Reversible, Full-Coverage Child’s Apron, Smock or Jumbo Bib {Free Pattern & Tutorial}

With all the helping our kids have been doing in the kitchen cooking and baking, it was apparent that they each needed their very own apron (or two). For a while they used a set of nylon craft aprons, but after one cycle through the wash, the aprons completely fell apart

Tim and I also found it to be quite a pain to tie 8 ties every time the kids all helped and to then tie four ties again once they were finished so the aprons could be hung on a hook by the neck straps.

This full-coverage apron is simply a longer (and slightly modified) version of my favorite bib. Now that we have a full set, we only need to tie four neck ties and once the kids are finished the aprons can be hung up by the armhole strap without any retying.

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Would you like to see how I made them and how you can make your own?

Here’s what I started with and what you’ll need to make one reversible, full-coverage child’s apron, smock or jumbo bib. This pattern has been tested on sizes 2T through 6. (It will be a little long for 2T, but, at least for our daughter, it still works well.)

Fabric: I used a combination of cotton and flannel fabric. The flannel adds some absorbency to the apron in case of spills. You’ll need approximately 2/3 yard of each fabric. This amount should give you enough wiggle room to account for any shrinking. Make sure you wash and dry your fabrics before beginning.

Extra Wide Bias Tape (1/2 inch wide double-fold): two pieces @ 11.5 inches, 1 piece @ 74 inches, and one piece @ 40 inches. The store-bought bias tape is a total of 1.875 inches wide so if you’re making your own you’ll want to cut your strips that wide. Here’s a super simple printable you can use to make your own bias tape folder. If you’re buying packaged bias tape at the store you’ll need two packs like the ones pictured below.

Matching Thread

Full-Coverage Child’s Apron Pattern: Print at 100%. Make sure the “fit to page” is not checked. You can double check your sizing by measuring the box on the first page, it should be 1 inch square. Cut the pattern pieces out and tape them together, overlapping where indicated. (pattern for personal use only)

*Please, feel free to spread the word about this free pattern, but do not host or share the pattern file in any way. Simply share the link to this post instead. Thank you!

By the way, if you like crafting and creating, be sure to check out The Ultimate DIY Bundle on sale now through Monday, January 26th.

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Ready to get started? Here we go! 

Please, leave me a comment if something isn’t explained thoroughly enough, I’m definitely not a sewing tutorial expert

1. Start by ironing both of your fabrics and placing them one on top of the other with wrong sides together.

2. Now fold both fabric over (keeping them together) just enough to fit the pattern piece.

3. At this point you could pin the pattern piece down, but I simply use some small objects as weights and cut around the pattern. Make sure you’re cutting through all four layers of fabric.

4. Open the folded fabric back up so it looks like this.

Your fabrics will still be wrong sides together.

5. Pin both fabrics together the whole way around the apron and use a long straight stitch to baste the front and back of the apron together close to the edge (about 1/8″).

6. Use the two 11.5 inch pieces of bias tape to enclose the raw edges of both layers of the arm holes together. Both fabrics will be sewn inside the bias tape. Sew around the arm holes, close to the edge but making sure to catch the underside of the bias tape in your stitch. For more details on one-step bias binding go here.

7. Starting at the corner where the neckline and shoulder meet, attach one end of the 74 inch bias tape to each shoulder. Make sure the bias tape doesn’t get twisted.

8. Find and mark the middle of the body bias tape and the middle of the apron body by folding each in half.

9. Line up the middles and pin together sandwiching both layers of fabric in between the bias tape fold.

10. Starting at the middle point at the bottom of the apron, pin the bias tape along the entire body of the apron. Once you get to the armhole binding continue pinning the bias tape to itself as you continue towards the shoulder. Pin the other side as well.

11. Begin at one end and sew the bias tape to the entire edge of the apron body.

This is what the apron should look like at this point.

12. Grab the piece of 40 inch bias tape and finish off each end. 1) Open the bias tape one time. 2) Fold the corners down at 45 degree angles. 3) Fold that entire point down. 4) Close the bias tape along the original fold. 5) Sew across the ends making sure to backstich to keep your stitches in place.

13. Fold the bias tape in half and mark the middle.

14. Fold the apron in half to find the middle of the neckline and attach the middle of the bias tape to this spot.

15. Pin the bias tape to the neckline and pin the bias tape to itself to form the neck ties.

16. Sew from one end of the neck ties to the other end.

Tada! You’re finished!

Now try that apron on your little one and smile

Do you have any questions about the process of making these aprons? What little one in your life could use a new apron?