Whether you’re a beginner sewer or an expert seamstress, you’ll love this easy Men’s Dress Shirt Apron tutorial! Transform an old shirt into a sweet, feminine apron so you can look cute while you cook!
Okay folks, this post is WAY outside of my comfort zone, so bear with me! Sewing is not my strong suit, and I only started teaching myself how to sew a little over a year ago. You won’t find fancy sewing techniques or detailed sewing vocabulary in this tutorial, but you WILL find how even a beginner sewer can tackle a super cute project like this! Sound good? Okay!
Earlier this week I showed you the new shelf in my kitchen and how I decorated it on a budget… Did you check it out? It has wooden pegs underneath the shelf that are perfect for holding kitchen towels, pot holders, and yes, an apron! While browsing our weekly Time to Sparkle link party, I found a stunning apron tutorial from Sugar Beans and knew it was meant to be. This adorable apron had to be mine!
First I needed to find a men’s dress shirt. My hubby probably wouldn’t be too happy if I took a pair of scissors to any of his shirts, so I swung by Goodwill to pick one up. I found this pretty blue striped shirt in excellent condition for only $2.15! Extra large shirts work best.
I started by cutting off the back and arms from the shirt, leaving the collar attached to the front.
I cut right up to the seams but left them intact so I wouldn’t have to hem or have any loose edges. I like to take the easy route whenever I can, especially when it comes to sewing!
Once you cut off the back, your collar should now look like this:
Next I folded the collar up and using a ruler, made a line from the bottom of the armpit to the top of the shoulder.
To make sure both sides were even, I buttoned the shirt all the way up and folded it in half. I used pins to hold the fabric in place and cut along the line. Then I opened the shirt back up and hemmed along the raw edges I just cut on both sides.
To make the ties for the apron, I cut two 4″ wide strips from the back of the shirt. I turned the two long edges under and sewed, then I folded the strip in half and sewed it closed. I cut one end of each tie on the diagonal and hemmed.
Then I attached the straight edge of the ties to the sides of the apron and backstitched several times for reinforcement. Now the main part of the apron is done!
To dress the apron up a bit, I followed Sugar Bean’s advice and cut the cuff off one of the arms and sewed it on the front of the apron for a pocket. I also cut another 4″ strip from the back and sewed a ruffle onto the bottom of the apron. It really gave the apron a finished look and added a ton of girly charm! I just LOVE it!!
Remember how I said this is WAY out of my comfort zone? Try modeling an apron in heels while photographing yourself using a tripod in your backyard with road construction crews driving by every 2 minutes… Yeah, this was a challenge! But I love the way the apron turned out, and I think these pictures turned out pretty cute too! What do you think… am I a model? HA!
This whole project only cost me the price of a thrift store shirt, and I cannot wait to make more! Christmas presents maybe?
I am so proud of myself for tackling this sewing project, and now my pretty new apron proudly hangs on my kitchen shelf!
Whether you’re a novice or an expert, you can easily tackle this apron too! Hope you enjoy this project, your weekend, and my awkward modeling : )
Thanks again to Sugar Beans for inspiring me!
More projects from my kitchen:
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P.S. I’m sharing this post at some awesome link parties… Check them out HERE!
You are looking so awesome in this apron and color compatibility is so awesome.
http://www.apparelnbags.com/mens-t-shirt-cotton.htm
Love it ! I’m loving this whole process of the kitchen coming together…and you are too cute in your new apron! 🙂
LOVE it! And you make it look so simple!
Oh this is so cute! I love your refashion and I’m going to add this to my list of to-dos cuz I’ve been posting refashions on my site also! Found you through Craftgawker, right by my post and now I’m a follower! HelloHydrangea.com
Cute apron!! I’ve linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-apron-from-a-mans-button-up-shirt/2013/08/19/
–Anne
This is so cute! I love it. I love refashions!! I would LOVE for you to share this at “That’s My Style” Link Party this FRIDAY! I hope to see you there. 🙂
Karla @ http://www.MySerendipitousLife.com
Cute, cute, CUTE!!! I don’t think you’re allowed to call yourself a beginner sewer anymore because this is just way too awesome! 😉 I popped over from A Bowl Full of Lemons–thanks for sharing!
~Abby =)
This is gorgeous! So feminine. Love your photos too. I’m sure the construction guys didn’t mind 🙂
Adorable! The apron and the photos! Found you through Home Stories A to Z linky party. ~Ann at Tarnished Royalty
great job! think I might have to make myself one.
Great job!! think I’ll have to make one for myself.
