“Tiana” Dress Up Apron

My daughter turned three on Friday and she requested a “Tiana” birthday party. I figured now would be a good time to make her a dress up outfit to go along with the the occasion!

Here’s a picture of E with Tiana during our trip to Disneyland last November. She knelt down on her knees, copying Tiana. It was so cute!

A few tears were shed when E tried on the “Tiana” dress up apron, because it wasn’t poofy, but I think she still likes it since she’s been wearing it all morning!

Want to make one for a special little girl in your life? Here’s how! There are a lot of steps, but I tried to be as thorough as possible so that each step is explained clearly.

THIS PATTERN IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND NOT FOR SALE. YOU MAY NOT MAKE ITEMS FOR SALE OR PROFIT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS PATTERN, PLEASE GIVE ME CREDIT BY LINKING TO MY PAGE.

Materials:

– light yellow fabric

– green fabric

– ivory tulle (I used tulle on a roll that was 6 in wide since that’s what I had on hand, but I’d recommend the tulle you can buy off the bolt)

– yellow thread

– green thread

– elastic (1 – 1 1/2 inches wide)

– fabric glue

– hook and loop closure

– small piece of felt

– beads or pearls

And here’s how to put it all together! 🙂 

Instructions:

1. The first step is to cut out all the pieces.

Out of the yellow fabric:

Strap: 4 x 22 inches 

Bodice: 8 1/2 x 8 inches (cut 2)

Skirt: 19 x 40 inches (cut 2)

Petals: instructions below – you’ll end up making 9 total

Out of the green fabric:

Waist Band: 3 x 28 inches (cut 2)

Leaves for bodice: instructions below

Leaves for skirt: instructions below

2. Fold the neck strap in half, right sides together, and sew along the long side using a 1/2 in seam allowance. Turn inside out and press. For other aprons I’ve made, I’ve topped stitched along both long sides about 1/4 in from the edge, but I totally forgot this time. I think that it gives a nice airy kind of feel for Tiana’s outfit so I wasn’t too worried.

3. Cut a 14 inch piece of 1 inch width elastic. Insert it into the strap. 

4. Line up the ends of the elastic with the ends of the strap and pin or baste in place. The elastic is shorter than the fabric which will allow it to stretch over your little one’s head.

5. Pin the strap to the right side of the bodice front about 1/2 in from the side edges. After I put it all together I realized that the seam from the strap was on the side closest to her neck which shows a bit more, so if you want to avoid that, make sure the seam is on the “outside” when pinning it in place. Baste in place.

6. Place the back of the bodice on top, sandwiching the strap in the middle. Pin in place then sew around the sides and top using a 1/2 in seam allowance.

7. Turn inside out and press.

8. To make the petals: on a piece of paper, draw a circle with a diameter of about 7 inches, cut out, and then cut in half. Using the pattern you just created, cut the yellow fabric. 

Fold in half and sew along the straight edge using about 1/4 inch seam allowance. 

Turn inside out and, positioning the seam so it runs down the back, sew gathering stitches along the round edge. (I have the seam positioned on the side in the phot, but the petals turn out better if the seam is at the back.)

Gather the rounded edge and your petal should look like a petal.

9. To make the bodice leaves: on a piece of paper, draw something that looks like the picture. Once you are satisfied with your pattern, cut four pieces out of the green fabric. Pin and sew two pieces together, using a 1/2 in seam allowance, sewing along the curved edges. Leave the straight edge open so that you can turn it inside out. Turn inside out and press. Repeat with the remaining two green pieces. 

10. Position the bodice leaves on the bodice, pinning just at the top for now. They should slightly overlap. Position three petals behind the green pieces, as shown in the picture, so that when the green is in place no raw edges are seen.

11. Pin the three petals onto the bodice and sew in place. Remove any pins.

12. Pin the green pieces down, adjusting them if necessary so that the raw edges of the petals are hidden. Top stitch about 1/4 in from the edge around the leaves. Start with the leaf on the bottom. I stopped and started again near the straps just so that I could move things out of the way easily and not sew the leaves to the straps. 

