the entire top of the sash, and back down the other short edge of the sash. This will secure the top of the sash to the bodice. Be very careful not to stretch/warp the sash in sewing.
You are finished!
I hope you enjoyed this Summer dress apron hack! It creates a beautiful vintage style apron. This would also make a great gift. Tuck in your favorite recipe and a you’ve got a perfect suprise for someone. The Summer dress also comes in children’s sizing, so you could even make aprons to match for your little ones!
If you sew an apron we would love to see! Tag us on instagram at @booandlupatterns or join our Facebook group for inspiration, encouragement, help, and more!
Happy Sewing and Happy Baking!
