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Half apron

Make an apron for happy hours in the kitchen. Choose a favourite fabric and take it one seam at a time.

SewingCritic team · Updated 2026-11-04

An illustrated half apron

Free pattern · Make it your own

Finished size
26 × 20 in including waistband; two 33 in exposed ties
Skill
Beginner
Time
Allow 2–3 hours (planning estimate)
Seam allowance
0.5 in, included in cut sizes

Drafted from measurements by the SewingCritic team. We have not yet photographed a sewn sample.

What do you need?

Medium woven cotton. Fit the stated body and ties around your waist before cutting; this is one measured size.

Matching thread; iron; pins; Universal needle suited to the chosen cotton.

Check the needle and thread chart

Fabric to buy, by nominal width
Size / fabric44 in58 in
Standard · main1.75 yd56 + 2 = 58 in; round up to 1/4 yd1.75 yd56 + 2 = 58 in; round up to 1/4 yd

We reserve 2 in of width for selvedges. Place pieces left to right in chart order, starting a new row when the next piece does not fit. Each row uses the longest piece in that row. Add 2 in handling to the total cut length, divide by 36, and round UP to the next 1/4 yd. Pieces do not rotate. No shrinkage allowance is included. Prewash before measuring usable fabric. Directional prints can need more.

Which pieces should you cut?

All sizes are inches. Cut single layers unless the instructions say otherwise. Seam allowance is already included.

Exact cutting chart
PieceQuantityWidth × lengthSeam allowance
Standard
Apron body (main)128 × 20 inIncluded
Waistband (main)128 × 4 inIncluded
Tie (main)24 × 36 inIncluded

How do you lay out the pieces?

These diagrams use the chart dimensions and keep the grain parallel to the long fabric edge. Rectangles do not rotate. PDF large-format pages are 100%; for home printing use the chart. The stocking also includes four Letter-size template tiles.

Standard · main

Apron body28 × 20 inWaistband28 × 4 inTie4 × 36 inTie4 × 36 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 56 in cut length
Apron body28 × 20 inWaistband28 × 4 inTie4 × 36 inTie4 × 36 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 56 in cut length

How do you sew it?

  1. Cut and fit check

    Cut the chart. The ties are drafted for a measured one-size apron; check coverage and knot length with a tape before cutting. Prewash and press.

    Measure seam allowance from the raw edge to the stitch line

  2. Hem the body

    On each side press under 1/2 in twice and stitch. Repeat on the bottom. Leave the top raw. The panel is now 26 in wide and 19 in from raw top to finished hem.

  3. Make the ties

    For each 4 × 36 in strip, turn one short end under 1 in twice. Press long edges to the centre and fold closed lengthwise to 1 in wide. Edge stitch the long open edge and folded short end, leaving the other short end raw. Each tie is now 34 in long.

  4. Prepare the waistband

    Turn both short ends of the 28 × 4 in waistband under 1 in: length becomes 26 in. Press both long edges under 1/2 in and crease lengthwise in half, wrong sides together. Finished waistband height is 1.5 in.

  5. Attach the waistband

    Open one long fold. Put that edge right sides together with apron raw top, aligned at the side hems. Sew 1/2 in from raw top. Press allowance into waistband. Fold remaining long edge to cover the seam on the back.

  6. Insert ties and finish

    Insert each raw tie end 1 in into an open waistband end. Pin in place. Stitch close to the entire waistband perimeter through both sides, catching ties. Add a second line at each end to reinforce. The body top loses 1/2 in into the waistband; panel below it is 18.5 in, total apron height is 20 in.

What can you change?

Add a patch pocket before the waistband. For a longer apron, add length to the body and recalculate the cutting layout.

What could you make next?

Which sources did we use?

  1. SewingCritic original measurement draftsoriginal draft; arithmetic, no sewn sample · read 2026-11-04