13. The stop stitching didn’t attach the leaves to the side of the bodice, so using some fabric glue, I glued down the sides. I put paper inside the leaves first so that the glue wouldn’t seep through to the front.

14. Once the leaves are attached and the glue is dried, trim the bottom of the leaves so they are flush with the bottom of the bodice.

15. Now for the skirt! Pin the two skirt pieces together and sew, using a 1/2 in seam allowance, along the sides and bottom. Trim the corners then turn inside out. Press.

16. I used strips of tulle on this apron, but I recommend using tulle off the bolt. I cut strips a bit longer than the length of the skirt, pinned the on the top, overlapping each strip. Once everything is pinned in place, I trimmed the bottom edges so they were the same length as the skirt. 

17. Sewing gathering stitches along the top of the skirt and gather to a width of 27 inches.

18. Time to make the leaves for the skirts. First you’ll need to create your patterns. They should look something like these: (When looking at the skirt, D will be on the left side and A, B, and C will be on the right with C as the bottom layer and A as the top).

19. Once you are satisfied with your patterns, cut one of each shape out of the green fabric. Hem the rounded edges by folding under 1/4 of an inch and ironing, then fold under again. Sew the hem.

20. Sew gathering stitches along the top straight edges of each leaf piece and gather. 

21. Position the pieces on top of the skirt and pin in place. Sew along the top edge.

22. Take one waistband piece and fold under all four edges 1/2 inch and press. Repeat with the second waistband piece.


 
23. Unfold the long edge of one waistband piece and pin along the gathered edge of the skirt front. Sew in place.

  
  24. Unfold the other edge of the same waistband piece and pin the bodice in the center. Sew in place. (If you trimmed the bottom of the bodice earlier it won’t stick out like that. I just trimmed it at this stage.)

25. Turn the apron over so the front of the apron is facing away from you and pin the second waistband piece (edges folded under) so that it is lined up with the first piece, covering all the raw edges. Top stitch along all four sides.

 
26. Cut a 7 inch length of the hook and loop closure. Pin then sew onto the waistband as shown in the picture.
    
 
27. Almost done! Create 6 more yellow petals as described in step 8. Cut a small circle (about 1 1/2 in diameter) out of felt. Pin and sew on each petal.

28. Sew onto the apron waistband as shown in the picture.

29. Cut a small circle out of green fabric and hand gather the raw edges. Hand sew onto the centre of the flower. Add a few beads or pearls to finish things off!

30. Watch your toddler enjoy her new “dress”!

 
I’d love to hear what you think of this tutorial and how your project turns out!

And in case you were wondering…here’s what I did for a cake!

“Anna” Dress-Up Apron and Cape: Now including the tutorials!

The fun thing about having a little girl is that I have an excuse to sew all kinds of fun things! The difficulty with having a toddler is that she can be a bit distructive (although usually not on purpose)! Water and a laptop keyboard just don’t mix. And that is one of the reasons why I haven’t published a post in a very long time! It hasn’t stopped me from sewing and creating though, and here is my latest creation!

My version of an “Anna” dress-up apron complete with matching cape. I’m SO happy with how it turned out! And my daughter looks so cute in it, especially with her chin length hair in tiny pigtail braids!

Materials:

– dark blue fabric

– black fabric

– yellow fabric

– pink fabric

– elastic (1 inch width – for apron; 1/4 inch width – for cape)

– fabric paint (green and pink)

– hook and loop closure

– 1/4 inch wide ribbon – I used light pink, but any colour could be used

– pompom trim

Instructions for the Cape:

