{tutorial} Toddler Crayon Apron

Inspired by a blog post over at The Creative Imperative, I decided to come up with my own, version of the Crayon Apron. If you don’t want to sew your own, you can find them at various shops around the web, but sewing it yourself will make it extra special.

I started with some small fabric scraps I had, but you can use whatever fabrics appeal to you most, of course. Pick all one fabric or mix it up any way you want. This is just my method because I really love mixing fabrics and colors.

Cut out all the pieces you need. Using a rotary cutter makes this a quick and easy job with all those straight cuts.

For a Ruffled Crayon Apron, size 2-3:

• Waistband (Fabric 1) 10″ x 5″
• Two Ties (Fabric 2) 3 1/2″ x 19″ each
• Skirt (Fabric 3) 8″ x 14″
• Ruffle (Fabric 1) 22″ x 4″
• Pocket (Fabric 4) 4″ x 14″

(Add a an inch or so each direction for every year older, making it longer and wider.)


Make the crayon pocket. Using a rolled hem foot (or making a tiny double-fold hem) stitch a 1/4-inch along the top of the pocket. Line up bottom edge of pocket with apron skirt. Baste together on sides and bottom of pocket. Now, you’ll make the individual crayon pockets. You can do this two ways: use a quilting foot with guide bar or mark them before stitching. I use a foot that has a movable guide and set it at 1-inch. You can also just mark the lines on your fabric with a water-soluble fabric pen. I used pins this time to mark the top and pencil to mark the bottom.

Make the ruffle. Using a rolled hem foot (Really, you don’t have one? Fine, use a tiny double-fold hem, then go buy a rolled hem foot. They’re the best!), hem one long side of the ruffle. Fold in half and mark the center of the long raw edge by either clipping a small V or mark it with your fabric pen. Along that edge make basting stitches, then pull to gather from 22″ down to 13″ wide. Try to space the ruffles out evenly, then pin to apron front (right sides together), matching centers and edges. Stitch with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, then remove basting stitches. Trim seam with pinking shears or stitch again 1/8″ from seam and trim close to stitching. Press toward apron skirt.

Hem sides. Fold each side edge over 1/2″, including pocket and ruffle, then fold raw edge to fold line, making a slightly more than 1/4″-hem. Press, pin and stitch at just under 1/4″ all the way down each side.

Attach the waistband.Fold the waistband in half lengthwise and press to make a nice fold line. Fold in half the other direction and mark the center of the top edge of the apron skirt with a notch or mark. Sew basting stitches 1/4″ and 1/2″ from raw edge. Pull the thread tails to gather down to 14″ wide. Pin to waistband, spacing out the gathers so they don’t bunch and making sure that the center of the skirt matches the center of the waistband. Stitch, right sides together, with a 1/2″ seam. Pull out all the basting stitches.

Make the waist ties. Using a rolled hem foot (You bought one, right?) or folding over tiny hems, sew 1/4″ along the long sides of the waist ties. Fold over one end, right sides together and stitch a 1/4″ hem. Turn right sides out and press out newly sewn corner with you pokey tool. I like to use a yarn needle for small bits like this. Press the tie into a nice point. Do this to both ties.

Attach ties to waistband. With raw edges and right sides together, pin tie to waistband, making the waist band butt up next to the fold line of waistband. Pin it. Then pin the other side, matching the tie hem to the seam line of the skirt and waistband. Pin it here, too. You’re going to have too much fabric in between to ease in, obviously, so this is where you get to go free-style. Fold it once to make a big pleat. Fold it twice to make two small ones. Do the same thing to the other side. Baste in place and remove pins. Now, fold the back half of the waistband over at the fold line, matching all the raw edges and stitch with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Do the same on the other side, then turn right sides out and press neatly. I’ve found that it helps to give the ties a little tug while I’m pressing to get them nice and flat at the seams.

Finish the waistband. On the back of the waistband, fold under a 1/2″ hem allowance and press. Pin this in place and hand-stitch along the seam line. Of course, if you prefer, you can pin carefully and stitch it a scant 1/8″ from the seam line across the bottom of the waistband. I prefer the neat and tidy look of hand-stitching.

Voila! There you have it, a Ruffled Crayon Apron for your budding Picasso!

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