A Little Girl's (or boy's) Apron Using 2 Quarter Fats!

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    This project began when Lindsey sent me a video of her daughter and herself baking banana bread together.  My SIL was doing the filming and he asked my granddaughter if she was wearing an apron.  She replied, "Yes, I'm wearing Mommy's apron."  I knew right then that I wanted to make an apron for her and the rest of my granddaughters.  Maybe some of my grandsons, too. A couple of them enjoy cooking as well.  But, so far I've only made them for the granddaughters, so that is why my post is directed to little girls.
     I began by scanning Pinterest for patterns for kids, but nothing stuck out to me.  Then, I looked at one of my aprons that my DIL Jessica had made me for Christmas a few years ago.  Mine is made from about a yard of fabric on each side (it is totally reversible), it has a pocket on each side and it is super cute!  I figured that I could use that as my starting point and just reduce the size for my grandchildren.   They came out adorable if I say so myself.  I have three of them finished with just 2 to go for my older girls.  Those may take a little more than 1/4 yard fats if I want them to be able to wear them for any amount of time.  So, for now I'm going to show you how I've done the 1/4 fat aprons. Click on the photos for instructions: 

From your 2 quarter fats, cut our all of your pieces. I cut 2 coordinating 42-45 " squares, depending on the size of your child. Then from the remaining fabric I cut out 16" straps, 18" neck piece and four pocket pieces, two from each fabric.

Begin by sewing the pockets. Each pocket is made from one piece of each fabric. Place those two pieces right sides together and stitch around on 3 sides, leaving the bottom side open. (I am adding a pdf of the pocket pattern in 2 sizes below.)

Flip the pockets, pushing out the corners as sharply as possible, and press flat.

Press up a 1/4 inch hem at the bottom. Then fold down the top flap with the crease going from corner to corner and press.

Hold the flap down with a decorative button. Set your pockets aside for a moment while you stitch the straps.

With right sides together, stitch the straps. I used one of each fabric for the waist straps. For the neck strap, I chose one of the fabrics, or I used both, one on each side. Sometimes, if your 1/4 yard was on the skimpy side, you may have to piece together the strips to make the straps. I only had to do this once, but it is doable.

Your apron square is going to be worn on the diagonal, or like a diamond shape. Before you attach the straps and pockets, decide how you want it to lay. For example, do you want the stripes to be slanted to the left or to the right. Then, pin on the straps. The waist straps should be attacked about an inch and one half form the waist corners. Baste them in place.

At the neck, figure out how far the top triangle will fold down. Then pin the neck straps right next to it. Do not stitch down the neck triangle. Pin the straps safely to the inside of the body of the apron to make sure that they won't get caught in any seams.

Pin the apron on where you want it. I put mine below the waistline and slightly off center. Pin in place, then stitch down all around, catching in that bottom hem. Be sure to reinforce the top corners by back stitching. Then sew the other pocket on the other apron square.

Put the large apron squares right sides together and pin all of the way around. Leave an opening for turning and stitch the square all of the way around. Be sure not to catch the long parts of the straps into the seam line. But, do go over the part you basted down earlier very well.

Trip the corners and the seams .

After you turn it right side out, be sure to push out the corners.

Press the apron flat, make sure that you press the opening to the inside, matching the seam. Then, top stitch all of the way around the apron. Fold the top flap forward and sew on a button to the front and the back to hold it in place. Sometimes I take a couple of blind stitches near the neck to hold it down even better. Iron it all very well to give crisp edges.

The back doesn't have a flap, but there is a cute button and pocket.

    These aprons are very quick and easy to make and a good project to be doing while in quarantine!  Fat quarters aren't as easy to find now because everyone has also been making masks, which is a great thing to be doing.  Luckily, my niece was getting rid of some fabric during a move that was passed on to me! So, I have plenty of fabric to do both and the prints are so cute.  Thanks Laura! My granddaughters are going to love these! (I hope) 
     Let me know if anyone gives this project a try.  Oh, and here are the buttons for the pocket patterns.  You can adjust the sizes to how big of small you wan them to be.  

Large pocket

Small pocket