1. Keeping the fabric doubled as it was on the bolt, cut the pink fabric so that it is about 22 inches by 40 inches. You should end up with two identical pieces.
2. Fold the pieces in half, and using a bowl, round the corners. You should now have two pieces that look like the picture.
3. Sew around the pieces, leaving a small section for turning, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Turn and press. Top stitch around the entire cape.
4. Fold over the top part of the cape about 11 or 12 inches and iron to make a crease.
5. Pin in place, then sew on the pompom trim around the top part of the cape.
6. This part is optional, but I thought it gave a nice touch. Using a decorative stitch, stitch around the entire cape. You’ll need to do it in two sections – the top part of the cape and the main part of the cape.  If you did it all in one, you’d end up with stitching that was “inside out”.  You want to make sure that the “good” side of the stitching will be facing out when all is said and done.
7. Pin and sew in place the 1/4 inch wide ribbon along the crease. (It will be under the folded top part of the cape.)
8. Cut the 1/4 inch wide elastic to 14 inches and sew on top of the ribbon, stretching it as you sew. It will synch up the fabric so that it fits nicely on the shoulders, while also stretching to fit over little heads so Mommy doesn’t always have to be tying a bow!
9. Fold the top part of the cape over to cover the ribbon and elastic. Tie a knot and bow at the front and you are done!

Instructions for the “Anna” dress-up apron:

1. The first step is to cut out all the pieces.

Out of the dark blue fabric cut…

• Skirt: 16 x 38 (cut 2)

Out of the black fabric cut…

• Strap: 4 x 22 inches
• Bodice: 8 1/2 x 8 inches (cut 2)

Out of the yellow fabric cut…

• Waist Band: 3 x 28 inches (cut 2)

2. Take one of the black bodice pieces and one of the dark blue skirt pieces and decorate them using the green and pink fabric paints. I just freehanded it based on pictures from a Google image search of Anna’s dress. I did draw on the fabric first with a fabric pencil, but if you are feeling brave, you probably don’t even need to do that step.  Let it dry completely!
3. Fold the neck strap in half, right sides together, and sew along the long side using a 1/2 in seam allowance. Turn inside out, press, and top stitch along both long sides about 1/4 in from the edge.
4. Cut a 15 inch piece of 1 inch width elastic.  Insert it into the strap.
5. Line up the ends of the elastic with the ends of the strap and pin or baste in place. The elastic is shorter than the fabric which will allow it to stretch over your little one’s head.
6. Pin the strap to the right side of the bodice front (the one you painted) about 1/2 inch from the side edges. There will be 1/2 inch of the strap going over the top edge. Baste in place.
7. Place the back of the bodice on top, sandwiching the strap in the middle. Pin in place then sew around the sides and top using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
8. Turn inside out and press.
9. Take one waistband piece and fold under all four edges 1/2 inch and press. Repeat with the second waistband piece.
10. Take the two layers of the skirt, and right sides together, sew around the sides and bottom. Turn and press. (You might not notice from pictures, but I didn’t end up doing this step.  I that thought that I had bought enough blue fabric, but I didn’t have enough to cut two skirt pieces.  If you are in a similar predicament, simply hem the sides and bottom of your decorated skirt piece.)  Sew gathering stitches along the top of the skirt and gather to a width of 27 inches.
11. Unfold the long edge of one waistband piece and pin along the gathered edge of the skirt front. Sew in place.
12. Unfold the other edge of the same waistband piece and pin the bodice in the center. Sew in place.
13. Turn the apron over so the front of the apron is facing away from you and pin the second waistband piece so that it is lined up with the first piece, covering all the raw edges. Top stitch along all four sides.
14. Cut a 7 inch length of the “hook” part of the hook and loop closure and a 4 inch length of the “loop” part. Sew onto the waistband as shown in the picture.

And just like that you have completed the “Anna” dress-up apron!  I’d love to hear how it turned out!

THIS PATTERN IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND NOT FOR SALE.  YOU MAY NOT MAKE ITEMS FOR SALE OR PROFIT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS PATTERN, PLEASE GIVE ME CREDIT BY LINKING TO MY PAGE.

 

Thanks for stopping by and as soon as I get my pictures uploaded I’ll write out the instructions for making your own, so check back soon!

