Kid's Apron from Reusable Grocery Bag

Ok, as per request, here's how I made this apron. The only reason I'm posting this now, as opposed to, oh I don't know, REAL blog stuff, is I have these pics all on my phone. That's right, you get crappy iPhone pictures. I took some of the finished product on my actual camera, but I usually use my PC for all my photo editing/deleting/organizing/etc. So there.

Anyways, let's give credit where credit is due. I used this reversible toddler/child apron tutorial from Naptime Crafters. I used all the same measurements as she did. The main difference is I used a REUSABLE GROCERY BAG from the Disney store instead of fabric. The main reason for that is I'm hoping it will help repel paint/water/glue, etc from seeping into the apron and getting her clothes underneath. It won't be machine washable, but since it's just plastic (well, mine was, if your reusable bag is fabric you should be able to machine wash it) it just wipes right off.

Some things I did different:

I used two of the four pieces I cut from the top of the apron (you know, to make the 'arm holes'? The pieces that you cut out to make the top skinnier than the sides? Very technical, I know). Anyhoo, I used two of those pieces to make pockets-one on each side. Taking each side separate, I sewed on the pocket, then sewed on some 1/2" ric arc around the edge (melting the ends with a lighter sort of like you would for ribbons so it doesn't fray). I did this to both sides. I had to position the pockets around the big pictures of Minnie and Mickey, so they ended up on different sides (one on the left, one on the right, but right on top of each other when placed back to back). If you just use fabric or a plain/patterned bag, you won't have that problem. Also, make sure to put it at least an inch away from the edge of your fabric, so that when you sew it and then top stitch it, your top stitching doesn't go over the super cute ric rac like mine did :(

Make sure you follow the tutorial all the way up until you sew the two sides together. Don't be like me and forget to add the straps and neck loop on until after and then have to turn it back inside out to finish it.

So I cut the whole thing like the tutorial says, but then when it came time to sew, I added some ric rac in between the seams. Like this:

Here you see I have the right sides of the 'fabric' together, with the ric rac in between. When I sewed this, I put the presser foot right up against the edge of the fabric:

Not sure what kind of seam allowance that is...3/8"? Anyways, close enough for me. You want to place your ric rac as much as you can so that the middle of the ric rac goes right under the needle:

See how it's not right up against the edge? Then just sew it up like anything else. When you get to the hard corners, cut off the ric rac, and turn it so it's now going in the new direction. The raw edges of the ric rac will end up inside so it won't matter. Make sure to leave like a 4" gap to turn this whole apron right side out. Make sure you leave a trail of ric rac the same length of your hole, so you can have it when you go to finish the seam. You don't want to have 4 inches of your apron with no ric rac. Trust me on the size of the hole-reusable bags are thicker and take more space to turn around.

Here is the ric rac from the outside. You notice how the stuff in the middle is 'bigger' than the edges of my strip? That's because when I sewed, the places where you don't see as much ric rac sticking out is where I placed the ric rac too close to the edge of the fabric. Be careful you don't put it too far away from the edge of the fabric, though, or you'll be able to see holes in your ric rac.

After you've turned it right side out, pull on your ric rac to sort of 'iron' it flat. I wouldn't suggest actually ironing it since it's plastic. Then, to close up your hole and finish it, turn the edges of the hole to the inside, making sure to sandwich the tail of ric rac in between the fabric. Top stitch all the way around with like a 1/8" seam allowance to finish. (Don't mind my not-so-straight stitching. This wasn't the actual apron, but a scrap. And I was in a hurry).

And then place on a super cute (and very excited, even if she hates getting pictures taken) model:

Yay! Have fun!