Sassy Bags and Rags: Denim Pant Leg Apron Tutorial

Ha!

Pant Leg = Apron

I am trying to think this through..........

I guess it is possible.

So, I went to the thrift store and bought the biggest pair of Levis I could find. I just couldn't see how one leg of a skinny jean could be made into an apron. So, I thought the bigger the better. And in a way, I was right.....maybe.

This is how the project finished. (I always like to to start at the end)

First, I laid out my jeans and cut the leg off - up as high as I could go. (This may have been a big guy but he was plenty short)

Just one leg here.......see how short it is. But it all works out.

Cut the leg open to create one big flat piece. But leave both seams in tact. Also, see the bottom of the leg. The hem is still in pretty good shape. That will be the top of the apron so you want it to be pretty.

Get out your seam ripper and detach one of the pockets. Cut off the top bulky seams at the top. You are going to cover it later.

About 2 inches from the sides on the top of the neck, cut an angle down to to where you want the waist to be. I went pretty much straight down and then curved over. I didn't want to mess with cutting my trim on the bias so I kept my lines pretty straight. You can angle it more if you don't mind doing the bias thing.

I just wanted it simple.

Find some cute fabric to bind it all together with.

My binding trim for the bottom and lower sides - I cut 4 1/2 inch strips, folded over each long side 1/4 inch and ironed. Then I folded it in half the long way, RST, and ironed again to make a 2 inch double sided binding.

First, I slid it on the bottom edge of the apron fitting it into the 2 inch binding. I sewed this 1/8 inch from the edge and 1/4 inch from the edge. If you have ironed your binding exactly in half, you will be catching both sides of the binding as you sew. You don't have to worry about the raw edges of the apron and binding. You will cover that with the lower side binding, which comes next.

With the same 2 inch double sided binding that you made, sew it to the lower sides like you did on the bottom. At the very bottom, fold in the binding, before you sew it, to make a nice finished edge. Double stitch the edged just like you did on the bottom. But this time double stitch the bottom edge to close it off. (like in the picture below) Once again you don't have to worry about finishing the binding at the waist because you will cover it later.

This is where I would hold up the apron to you to see where you would like the top to come. Measure from the top of the apron around your neck to the other top side of the apron. Make sure you can slide your head in freely. This is how much binding you will leave free when you sew the upper side binding on.

This binding is cut at 2 1/2 inch strips. It is prepared the same way that you prepared the wider binding. Fold under each long side 1/4 inch, iron. Then fold in half the long way, RST, and iron. You now have a double sided 1 inch binding. Depending on how long you need your binding to be, you may have to sew 2 strips together.

Start sewing this binding on the side from the waist up, around the neck, then down the other side. You don't have to finish the ends again because they will be covered. Make sure you do the two rows of top stitching. Don't forget to go around the neck with the topstitching. This closes it all off.

Now, we are going to tackle the waist ties. Here you use the wide (2 inch) binding strips again. Decide how long you want them. I do one strip the width of the fabric and cut it in half.

I wanted my tie to be at an angle. Work with the part where you join it to the apron. I wanted to cover up both raw edges of the bindings on the sides. Slide the binding on and fold back the end till you get it how you want it. This will give you a finished edge. Then top stitch it all down, including the free end. I went all around on all four sides.

I used the same 2 inch binding to finish the pocket. Then I sewed the pocket on, following the same stitching lines as the original pocket.

It is done!

But remember how I said that I used the biggest pair of jeans I could find??? The bottom of the apron flairs a bit. And I like that. But the top seems a little wide and gapes open when I put it on. I don't like that.

Here is how I fixed it. About 2 inches from each original seam and about an inch and a half from the top, I sewed an elastic to the back to gather it. I sewed the elastic to one end and sewed a casing with a zig-zag stitch. Then I sewed the elastic on the other end.

It makes a wonderful gather.