How to Sew a Garden Apron

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I needed an apron for gardening, so I had to figure out how to make a garden apron that would fill all my requirements. My garden apron had to be washable and have pockets to hold my seeds, twine, and garden tools. 

Since I enjoy gardening and will be using this apron a lot, it needed to be washable, functional, and comfortable. 

If you love to garden too, you might enjoy our DIY Trellis, Obelisk, Raised Garden Beds, Compost bins, floating deck, hanging planters, window flower boxes, and hose post.

**If you enjoy thrift store upcycling, then you will want to check out the other upcycle inspiration at the end of this post.  

How to Make a Garden Apron

Supplies and Tools 

• Main Fabric (heavy fabric like this one)
• Contrast Fabric for Bias (I like a fun plaid)
• Measuring tape
• Quilting ruler (I use one for all my sewing projects)
• Chalk fabric marker 
• Water-soluble marker
• Scissors
• Mini iron (this is the one I used)
• Bias tape maker (this is the one I used)
• Sewing pins
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• I never sew without one of these (I still make mistakes)

Gather all your sewing supplies and fabrics.

For my inspiration, I used my husband’s old nail apron. It had a nice shape, but I wanted my apron longer and wider. 

Fabric Cuts

Main fabric:

• Apron Body (25″ by 9″)
• Pockets (25″ by 6″)
• Waistband (25″ by 3.5′)
• Apron ties cut 2 each (39″ by 3.5″)

Contrast fabric:

• Bias tape cut on the bias of the fabric one at (26″ by 2″) and cut one (42″ by 2″)

The first step to any sewing project is to get your fabric thread perfect. I used a quilting mat and quilt ruler (this is the one I used) to straighten my fabric. 

After I cut out my apron and apron pocket, I placed the pocket piece on the top of the apron with the bottom edges matched. 

I used a plastic lid as a guide to trace the bottom side curve. Then I cut along the traced lines. 

To find the center of the apron, I folded it in half. I marked the centers using a water-soluble maker (this is the fabric marker I used).

Make Apron Ties

To make my apron ties, I used the same fabric as the apron and pocket. I folded in one of the short sides 1/2″ and ironed it down. Then I folded it in half and ironed it. Next, I folded the long sides to meet in the center and pressed it (using a mini iron).

Fold the ties in half and press. 

Topstitch the ties on the three turned-down sides. 

How to Make Bias Tape

I adore plaid, and green is my favorite color, so this green plaid shirt was perfect as my trim (bias tape). When I purchased this shirt from the local Goodwill, I planned to use it to make Fabric Pumpkins, but it was too perfect not to use for this project.

It was impossible to get the backside of the shirt to lay flat, so I cut open the side seams. 

Then I cut it off the back yoke. Using a yardstick, I marked the bias strips with a chalk marker. 

For the long piece of bias tape, I had to sew together two pieces together. 

I used a bias tape maker (this is the one I used). It has a slot in the top where I use a pin to push the fabric through. 

While holding the metal handle of the bias tape maker, pull it back and iron the tape as the maker moves over it.

 

Sewing on the Bias Tape 

I unfolded the bias tape and pinned it to the wrong side of the top edge of the pocket. 

Then I sewed it along the first fold line. 

After I applied the bias tape on the apron, I folded it over to the front of the pocket and pinned it in place. Then I stitched it in place.

I placed the pocket on the top front side of the apron along the bottom. 

Next, I sewed in a basting stitch line along the pocket sides and bottom. 

Then I opened the bias tape and pinned it along the sides and bottom of the backside of the apron. 

 

How to Make Pocket Sections 

Mark and sew the pocket sections.  

Apron Waistband

Fold over 1/2″ on one of the long sides of the waistband and press. Place waistband over the backside of the apron matching the center marks on the raw edges and pin in place. 

Stitch the waistband in place. Then press the seam towards the top. 

Attach Ties

Turn over the apron and pin the ties to the waistband. Stitch just outside the edge of the apron. 

Fold the waistband over the tie and stitch. Trim the seam and the corner. 

Turn right side out and press. 

Top Stitch Apron Waistband

Press the waistband on the front.

Pin in place and stitch. 

You might enjoy these other sewing projects, how to make a face mask, DIY pillow covers, DIY Christmas stockings, how to make cushion covers, and DIY Cornice Boards, Pillow shams, DIY tote bags, and duvet covers.

 

**More Amazing Up-cycled Projects:

The DIY Blog Hop hostess is my friend, Tarah, from Grandma’s House DIY.

She is sharing a Thrift Store Basket Makeover for Mother’s Day.

 

My fellow blogger and friend, Kim, from Shiplap and Seashells, shares how to use a thrift store whiskey barrel for displaying flowers.

Our newest member of our Blog Hop is an amazingly creative DIY’er, Allison, from Darling and Dapper Life. She is sharing a thrift store makeover farmhouse breadbasket. 

My friend, Niky, from The House on Silverado, shares how to update thrift store signs. 

Mary from Life at Bella Terra is a talented DIY’er, shares how to upcycle thrift store lamps.

From Health Home and Heart, my friend, Amy, shares how to give a thrift store bench a gorgeous makeover. 

 

Please join me (HERE) as we craft up some fun. You can look forward to receiving new inspiration every week. As well as special online crafting events, seasonal and holiday crafting too. 

See you soon,

Kippi