Free Apron Top Pattern

(via http://diyfashion.about.com/od/diytops/ss/Apron_Top_9.htm)

Measure and Cut the Fabric

Measure and Cut your Apron Top Pieces

Rain Blanken

Bodice Length: Measure from your armpit to below your breasts. Take this measurement and add ½” for the bottom seam allowance, and 1” for the top seam allowance. Apron Length: Measure from the same point just below your breasts to however long you want you apron. Add 1" for seam allowance.
Apron and Bodice Width: Decide how much of your back you want to show and measure all the way around the largest part of your chest to get your bust measurement. This is the same number on your bra. Now subtract the amount of skin you want to show on your back.

• Example: For 33” bust, try a top that is 29” across. This will leave 4” of your back on display.

You will have three panels of fabric for your bodice. The middle panel should be 8" in width. Add 1" for seam allowance. Use 10" if you have a large bust, adding the 1" for seam allowance. The final size of this panel is your 9" or 11" measurement wide, by the bodice length (armpit to below breasts) you measured earlier.

• Example: Your middle panel needs to be 8" wide, so you add 1" for seam allowance to get 9".

Subtract the middle panel width from your bodice width measurement to see how much fabric you will need for the side panels. Add 2" for seam allowance.

Example:
• Your bodice needs to be 29" wide, so you subtract your 9" for the middle panel to reach 20". Add 2" for seam allowance to get 22".

Cut the fabric. I like to choose solid fabrics and pair them with character or kitschy prints. It’s important to go with a solid to soften a pattern, unless you want the clown look.

4 pieces:
• Cut a rectangle of fabric for your middle panel, the 9" or 11" measurement (remember, 11" for a larger bust size) by your bust length.
• Cut a rectangle of fabric for the side panels. Fold it in half lengthwise and cut it again for two pieces.
• Cut the large apron rectangle.

Now we can stitch the panels together.

Stitch the Bodice Panels Together

Sew the seams together.

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Lay your pieces out like the illustration above. Stitch each side panel to the front panel. Be sure to zigzag stitch after your straight stitch to keep your raw edges from unraveling.
Now you are ready to stitch the apron to the bodice.

Sew the Apron to the Bodice

Sew Apron to Bodice

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Lay your bodice right-side down along the top of your apron. Sew ½” all the way across. Use a medium-sized stitch. Now switch to a zigzag stitch and go over the raw edge. This will keep your fabric from unraveling in the wash. This extra step is worth it to preserve your creation. Unfold your newly stitched pieces and press the seam flat against the apron side with your iron. This way, the seam won’t bother your skin.
Now we will hem the sides.

Hem the Edges

Hem the all the edges for a finished look.

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Now you have something that looks like a two-toned square. We will need to hem it to make it look nice. With your zig-sag stitch, go all the way around the square, eliminating the raw edges on each side. On the front of the apron, mark an inch from the bottom all the way across. Use chalk so that you don’t cause any stains. Fold up the inch of the bottom toward the back of the apron and iron it all the way across. Ironing will make sewing your hem easier. Use a medium straight-stitch to sew an 1/8” from your zig-zag stitches all the way across.
Hem the top of your bodice in the same fashion, folding in an inch, ironing, then sewing across. Fold in each of the sides of your top just a ½”, press, and sew.
Your top is almost ready. What you really need now is a few straps.

Make the Eyelets

Eyelets are used to lace the straps.

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These tabs will hold your laces at the back of the bodice. Fold one of the 3” squares in a ½” at the top and bottom. Iron these creases. Fold the square in half and iron the crease. You should have a sweet little rectangle with raw edges on one side. Zigzag stitch the ends of the two raw edges together. I like to zigzag mine over a few times for good measure.
Repeat with this process with other four squares. Next, you'll need to make the straps.

Make Your Straps

Straps can be anywhere from 30" to 60".

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Fold each length of fabric in half (wrong-sides together) and iron the crease all the way down. Open it back up. Fold in a ½” on one side and iron all the way down. Repeat on the other side. Fold the strip in half again with the side folds tucked in the middle. It should be about an inch wide. Sew all along the open edge with a medium-sized straight stitch. When you reach the bottom, fold up a ½” and sew across. Repeat with the second strap. Zigzag stitch the top of each strap.

Attach the Staps and Eyelets

Sew on the Eyelets and the Straps

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Sew the Eyelets to the Bodice
• Lay your bodice/apron square wrong-side up. Position an eyelet tab at the top-left of the bodice so that the raw edges are about a ½” inside the edge. Straight-stitch to attach the eyelet about an 1/8” from the edge of the bodice. Repeat with the other three tabs, placing them at the bottom-left, top-right, and bottom-right corners of the bodice. Do not attach them to the apron. Now let’s stitch the straps.
  

Attach the Straps
• First we need to figure out how far apart the straps should be. Break out the measuring tap again and measure 4” from the middle of the front of your bodice. To find the middle, fold the bodice in half. Mark 4” to the left and right of the middle. Pin your straps at these marks and try your bodice on. Typically, 8” between the straps will work. For larger busts (lucky!), you may need to go wider. Sew the straps on in the same manner that we sewed the eyelets to the bodice, about a ½” from the edge. Be extra careful with this stitching, because it will be right on the front of your apron top.
  

Almost done...easy, right? How about we lace the straps and finish up!

Finish Up

Lace it Up and Customize

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Now that your apron top is assembled, you can lace up the back and try it on. One of the advantages of apron tops is how easy they are to embellish. Decorate your apron top with a large patch on the front, some lace trim at the bottom...you really have no limits, here.