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Create a stylish, functional easy apron from a pillowcase with this beginner-friendly sewing project – perfect for cooking, gardening, or crafting!
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5 from 1 vote

Easy sew apron from pillowcase

Create a stylish, functional easy sew apron from a pillowcase with this beginner-friendly sewing project – perfect for cooking, gardening, or crafting!
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Sewing
Cuisine: International
Keyword: easy apron, easy sew apron, make an apron, pillow case apron, sewing an apron
Yield: 1 full apron
Author: Petro Neagu

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

  • Begin by washing and drying your old pillowcase and fabric strip to ensure they are clean and ready for use.
  • Lay out your pillowcase on a flat surface with the opening at the top. Pin and sew the opening close. This might be on a side or on the back of the pillowcase.
  • Measure and cut two strips from your fabric strip. These will become the neck straps and you get to decide the length based on your own body measurements. You can opt for using one strap as I did but your measurements have to be precise. If you cut and sew the strap too short or too long, your apron won't fit properly.
  • Measure and cut one long strips from your fabric strip for the waist tie. This should go all around your waist plus extra more, enough to tie comfortably at the back.
  • Decide how wide the top of your apron will be and cut a strip of fabric in this measurement, plus 1/2" extra at the ends for allowance.
  • Prepare the straps and neck tie for sewing. Press all sides in about 1/4". Open slightly and press the corners in 1/4". Press all sides in again, to form mitered corners.
  • Fold the entire strip in half and press.
  • Make some pleats in the top of the pillowcase to reduce its length to your desired measurements. I made one large pleat of about 1" wide and 2 smaller pleats about 1/2" wide in both sides of the top edge and I ended up with a top edge of 10" in length. So my decorative strip was 10 1/2" long and about 2" wide (this could also vary based on your preference).
  • If the middle of the pillowcase seems a bit too large for your waist, add 2 darts in the waist area, evenly spaced out from the edges and the center of the pillowcase.
  • Take the pillowcase to the sewing machine and sew a straight stitch over the pleats to keep them together. I used a 1/8" allowance.
  • Sew the darts, backstitching at the start and end. 
  • Press the pleats and the darts well.
  • Sew the ties and the neck strap closed with 1/8" seam allowance.
  • Arrange the neck tie where you want it (this can be a little bit off sides as I did for my apron or aligned with the sides). Sew the neck strap to the top of the apron with 1/4" allowance.
  • Pin the decorative strap to the top of the apron, with the folded side down. Sew to the apron with 1/4" allowance on all four edges.
  • Pin the waist tie to the waist area and sew the top and the bottom with 1/8" allowance.

Video