Cooking in Style: Free Apron Sewing Patterns Online

Don't sacrifice style when using an apron to protect your clothing while cooking. Here are ten free apron sewing patterns you can find online that will keep you cooking in style.

When cooking for a party or large dinner, have you worn your nice outfit while cooking because you knew you wouldn't have time to change before your guests arrived? How many times have you had to change anyway because you couldn't avoid the cooking mess ending up on your outfit? If you avoided using an apron in the past because you thought they didn't look nice enough for guests, think again. These 10 free online apron sewing patterns can be worn in front of guests and conveniently removed prior to your get-together.

Reversible Scalloped Apron at Warehouse Fabrics Inc
This half apron is elegant and stylish. Being reversible, you can use two contrasting fabrics giving two different looks depending on your outfit or the occasion.

Materials Needed: 1½ yards each main fabric and lining fabric, thread, scissors, sewing machine, clear ruler, iron and computer printer for pattern pieces.

Difficulty: Easy. The pattern pieces can be printed right from your home computer on regular paper. There are links for each piece of the pattern.

Box Pleat Apron at instructables.com
This apron looks elegant and simple with box pleats on the lower half. Although the pattern calls for a print fabric, make a classier look with solid fabric and contrasting bias trim.

Materials Needed: 1 yard of 60 inch wide fabric, 1 package double fold bias binding, 2 types of straight pins, thread, sewing machine, scissors, measuring tape and an iron.

Difficulty: I would consider this apron pattern to be intermediate to difficult, as you have to draw your own bib, or upper part of the apron. The sewing is not as difficult, whether using a machine or sewing by hand.

Ripply Apron Vintage 1951 at Tipnut
This vintage-look apron has a class and style that transcends time with contrasting trim, angled waist and tie back.

Materials Needed: ¾ yard of 36" printed cotton fabric, 3½ yards of bias cotton skirt facing in contrasting color, thread, scissors, ruler and sewing machine. Although the pattern doesn't say, you may need a pattern grid and pattern paper since pattern is shown on a grid diagram.

Difficulty: I'd say this is an intermediate pattern. You have to draw the pattern yourself from a grid diagram. Making the pleats shouldn't be too difficult, as you just pleat to match the notches.

Vintage Pillowcase Half Apron at Whoopsie Daisies Days
This simple and classic look of this half apron is exemplified with the lower rick rack trim and pockets with wrap around front tie.

Materials Needed: 1 vintage pillowcase, 2- 6" x 19" pieces of fabric, 2 - 2½" x 40" pieces of fabric for ties; vintage-look trim, such as rick rack; thread, sewing machine, straight pins, iron, rotary cutter and mat, clear ruler and scissors.

Difficulty: The pattern says this is easy. With directions given in measurements, it's not too hard to understand There are also pictures shown for several of the steps.

Cosmopolitan Half Apron at Leisure Arts
Another classy half apron, this one with dots and stripes for a stylish fashion statement.

Materials Needed: 5/8 yard of 44" wide cream stripe fabric, ¼ yard of 44" wide turquoise print fabric, 3 yards of 1½" grosgrain or satin ribbon, a 10" plate for pattern, a 4" cup for pattern, thread, scissors, measuring tape, sewing machine and iron.

Difficulty: Easy. Instructions are listed and clear measurements are given.

Holiday Half Apron at Martha Stewart
The eyelet material gives a fancy look to this half apron. Pockets that look like Christmas gifts may be changed or skipped for less of a holiday look.

Materials Needed: sewing machine, ruffle foot, thread, fabric, scissors, 21" x 45" piece of eyelet material, 2½ yards of 2" grosgrain ribbon, pins, pocket curve template tool and iron.

Difficulty: Easy. The hardest part would be using the ruffle foot on your sewing machine if you've never done that before. There is also a video on the webpage.

Table Scrap Pin Up Apron at CraftStylish
This full apron is made with fancy cloth napkins and table mats. The pleats give a classic look. How fancy it looks depends on the pattern of the materials used.

Materials Needed: 2 cloth napkins, 1 matching place mat, thread, pins, iron, sewing machine and ½ yard of coordinating fabric for the ties. I would recommend also purchasing a wide width of trim to cover the area where the top meets the bottom for a more finished look.

Difficulty: Easy. There is really no measuring as you will only need to cut off seams and cut pieces in half.

Ruffle Valentine Half Apron at Morgan Moore
This is a nice and stylish apron if you like ruffles. Use different materials for a fancier look.

Materials Needed: 1 - 15½" x 20½" piece of fabric for apron back, 4 - 6½" x 33½" pieces of fabric for ruffles, 2 - 4½" x 24½" pieces of fabric for apron strings, 1 - 4½" x 20½" piece of fabric for apron band, thread, scissors, sewing machine, ruler and iron.

Difficulty: Easy to intermediate, depending on how easy it is for you to gather material when sewing.

Seersucker Vintage Half Apron
This simple yet elegant half apron stands the test of time.

Materials Needed: 1 yard of 36" wide striped seersucker fabric, 9 yards of rick rack, thread, scissors, sewing machine, ruler and iron.

Difficulty: Easy.

Barrister Apron at Baum Textile
The clean lines of this full apron can be elegant or classy depending on the fabric you choose.

Materials Needed: Poster board to make pattern, pencil, scissors, fabric (according to instructions), sewing machine, thread, ruler and iron.

Difficulty: Intermediate. You will need to follow the instructions to make your own pattern and to figure out how much material you will need.

APRON LINKS:

Robyn Vines Smith; Reversible Scalloped Apron; Warehouse Fabrics Inc

tumblinblocks; Box Pleat Apron; Instructables.com

Ripply Apron Vintage 1951; Tipnut from Woman's Day 1951

whoopsiedaisiesgal; Vintage Pillowcase Half Apron

L.A. Staff; Cosmopolitan Half Apron; Leisure Arts

Martha Stewart; Holiday Half Apron

Shannon Dennis; Table Scrap Pin Up Apron; Craft Stylish

Morgan Moore; Ruffle Valentine Half Apron; One More Moore

Seersucker Vintage Half Apron; Tipnut from The Canadian Spool Cotton Company 1945

Megan Avery; Barrister Apron; Baum Textile