Pantleg Apron

by Christa
(Sweet Home, Oregon USA)

Find a pair of jeans with at least one usable leg(stains or small holes are okay). Generally pants that fit make an apron that fits, but there is some leeway.

You will also need something for the ties. These can be made of wide grosgrain ribbon, or you can make them out of cloth. For an adult size apron, the neck ties are about 20" long, and the waist ones are however long they need to be to make 62" from end to end. These measurements may need to be adjusted, so if you have an apron that fits well you can measure it. 1 1/4" is a good width, so you would cut fabric for cloth ties 3 1/2" wide (for a 1/2" seam allowance).

Cut the pantleg off as high as possible, and cut along the outer seam. The narrow end will be the top. Lay it flat. Cut the bottom edge straight. This is easiest done with a rotary cutter and a quilting ruler, but you can use a yardstick or anything straight and long enough, make a line with a pencil or chalk, and cut with scissors.

For a rougher "fuzzy-edge" look, simply zigzag around the sides and bottom. You could also finish the edge with bias tape which would give it a smoother look otherwise you would fold the sides over about 1/2" (iron it down) and sew.*
If your apron is for a girl and you want a feminine look you can sew a purchased ruffle of any size along the bottom edge (or if you know how you can make your own).

To make the ties, cut rectangles 3 1/2" by desired length plus 1". Fold edges inward 1/2" and iron. Then fold in half lengthwise and iron again. Pin and sew 1/4" from the edge. Attach to apron with zigzag stitch. The top ties don't have to be right on the corners.

For more fun, you can decorate your apron with pockets, patches(can be used to cover holes and stains), rickrack, and a variety of other embellishments.

*Be careful with the corners as they are very thick and tend to jam up the machine if you don't go very slowly (manually turn the wheel and maybe even slightly lift the pressure foot).