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Tutorial Tuesday: Pants to Apron

June 1, 2010 by Kaysi 44 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, Kimbo from Girl and a Glue Gun linked up this idea. I really don’t wear aprons, but I have a ton old jeans that I don’t use, so I thought that I would give it a try. They turn out so cute and are super easy. I have loved it so much, I think that I have made 18 aprons (I can’t just make one… I have to make at least a dozen :D).

So this is how you make them.
1) Take a pair of jeans. One pair will give you 2 aprons. The size that you wear will be the size that will fit you. For a 2 year old, use 2T and etc.
At the back pocket, cut off one leg.

2) Cut along the back of the pant leg to open it up. This will be the base of your apron.

3) Putting the two side together, cut out a “J” shape out of each side.

This is what it should look like. Sometimes I actually use the top of the leg (right under the pocket) for the bottom because it has a little but more flare.

4) Cut out the back pocket

5) Now for the fun, cute fabric. For mine, I used 4 2-2 1/2 x 45 inches strips. I used 3 strips for 2-4 year olds, 4 strips for 4 year and 5 strips for size 10 or larger.

6) Not to make the bias tape with the fabric. Iron one side about 1/4 inch, and then do the same for the other side

7) Now fold the tape in half and iron it

8) Now pin all the fabric all over the jeans. For the neck and the ties, I used two strips and the other two were used for the rest of the apron.

9) Sew the the fabric on. And you’re done! Put it on and start cooking.

Trust me, it looks super cute on… just not on me.
You could use a pair of jeans that have a hole in the knee, you can just cover it with the pocket or a flower.
Here are few more that I have made.
These two are my favorite, I had a little 2T pair of brown pants. They look adorable on!!
Here are a few I made out of khakis
I had to make some tool aprons for my boys!
And lastly, here is the apron I made for myself.
I wash my hand a lot when I’m cooking. So I decided to make the pocket out of a dish towel so I can wipe my hands on it.
I love it and will now wear an apron when I cook!!

Filed Under: clothing, fabric, girls, kitchen, sewing, tutorial, Uncategorized

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pati @ A Crafty Escape

    June 1, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    I love these!!! I'll be making a couple this summer πŸ™‚

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  2. Melissa

    June 1, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    Wow you are too funny – you are right – you do make more than one when you start making something…

    These are cute and I love the towel pocket idea…

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  3. More Than "Just Mom"

    June 1, 2010 at 1:42 pm

    I love these – especially what you did with yours! I am constantly washing my hands while cooking too, and this weekend I was thinking about how I had to keep using paper towels to dry my hands and I wish I could jsut wipe them on my apron. Looks like I'll be making a new type of apron!

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  4. Sarah

    June 1, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    I LOVE this idea. I'm not great at sewing, but I'll have to give this a try!!

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  5. Kimbo West @ a girl and a glue gun

    June 1, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    THese turned out so great! I love the khaki and brown! What great ideas!

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  6. Misty

    June 1, 2010 at 3:32 pm

    Your aprons turned out adorable!! My girls and I plan on making some this summer!

    Thanks for linking @Creative Itch's "Sew Cute Tuesday"!

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  7. Mom2fur

    June 1, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    These are adorable! I love the fancy border print against the solid fabric. Great job!

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  8. Leslie

    June 1, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    How cute! I love how easy these adorable aprons turned out!

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  9. Alison

    June 1, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    This is a FABULOUS idea! I just cleaned out my drawers and ended up with a couple of pairs of old jeans. Now I know what I'm doing with them! THANKS!

    ~Alison

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  10. The Sisters 4 say MORE is more

    June 1, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    So cute!! I especially love the aprons for little ones!!
    ~ Sister #2

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  11. Lacey

    June 2, 2010 at 12:39 am

    Oh the ideas!!!!!!! I love it!

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  12. Seamingly Smitten

    June 2, 2010 at 1:37 am

    Wow I would have never thought of that!! Great idea! Thanks for linking up at the linky party!
    http://www.seaminglysmitten.blogspot.com
    Jenny

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  13. Michelle

    June 2, 2010 at 1:54 am

    Oh I love this, like really love it! I have so many old pairs of jeans that have been waiting for a jean quilt I may never make. These are adorable!

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  14. Jessica

    June 2, 2010 at 2:05 am

    I LOVE this idea…I am sooo stealing it! πŸ˜‰

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  15. Kim @ seven thirty three

    June 2, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    I LOVE this!
    Thanks for linking up with Sugar & Spice.

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  16. Chris

    June 2, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    Fun aprons! I like the accent fabrics you chose.

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  17. Anne Maskell

    June 2, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    What a great idea! I have to try one of these! I found you on seamingly smitten.

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  18. Scrappy Gifts

    June 3, 2010 at 1:08 am

    wow love these especially the jean one. Great idea using the dish towel too.

