Inspire your little ones to get creative in the kitchen with their very own toddler apron and oven mitt. This easy sewing project will enhance your toddler’s pretend play as a master chef or griller.
Our Mr. Man loves to play with his KidKraft kitchen set and Step 2 Grill. So naturally, for Christmas last year, Mimi had to make him an apron and matching oven mitt for each. This is a super easy sewing project.
Find some fun patterned fabric. I used a hamburger and hot dog print for the grilling apron, and a fun breakfast foods print for the kitchen apron. To coordinate, I picked blue and red solid fabric and red quilted fabric for the oven mitts. I trimmed the oven mitts with the coordinating print.
Now, Mr. Man helps mommy in the big kitchen too. For messy projects, this apron will make the jump to the real kitchen just as well. See Toddlers in the Kitchen: learning through cooking for more great sensory learning experiences.
Supplies You Will Need
- 1/2 yard of fun print cotton fabric
- 3/4 yard of solid cotton fabric in a coordinating color
- 1/2 yard of medium weight fusible interfacing
- coordinating thread
- A 2-3 inch piece of Velcro fastener
- Printable pattern here
The How To For the Apron
- Following the instructions on the pattern, cut all of the needed pieces.
- Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the patterned material following the manufacturer’s directions.
Pockets
- Turn under a 1/2 inch hem on the top of the Pocket. Press and stitch to finish the top.
- Place the Pocket on the printed apron front, matching bottom edges with right sides facing up. Pin in place.
- If using the optional top pocket, turn under a 1/2 inch hem on the top of the Top Pocket. Press and stitch to finish the top. Press under a 1/4 inch on each side. Pin to right side of Apron Front in the desired location. Stitch around the sides and bottom edges of the Top Pocket. Note: If personalizing the Top Pocket, be sure to do so before stitching to the Apron Top.
Neck Straps and Waist Ties
- Fold under 1/4 inch on the long sides of each strap and tie piece. Fold in half, press, and stitch close to the edge the length of each strap and tie piece. Press flat.
- Pin one raw edge of each neck strap piece to the right side of the print fabric at the upper corners leaving just enough room from the side edge so that the strap will not get caught in the side seam (about 5/8 inch).
- Pin one end of each waist tie to the right side of the printed front at the apron side approximately 5/8 inch down from the side corner. Pin in place.
- Gather the straps and ties to the middle of apron to avoid getting them caught in the side seams when stitching.
Put it All Together
- Place solid apron back, right sides together, on top of front, pocket, and ties. The pocket, neck straps, and ties will now be inside the two apron pieces. Pin the two apron pieces together.
- Stitch around the apron in a 1/2 inch seam allowance leaving an opening at the bottom for turning.
- Turn the aprons right side out. Press all edges. Stitch around the apron again close to the edge to finish and close the opening.
- Finish the ends of the neck straps and waist ties by folding under a 1/4 inch hem and stitching.
- Add Velcro to the last 2-3 inches of the neck strap pieces to make it adjustable.
How To For the Mitt
- Place the two Oven Mitt pieces right sides together. Pin to secure.
- Stitch around the Oven Mitt in a 1/2 inch seam allowance leaving the bottom open.
- Press under 1/4 inch on each long edge of the binding piece. Fold the binding in half lengthwise and press.
- Beginning at one of the seams, pin the binding to the lower edge of the Oven Mitt placing the raw edge of the Mitt inside the fold of the binding.
- Overlap the unfinished edge of the binding slightly at the seam folding under 1/4 inch, trim if necessary, to cover the unfinished edge of the binding.
- Stitch the binding to the Oven Mitt close to the edge of the binding, making sure to catch both inside and outside edges.
Final Thoughts
This is a project that you can be super creative with and have a ton of fun! I was able to use the embroidery section of my machine to personalize Mr. Man’s kitchen apron with his name. This will also help when Mini Man is old enough to have his own apron. There won’t be any arguments when they each have their own.
For the grilling apron, I was able to download and use a cute charcoal grill design from embroidery.com. A baking apron with a personalized rolling pin, or other kitchen utensils would also be adorable. I think it is time to make some more. Mini Man will be big enough before I know it!
I would love to hear your comments and ideas for aprons for your little ones!
Explore other projects in My Sewing Passion, find great sensory ideas with You’re Only Young Once, or just relax with Lake Life posts.