Teaching Kids to Sew - Project #8 Jean Apron

Teaching Kids to Sew - Project #8 Jean Apron

Materials needed for this project:

     22" of one leg of a pair of jeans

     3 - 2 1/2" x 22" strips

     8" x 14" rectangle OR 2 pockets

     1 - 5" square and optional 2 1/2" x 3" rectangle

     Single Fold Bias Tape

     Jean or heavy duty needle for your machine

Cut leg of jeans at 22" from bottom.

Open up the leg at the inner seam.

Measure up 5" from the fold (be careful to re-position so the side seam of the pant leg becomes the center seam of the apron). Mark with a pencil.

Measure over 11" from bottom edge. Mark with a pencil.

Set ruler on both markings and cut across.

Even up the lower sides of the apron (square it up with the cut edge - the new bottom)

On the bias edges, sew bias tape to the right side of the fabric. Fold  over to backside and sew in place.

Top stitch the edge of the bias edge.

Tuck in the end of the bias tape at the finished edge (this is now the top).

Sew strips in half lengthwise. Sew one end on two strips. Turn and iron.

Top stitch all sides.

Zigzag the edge of the sides, fold 1/4" and zigzag again. Do the same on the bottom edge.

Since the top edge is already finished as the bottom edge of the jeans, place the neck strap on top of the hem and sew in place. Flip it over and sew it on all 4 sides to secure in place. Measure the neck line, trim the other side to the length desired (Our sample measures 20"). Secure like the other side.

To add straps to the sides, zigzag to the top of the side. Fold it in and top stitch twice to match the bias edge. Fold over the strap as you top stitch and sew it into place as you go.

To add a fabric pocket, zigzag around all edges of 8" x 14" rectangle. Iron 1/4" around all sides. Iron the top side down another 3/4". Sew down top edge and top stitch top edge.

Measure up 3" from the bottom edge of the apron and pin the pocket centered in place. Sew the pocket in place. Sew down the center (it was easy to sew right down the center seam). 

Bottom edge: I found that this can be a little frustrating due to the fact that the recycled jeans can become very thick the more you fold them. I will share how I decided to hem it, but an easier option could certainly be to hem with the bias tape (if that is how you would like to do it, do not turn a 1/4" as listed previously). 

Fold up the bottom edge 3/4". Top stitch the folded edge FIRST and then sew the hem down. You will notice from the photos that there can be a little buckling on the hem. Pin, pin, pin.

I finished the apron with all the above details and decided that I wanted that I wanted a small pocket at the top. Take a 5" square and fold it in half. Measure from the fold and up 2". Trim off bottom corners. Zigzag around all sides. Turn down the top edge 1/4" and top stitch.

For the extra rectangular pocket, zigzag around all edges. Turn down the top edge 1/4" and top stitch.

Iron edges of small pocket in 1/4". Position on top pocket, centered. Sew in place.

Iron edges of top pocket in 1/4". Position on apron, centered. Sew in place.

OR instead of a bottom pocket made of fabric, you can remove the back pockets from the jeans and sew them to the apron. * Word of warning* - I did not center the seam when I cut the apron in green, and so I could not center the pockets according to the "seam" in the middle. Looks a little off, doesn't it? SO, make sure you center that seam before you cut the leg.

The finished product.

I also have a full-fabric version of this apron. Please stay tuned for the next blog post for those instructions.


Lavonna ZWB


**All of our "Teaching Kids to Sew" projects are designed for beginning sewers to learn during our Sewing Camp to be held at Clackamas Park Friends Church in Milwaukie, Oregon, June 18-22, 2018 for Session 1 and July 30-August 3 for Session 2 from 10-3 daily. For more information, please contact the church at office@cpfchurch.net or me, Lavonna via this blog.**