How to Make a Pinafore Dress

Hi girls, today I propose a new tutorial: how to make a pinafore dress in DIY overalls starting from an apron for the kitchen! It’s been a few months since I made myself heard on the blog, those who follow me on social media know that I had to give myself other priorities, but now I’m a little more relaxed.

How to make and sew a pinafore dress?

For a few days, I have been looking for the right inspiration, which you know, comes when you least expect it. For me, it was a morning in the office, thanks to a colleague of mine. So I decided to experiment: to make a pinafore starting from a kitchen apron! The result? I love it! For a few years now the apron model pinafore dresses have been in fashion, I find that they are very cute worn with a nice warm sweater! If you like the model, try making one yourself!

Needed:

• kitchen apron with bib;
• woolen cloth;
• overalls hooks;
• sewing supplies;

Place the apron on the table: the bib must measure about 20-22 cm, if it is wider, make a crease and secure it with pins. As for the long part of the apron, it must measure at least how much the width of your hips plus 5 cm of fit divided by 2 (one is the front and one is the back), what does this mean? If your hip size measures 95 cm and the front of your apron is only 40 cm, the dress will never fit in it because 40 cm in front, 40 cm behind are 80 cm and your butt will never go through it. It means that you have taken the wrong steps.

So we always assume 95 cm + 5 cm of fit, and we are 100, we divide by 2 and we are 50 cm. To be super safe, compare with a skirt that suits you. If, on the other hand, the apron is too narrow and does not manage to cover your hips, add the cm you need on the paper tissue (next step). To obtain a flared effect, add 2 cm to the bottom of the dress.

Another important thing to check: you have to remove the same cm on each side, so if on one side you have. For example, removed 3 cm from the sides and on the other side, 7 cm do an average and to remove 5 cm per side. The apron must have the same mirror dimensions. Put the apron folded in half on the paper and copy the outline. If you need to add cm, this is the right time.

At this point, I made a change to the pattern so as not to find myself with a bag-like dress: remove 3 cm at the waist and go to fade to 12 cm (as you can see in the photo), to give the dress a flared effect. Do this only if your waist is narrower than your hips. Then cut out your model.

Place the paper model on the fabric folded in double: the center of the dress must be on the fold. Draw a border for the seams with chalk, 2 cm above the bib, 1 cm along all the sides and 5 cm on the bottom. Cut out. Repeat the same operation for the back of the dress. Keep the cutouts of the neck of the arms. You will need them soon.

Now you will end up with two identical parts, one for the front, one for the rear. The next step is to shrink the bib on the back. Set the front aside and take the back. On the edge of the bib, mark 6 cm on each side, then position the cutouts of the neckline of the arms and draw the edges with chalk.

Join the two pieces of the front and back dress with a seam along the sides. Try the dress and if it seems too loose tighten with other seams. Then sew the side edges of the neck of the arms and finally sew the edge of the bib and the edge of the skirt of the length you prefer.

From the scraps of fabric made half oval and sew it to the front bib. My fabric was too thick to crease all the edges, so I finished the zigzag stitch edges, left the cut alive except for the straight top edge. Sew all around with a topstitch.

Take the measurements for the length of the shoulder straps of the dress. The shoulder straps must be wide enough to pass through the overalls and longer than about 6 cm. Sew the straps on the back of the dress, then thread the hooks.

Fasten the snaps on the front of the dress just below the top edge about 3 cm from the side. Give a stretch and finished dress!!!! If you like you can add pockets on the sides, I think it is a perfect model to use even in spring, maybe with nice light denim fabric.