RUFFLE OPTION

• Main piece 41″ wide by 28″ long- Cut 1

  Ruffle 62″ long by 8″- Cut 1

  Straps 21″ long 7.5″ wide- Cut 2

  Pockets 10″ by 10″- Cut 2

NO RUFFLE OPTION

• Main piece 41″ wide by 35″ long

  Straps 21″ long 7.5″ wide- Cut 2

  Pockets 10″ by 10″- Cut 2

CROSS BACK APRON FOR WOMEN SEWING INSTRUCTIONS

• Start by cutting the pieces from the cut list.

PREPARE THE STRAPS

• Take one strap piece (21″ by 7.5″) and fold it in half long ways. Sew the raw edges together all the way down the long edge with a half inch seam. Turn the strap piece out, so that the raw edges, and seam, are hidden inside. Do this by placing a large safety pin on one end and fishing it through to the other end.
• Press the strap flat with an iron to make the seams lay flat. Topstitch on both long edges of the strap (the folded edge and the side with the seam). Repeat with the other strap piece.

PREPARE THE POCKETS

• Press one edge of a 10″ by 10″ piece one half inch, and then another half inch, to hide the raw edge inside. For the other three edges of the square piece press them over one inch.
• Sew the spot that you pressed over twice, to create a hem. This will be the top of the pocket. Leave the other three edges un-sewn, as these will be sewn directly onto the main piece of the apron.
• Repeat with the other pocket piece.

PREPARE THE MAIN PIECE OF THE APRON

RUFFLE OPTION

• Press the two short (28″), and one long edge (41″), over one half inch, and then another half inch, to hide the raw edges inside. Do not press one long edge, as this will be where the ruffle will attach. Sew down the two short sides with a half inch seam. Leave the top (pressed edge) open for now, as this is where the straps still need to be placed.

NO RUFFLE OPTION

• Press all four sides over one half inch, and then another half inch, to hide the raw edges inside. Sew down the two short sides, and one long side, with a half inch seam. Leave the top (pressed edge) open for now, as this is where the straps still need to be placed.

PREPARE THE RUFFLE (IF ADDING)

• Adding the ruffle is optional. If you plan to add it, press one long edge of the ruffle piece over one half inch, and then another half inch, to hide the raw edge inside. Sew the area you pressed with a half inch seam, to create a hem. Sew a gather stitch along the other (non-hemmed) long edge. We will work on attaching the ruffle later.

STRAP PLACEMENT

• Take one strap and pin it 13.5″ from the side hemmed edge of the main apron piece. Put it underneath the pressed top edge of the main piece. This is the one that you left un-sewn earlier. Take the other strap piece and pin it 13.5″ from the other edge of the main piece. The two strap pieces should be about 6″ apart. Sew the strap pieces in place.
• You will notice that the straps face down toward the main apron piece. To make them face up, away from the apron, flip them up and then sew close to the top of the apron to make them stay put. (Refer to the video for more clear instructions on this.)Turn the apron over. Take the strap on the left and crisscross it over to meet the outside edge of the main apron piece on the opposite side (like in the photo above). Pin the strap in place. Repeat with the strap on the right, crisscrossing it over to the other outside edge.
• Sew the straps, that are lined up with the outside edge, in place. Flip them up, away from the main apron piece, and sew along the top to keep them up (see photo below).

POCKET PLACEMENT

• Place the hemmed top of the pocket 14″ from the hemmed top of the main apron piece. Line up the side of the pocket 10″ from the hemmed outside edge of the main apron piece. Repeat with the other pocket. The two pockets should be 2 and 3/4″ apart. Sew around the three sides, leaving the hemmed edge (the top of the pocket) open.

ATTACHING THE RUFFLE (OPTIONAL)

• If you chose the ruffle option, it is time to attach it to the bottom (raw edge) of the apron. Pull the gathering strings, that you put into the ruffle piece earlier, until the length of the ruffle matches the width of the apron. Pin the ruffle in place, right sides together. Sew all the way down, to attach the ruffle to the apron. Finish the raw edges with a serger or zigzag stitch.
• Enjoy your new apron!