“Elsa” Dress-Up Apron

I had such fun making the “Belle” Dress-Up Apron that I just couldn’t stop there!  My daughter has recently started watching Frozen.  I think we have watched it at least once a day for the past week.  She hasn’t learned to sing yet, but I’m sure she’ll be singing the songs once she does!

I’m excited with how the “Elsa” Dress-Up Apron turned out.  Here’s how I made it.

 

Materials:

– 1 m teal fabric

– 0.2 m sparkly fabric for the bodice (I found some tulle with sequins on it in the bridal section of the fabric store)

– 1 m tulle

– 15 inches of elastic (1 inch)

– snowflake embellishments (optional, but pretty cute)

– hook and loop closure

Instructions:

1. The first step is to cut out all the pieces.

Out of the teal fabric cut…

• Strap: 4 x 22 inches
• Bodice: 8 1/2 x 8 inches (cut 2; you’ll only need 1 if you are using an opaque fabric for the front of the bodice)
• Waist Band: 3 x 27 inches (cut 2)
• Skirt: 16 x 38 (cut 2)

Out of the sparkly fabric cut…

• Bodice: 8 1/2 x 8 inches (cut 1)

2. When I bought the tulle it was already doubled (as many fabrics are when on the spools).  Keeping it folded, trim the edges so that they were nice and straight.  Sew gathering stitches along the folded edge of the tulle and gather to about 12 inches.

3. Take the strap piece.  Fold in half and press.  Fold and press each edge up by 1/2 in.  Position the tulle in the middle of the strap so that it is overlapping the folded edge.  Fold the strap in half and pin everything in place.

4. Top stitch along both edges about 1/4 in from the edge, securing the tulle in place.  Your strap should now look something like the picture.

5. Using a safety pin, insert the elastic into the strap.  Line up the ends of the elastic with the ends of the strap and pin or baste in place.  The elastic is shorter than the fabric which will allow it to stretch over your little one’s head.

6. If your sparkly fabric is transparent, as mine was, sew it on top of one of the teal bodice pieces.

7. Pin the strap to the right side of the bodice front about 1/2 in from the side edges.  There will be 1/2 inch of the strap going over the top edge.  Baste in place.  Note the position of the tulle!

8. Place the back of the bodice on top, sandwiching the strap in the middle.  Pin in place then sew around the sides and top using a 1/2 in seam allowance.  Your bodice should now look something like the picture.

9. Take one of the skirt pieces and attach your snowflake embellishments.  Mine were iron on, but now that I’ve watched my daughter play in her new “dress” I think I’m going to need to sew them on.

10. Place the second skirt piece over top, sew around the sides and bottom edge using a 1/2 in seam allowance, and turn.  Sew gathering stitches along the top of the skirt and gather to 27 inches.

11. Taking both waistband pieces, fold and press under all the edges 1/2 inch.

12.  Unfold the edge of one waistband piece and pin to the skirt, right sides together as shown in the picture.  Sew in place.

13. Pin the bodice, right sides together, in the centre of the waistband piece and sew in place.

14. Place the second waistband piece, edges folded under, so that it covers all the seams and raw edges.  Top stitch in place 1/4 inch from the edges.

15. Cut the hook and loop closures and sew on to the waistband.  I sewed the “hook” part so that it would be on the top of the skirt when wrapped around my daughter’s waist, that way it would be less likely to catch on the tulle.

16. Admire your completed project and watch your little one enjoy her new “dress”!

“Belle” Dress Up Apron

Part of our morning routine involves putting on a movie for my daughter to watch.  E has been enjoying watching lots of Disney movies and one of her current favourites is “Beauty and the Beast”.  She also loves to dress up so I figured it was time to try my hand at making a “Belle” dress-up apron like I’d seen on Pinterest.