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  19. β˜…All Thingz Relatedβ˜…

    June 3, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    These are WAY TOO cute! Thanks for joining us for Anything Related! ~Bridgette

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  20. missbossypants

    June 3, 2010 at 3:38 pm

    I saw the original tutorial too, and I'm saving up old jeans to make a bunch of these! Now I just need to find fun accent fabric for the edges….

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  21. Teena

    June 3, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    This is a practical idea for reusing old pants, well done! Happy Transformation Thursday <3

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  22. Lanie Ree

    June 4, 2010 at 3:23 am

    "What? Ohhh…"

    That's what went through my mind.

    AWESOME.

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  23. Lanie Ree

    June 4, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    Hi there! I'm just stopping by to say I loved this so much, I Featured it today. Thanks again for linking up!

    http://lanieree.blogspot.com/2010/06/featuring-you.html

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  24. Leslie

    June 7, 2010 at 6:34 am

    P.S. Thanks for linking up to Hoo's got talent!

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  25. Patty-Cake Manners

    June 7, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    Love these!! The kids and I wear aprons all the time and these would be so fun to make!! Thanks for sharing!

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  26. C.R.A.F.T.

    June 8, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Adorable!! come one over and link up to MMM πŸ™‚

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  27. Its So Very Cheri

    June 9, 2010 at 2:20 am

    Those are so adorable. What a great idea.
    I will have to make My kidos some.
    Cheri

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  28. Rory from Tools Are For Women Too!

    June 10, 2010 at 2:46 pm

    These are so much fun! I know most of us have at least a few pair of jeans or pants that we've outgrown…ha! Thanks for sharing on Modern Craftswoman Monday! Rory

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  29. Bonnie

    June 21, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    Those look awesome! I love the white ones. The dishtowel to the bottom is a great idea. I just made my own jean apron (won't be posted until later this week). It's so fun to feel industrious with little to no cost!

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  30. Sarah@Dolls And Daydreams

    July 6, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    can't wait to try this out …. now i know what to do with my old jeans! Thanks so much (had to follower you!)

    Sarah

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  31. Alison

    July 22, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    I totally made two aprons out of an old pair of jeans and featured your tutorial today on my blog. Thanks SO much for this idea!

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  32. Carla S

    August 29, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    What a fun and simple idea! LOVE it!

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  33. Ruby

    November 12, 2010 at 7:12 am

    love this. Thanks a lot for the idea.^,^

    Wow Accounts

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  34. Anne K.

    January 3, 2011 at 12:38 am

    Just now discovered this – I thought I'd seen every apron tutorial out there, but I was wrong! LOVE this – it's brilliant!

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  35. Wani

    January 9, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    I love the denim ones – especially for boys! I think I'll make one for my son! Thanks for sharing!

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  36. vintageculler

    February 21, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    This is such a clever idea and a great use of jeans that are too short! Love it!

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  37. Sky Buffat

    February 23, 2011 at 2:45 am

    These are adorable and you make them seem so easy! I love that you go crazy when you do something- one won't do! I feel the same oftentimes πŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing and sharing well!

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  38. LauraBelle

    March 11, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    Love love love this idea. I was making an apron that seemed a little too complicated to me and then found this one! Guess which one I'm going to make now. πŸ™‚ Thank you so much for your awesome ideas.

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  39. The Beck Bunch

    June 1, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    How did you sew the pocket on? Maybe it's jusy my ghetto sewing machine but it doesn't sew through the seams on the pocket very well. Too many layers of denim. Thanks!

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  40. nancypo

    July 22, 2011 at 10:29 pm

    CUTE! I need to make some aprons….

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  41. handmadebyclairebear.com

    August 23, 2011 at 12:04 am

    "Pants to apron" I just had to have a look!
    I'm putting together a blog post on what to do with old pairs of jeans ther than bin them. If it's ok, I would like to use this and link back to you?
    love
    Claire from http://handmadebyclairebear.com

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  42. concretenprimroses

    December 5, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    These are wonderful, thanks! I think they are all stunning. Such a cute shape.
    I can't believe you made 18 of them! What will you do with them all? Or I should say, what have you done with them all.
    Kathy
    ps bias tape is actually cut on the bias. Straight works here because there aren't too many curves.

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  43. Amanda

    March 7, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    I really love this project and cant wait to try it. I have one pair of old jeans all ready!

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  44. Matilda

    July 27, 2017 at 10:02 pm

    Your aprons are lovely! I can't wait to make some. Thank you for posting them.

    Are these correct measurements you used for your cute fabric? Thank you! πŸ™‚

    CUTE Fabric Measurements – four 2"-2.5" x 45" strips. Three strips for 2-4-year-olds, four strips for 4 years and five strips for size 10 or larger. I am not sure if I have this correct.

    Also, can you please tell me how long the part that goes over the head should be. How big of an opening? Thanks again.

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