sweet lil' helpers apron tutorial

Howdy and happy Tuesday!! Today I thought I would give the gift of crafting to all who wish it. Our Solstice/ Christmas Holiday was a nearly entirely handmade one which is exciting for me being that this is my very first handmade holiday. I stuck to simple and sweet gifts to create so that I would not bite off more than I could create in time. With three little ones I managed to have more creations than time though and so they will be receiving gifts for a while until momma is all done sewing...lucky munchkins! One of my favorite presents to make was the "Sweet Lil' Helpers" apron. Here are directions in case your mini chef needs cover for cooking their masterpieces!

Sweet Lil Helpers Apron

What you will need:

2 types of material  big enough cover your little ones front (upcycling works great for this project)

elastic (I used 1/4 inch but 1/2 inch would work fine too)

Button (large wooden or plastic -if no wood is available)

Thread and needle (for hand sewing the button)

sewing machine

1. Fold your fabric in half. Using a children's shirt as a rough guide trace a pattern out onto a piece of paper (grocery bags or art paper works fine). Take the pattern and place it onto your fabric with the flat side lined up with the fold of the fabric. Trace and cut out. Repeat with the second piece of fabric. Set aside.

2. Cut out a long piece of fabric, approximately 4 inches wide and 12-20 inches long (depending on the size waist of the little person you are sewing for) for the waist strap. Cut another strip of fabric, approximately 3.5 inches wide and 18-22 inches long (you can adjust these measurements as needed to fit the size of your little helper). With the right side of the fabric facing in, fold the strips in half and sew the long edge. Flip these right side out and set aside.

3. Take the two body pieces of the apron, face the right sides of the fabric together. Sew from the top of the collar to the edge of the arm area. Take the waist strap and pin one end into the seam area of either side of the apron. Now the waist strap will be on the inside of the two apron panels. Continue to sew both long sides of the apron and flip it right side out.

4. Place a safety pin on the end of your elastic and thread it through the neck strap. Sew the elastic into one side. Pull the elastic as taut as you need for the strap to fit comfortably and hang where you want on your little helper. Once you have the proper tautness, sew the other opening and elastic together. Take the neck strap and pin the two edges into each corner of the top of the apron. Sew shut.

 5. Pin and sew the hem of the apron.
6. Sew the button to the side opposite the waist strap.

7. Using the piece of fabric that was cut from the arm hole section of the apron, place the long edge of one of the pieces onto a folded piece of fabric, trace and cut. Next, face the two half pieces right side together and sew the long edge. Now you have to half circle shaped pieces. Place these two half circles wrong side out and sew along the curved edge leaving only the top open. Turn the piece right side out and sew the top closed. Now you have the front of your roo-pocket.Center and pin this to the front of the apron. Sew and voila a roo-pocket is born!

8. Using your machine or by hand sew button holes on the waist strap. Tada you are done!

Have fun. I would love to see your finished results. Leave a link in 'comments' so we can all enjoy your creations!