After looking at several patterns and pictures, I decided how I was going to proceed.  I got most of my measurements and inspiration from this site, but then made some modifications which I’ll share in this post.  One of the things I modified was the neck strap.  With a newborn at home now, I wanted to make sure that my daughter would be able to put on and take of the “dress” with as little help from me as possible.  The neck strap stretches over her head instead of having it tie in the back.  I ended up having to go back and shorten the elastic to make the neck strap a better size, so the pictures show a longer neck strap than you’ll get if you follow the instructions.

Materials:

– dark yellow fabric

– light yellow fabric

– elastic (in two widths – 1 inch and 1/4 inch)

– hook and loop closure

Instructions:

1. The first step is to cut out all the pieces.

Out of the dark yellow fabric cut…

• Strap: 4 x 22 inches
• Bodice: 8 1/2 x 8 inches (cut 2)
• Waist Band: 3 x 28 inches (cut 2)
• Skirt: 16 x 38 (cut 2)

Out of the light yellow fabric cut…

• Skirt Overlay: 12 x 42 inches

2. Fold the neck strap in half, right sides together, and sew along the long side using a 1/2 in seam allowance.  Turn inside out, press, and top stitch along both long sides about 1/4 in from the edge.

 

 

 

3. Cut a 15 inch piece of 1 inch width elastic.  Insert it into the strap.

 

 

 

 

4. Line up the ends of the elastic with the ends of the strap and pin or baste in place.  The elastic is shorter than the fabric which will allow it to stretch over your little one’s head.

 

 

 

5. Pin the strap to the right side of the bodice front about 1/2 in from the side edges.  There will be 1/2 inch of the strap going over the top edge.  Baste in place.

 

 

 

6. Place the back of the bodice on top, sandwiching the strap in the middle.  Pin in place then sew around the sides and top using a 1/2 in seam allowance.

 

 

 

7. Turn inside out and press.

8. Take one waistband piece and fold under all four edges 1/2 inch and press.  Repeat with the second waistband piece.

 

 

 

9. Sew gathering stitches along the top edge of each dark yellow skirt piece and gather to 27 inches.  Set aside.

10. Take the skirt overlay piece and hem the bottom: press the bottom edge 1/4 in under, then fold over again, press, and sew the hem.

 

 

11. Mark on the wrong side of the skirt overlay, every 7 inches along the bottom as well as at the top, approximately 1 inch from the top edge.  Cut five lengths of the 1/4 inch elastic to 7 1/2 inches.  Pin the elastic at the marks you just made.  (The hemmed bottom of the skirt is at the top of the picture.)

 

 

12. Sew along the elastic, stretching it so it lays flat against the fabric.  Once sewn, because the elastic is shorter it will create the gathers.

 

 

 

 

13. Sew gathering stitches along the top edge of the skirt overlay and gather to 27 inches.

 

 

 

 

14. Place the overlay on top of the skirt front.  Baste along the sides and gathered edge.

 

 

 

 

15. Place the back of the skirt over the front piece, right sides together, and sew along the bottom and sides.  Turn inside out and baste gathered edges together.

 

 

 

16. Unfold the long edge of one waistband piece and pin along the gathered edge of the skirt front.  Sew in place.

 

 

 

 

17. Unfold the other edge of the same waistband piece and pin the bodice in the center.  Sew in place.

18. Turn the apron over so the front of the apron is facing away from you and pin the second waistband piece so that it is lined up with the first piece, covering all the raw edges.  Top stitch along all four sides.

 

19. Cut a 7 inch length of the “hook” part of the hook and loop closure and a 4 inch length of the “loop” part.  Sew onto the waistband as shown in the picture.

 

 

 

 

20. Watch your toddler enjoy her new “dress”!

 

Now to wait for another sale at the fabric store so I can make Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty aprons…and maybe some other princesses too! 🙂

 

 

 

 

THIS PATTERN IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND NOT FOR SALE.  YOU MAY NOT MAKE ITEMS FOR SALE OR PROFIT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS PATTERN, PLEASE GIVE ME CREDIT BY LINKING TO MY PAGE.