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To make an easy Christmas apron, choose one construction method, use its measurements consistently, and sew it from woven fabric such as cotton, canvas, or linen. For the quickest update, add a pocket to an existing apron; for a fully handmade version, follow a pattern or draft an apron and finish the edges with bias binding.
Choose the apron method that suits your project
| Method | What it involves | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern-based, lined apron | Cut a front and lining from one pattern, then sew the layers together and add the pattern’s pocket and ties. Janome’s design has no around-the-neck ties. | Choose this when you want a lined apron and are comfortable following a specific pattern’s measurements. Janome’s holiday apron instructions |
| Add a pocket to an apron | Make and attach a pocket to a purchased or handmade apron. | A practical option if you already have an apron and want to customize it without sewing a whole new one. AllPeopleQuilt’s pocket instructions |
| Draft and bind an apron | Shape the apron body yourself and finish its edges with bias binding; SINGER Australia’s Christmas design uses a two-piece body. | Choose this when you want to control the shape and trim rather than follow a single commercial pattern. SINGER Australia’s Christmas apron project |
Each approach has its own measurements and construction details. Do not combine dimensions from different patterns; select one set of instructions and use it from cutting through finishing.
Gather fabric and sewing supplies
- Fabric: Choose woven cotton, canvas, or linen. A Christmas print gives the apron a seasonal look. Check the dimensions in your chosen instructions before buying Christmas cotton fabric.
- Thread: Choose a suitable thread for the fabric and a coordinating or contrasting color.
- Basic tools: Sewing machine, scissors, and iron. Pins are also useful for holding layers and ties in place.
- Project-specific additions: The lined design needs lining fabric; a drafted design finished at the edges needs bias binding. Check your selected instructions for any other notions.
These projects use woven fabric, but the amount varies by design and wearer. For example, Brother’s instructions list 72 × 86 cm of adult fabric and 49 × 59 cm of child fabric, along with separate pocket and tie dimensions. Those amounts belong to Brother’s project, not every apron pattern.
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#1 Best Overall
- Sewing Pattern. Includes paper pattern pieces and sewing instructions to make/sew this yourself!
- Matching Aprons for Girls, Misses and 18" Dolls. Also, included stocking ornaments in three sizes.
- This pattern includes Child's size: S (3-4), M (5-6), L (7-8) and Misses' size: S (10-12), M (14-16), L (18-20).
- This is a sewing pattern only, NOT a completed/finished product. It gives you the information and instructions to make the items shown yourself.
Follow one set of cutting measurements
Using Janome’s lined design
Janome’s pattern calls for a 27 × 25 inch front and lining, a 10 × 27 inch pocket, and long tie strips. Its instructions say you can add width and height for a taller wearer. Use those dimensions only with that design, and adjust the body before cutting if the wearer needs a larger fit.
Using Brother’s adult or child project
Brother’s project gives separate fabric amounts for adult and child aprons: 72 × 86 cm and 49 × 59 cm, respectively. It also specifies pocket and tie dimensions. Follow the project’s complete measurements rather than substituting Janome’s pieces or estimating from the fabric totals alone.
Rank #2
- PATTERN S9973 SIZING: Simplicity one-size pattern includes custom aprons designed for a comfortable, adjustable fit. Check the finished measurements on the envelope before cutting so your make turns out just right.
- IN THE ENVELOPE: Printed tissue pattern pieces and clear step-by-step illustrated sewing instructions guide you from start to finish. The envelope also lists the suggested fabrics and the notions you need, so you can shop for materials with confidence.
- AMERICAN SEWING HERITAGE: An American sewing icon since 1927 and proudly made in the USA, Simplicity has been trusted by home sewists for nearly a century for accurate, easy-to-follow sewing patterns.
- MAKE IT UNIQUELY YOURS: Create custom pieces using your favorite fabrics, prints, trims, and embellishments. Personalize your apron to reflect your style, or use the cover photos as inspiration for handmade makes that are truly your own.
- EASY AND REWARDING TO SEW: A satisfying sewing project for beginner and intermediate sewists, perfect for everyday kitchen use, backyard barbecues, baking, handmade gifts, and craft fairs.
Drafting your own shape
If drafting, decide the apron’s coverage and length from the wearer’s measurements before cutting, then account for the edges that will be enclosed by bias binding. SINGER Australia’s Christmas design uses a two-piece body and bias binding; refer to its instructions for the construction details rather than treating another pattern’s dimensions as universal.
Sew the apron in a practical order
- Measure and choose coverage. Decide how far the apron should extend across the wearer and how long it should fall. Check the selected pattern’s fit guidance before cutting.
- Cut the pieces. Cut the body, pocket, lining if used, and ties according to the same project’s measurements. Keep pieces grouped by project so dimensions do not get mixed.
- Prepare the pocket. Finish the pocket’s top edge, press the remaining edges, and pin it to the apron front. Position it where the wearer can reach it comfortably, then stitch it in place.
- Join the body. For a lined apron, sew the front and lining as instructed and turn or finish the edges according to the pattern. For a drafted apron with bias binding, enclose the raw edges with the binding.
- Attach the ties. Sew the waist and neck ties—or the tie arrangement specified by your chosen design—securely to the body. Check that the apron sits comfortably before trimming or final pressing.
- Press and inspect. Press the seams and finished edges. Check that the pocket is secure, the ties are firmly attached, and no raw edges remain exposed.
Customize the pocket, fit, and ties
A pocket can be added to an apron you made or one you already own. Choose a size and placement suited to what the wearer wants to carry, and secure the upper corners well. If following a pattern, start with its pocket dimensions and adjust only if the apron body can accommodate the change.
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Rank #3
- Aprons in size a (s-m-l/s-m-l) Simplicity pattern 3949
- Number of looks included:3
- Designed and manufactured in the USA
- Suggested Fabrics: Broadcloth, Calico, Chintz, Gingham ; Not suitable for sleepwear
- Sewing pattern intended for use at home
Fit
Apron dimensions are pattern-specific, not universal. Consider the wearer’s height and desired coverage before cutting; Janome explicitly allows additional width and height for taller users. Make any fit adjustments to the selected design’s body pieces rather than borrowing measurements from a different project.
Ties and neck arrangement
Use the tie style that suits the wearer and the chosen design. Some projects specify waist and neck ties, while Janome’s lined apron is designed without around-the-neck ties. Confirm tie placement and length against the instructions and the wearer before sewing them permanently.
Rank #4
- McCall's pattern kits come with pattern pieces for cutting out the fabric, step by step written and illustrated instructions to guide you through the sewing process, information on how to select fabric and trims, and sizing information
- These sewing patterns can be made in one size each
- Apron with contrast neck strap and back ties has a contrast flared skirt, mushroom applique and rick rack trim; placemat has a mushroom applique and rick rack border; for mushroom trivet and potholder, please use heat resistant interfacing
- Potholder stem is a pocket for your thumb; mushroom towel has a tab and button closure and an inside loop for hanging; towel is decorated with a fabric band and rick rack trim
- Fabrics: A, B, C, D, E, appliques: cotton/cotton blends; interfacing b: fusible fleece; interfacing C, E: heat-resistant; interfacing D: extra firm craft fusible
Finish with a seasonal look
Christmas-print fabric is the simplest way to make the apron feel festive. Coordinate the pocket or bias binding with the print, or use a contrasting solid for a clear border. Keep decorative choices compatible with the selected construction: binding belongs to the drafted-and-bound approach, while the lined design’s finish follows its own instructions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PATTERN M5284 SIZING: McCall's pattern includes sizes 8-22 so you can sew your ideal fit. Pattern sizing runs differently from ready-to-wear clothing, so measure and check the body size chart before cutting.
- IN THE ENVELOPE: Printed tissue pattern pieces and clear step-by-step illustrated sewing instructions guide you from start to finish. The envelope also lists the suggested fabrics and the notions you need, so you can shop for materials with confidence.
- MADE IN THE USA: Proudly made in the USA. McCall's has been a trusted name in home sewing since 1870, bringing contemporary, wearable style to sewists for over 150 years.
- MAKE IT UNIQUELY YOURS: Create custom pieces using your favorite fabrics, prints, trims, and embellishments. Personalize your aprons to reflect your style, or use the cover photos as inspiration for handmade makes that are truly your own.
- SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate. A rewarding make for sewists with a little experience.
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