This is TOO cute! I’d love for you to link it up on my DIY Weekend feature!
mrandmrswinslett.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-weekend.html
Love that!!! I need a new and cute apron…
Love this! Hubby’s got about 5 shirt sitting in the basement that he doesn’t wear. May have a new project. Hope you stop by Friday’s Five Features again and link up this post! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-5.html
Love this idea! Sooo fun!
How adorable are YOU?!? Loving this. And I love the whole tripod scene…so funny!!
That is SO adorable!! I love it 😉
You are too cute too! (Glad to see you still have your rustic “background!”)
Oh my gosh! You are the cutest! I love your fun barn backdrop! And I think you totally need to add sewing to your list of talents because this looks awesome!!
This apron is adorable and so are you!!! Love it!
Very cute and thrifty idea!! And you make a great model! 🙂
What a great project! A very classy way to cook:)
I think I will try one sleeve as a pocket and the other sleeve to wipe my hands with…Love the apron!
Very cute!! And so are the pics! Hey, look at it this way, you gave those guys a little entertainment and I’m sure, brightened their day!! 😉 Ellie
Liz,
Thank you so much for sharing! You make a great model and this apron is adorable. Perfect gift for a hostess, holiday, house-warming, birthday, and just because!
Cheers,
Marie
My Dad just passed away a few weeks ago, I decided to make aprons for my sister, niece and I from his dress shirts as a memory of him. Thanks for posting this, your apron looks great, just what I was looking for 🙂
Colleen
Thank you for a very good tutorial! I made 5 for Christmas and a friend wants 7 for his mother and her friends in a rest home. One was made with a boy’s blue shirt and I put eyelet on the bottom of the ruffle for youngest granddaughter . I had seen the ones without the pocket and ruffle at a craft bazaar earlier this month.
You are so welcome! It sounds like you’ve been a busy seamstress lately! What a sweet handmade gift for your friends and family. I bet they look lovely! Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed the tutorial I shared. It made my day! Happy holidays!
I picked up a thrift store shirt yesterday to make this adorable apron. You did a wonderful job on yours. Onward and upward to other exciting projects. You’ve got what it takes.
Hi Sharon! I’m so glad you enjoyed the project! I bet yours will turn out beautifully. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Thank you so much for sharing! You make a great model and this apron is adorable.
Wow!! Such a simple yet brilliantly effective way of making it out of the shirt!! Feel very inspired,, digging out my sewing box right now!! 🙂
That makes me so happy! Have fun sewing! 🙂
Ive seen these done a few different ways but yours is my favorite. I have some shirts I love but never wear and a few of my hubbys that I really like but he dosent wear anymore, so Ill be using you pattern to make them into something Ill use.Thanks for posting this cant wait to get them started 🙂
That’s great, Carole! Those old dress shirts really do make beautiful aprons. Enjoy your sewing time! 🙂
Really, really cute, but I don’t know a person in my family 22 and counting that wear an apron to cook. Kind of old school.
That is true! I don’t always wear one, but on days when I have a nice outfit on or I’m making something especially messy, it really helps!
I have been wanting to tackle this type of apron for a while now and for about a year I’ve only found Russian instructions. So glad I found yours and the link to Sugar Beans. I can’t wait to try it, and I like you, am not huge in sewing. I just don’t do it, however I’ve been sewing a bit recently… an azuma bukuro bag and some cute little drawstring bags. I have to start somewhere. And since my apron is almost worn through, I have to try this.
The heels and apron look so cute. I’d totally be happy with the self portraits (I know how difficult that can be as well.)
I’m so glad you found this tutorial, Katie! I’m sure learning to sew in Russian wouldn’t be very fun. 🙂 Enjoy the new apron!
My father passed away in Sept, this year for Christmas my niece and my sister in law made an apron for all my sister’s and the granddaughters out of some of father’s shirts. Best gift ever.
That is so sweet, Debbie! What a great way to remember and honor him!
I am definitely going to try this. Your instructions were great!
I have been sewing my whole life and you did a great job with this. SUPER cute idea!
Thank you so much, Vicki! That means the world to me. 🙂
I have been wearing an old shirt of my husbands for my craft work and really looking messy. Now I am going to change it to look like this and start really looking good instead.
Thank you.
PS. I wonder if he will miss his evening dress shirts? hmmm
I think you did an excellent job and yes you are very cute in your modeling pictures can’t wait to make some for me
Thand you for this awesome idea. My brother died last year and was a huge Monopoly fan. A friend made him a Monopoly shirt he wore all the time. After his death, my sister-in-law gave me a sack of his clothes, knowing I’m a bit creative and asked if I wanted to do something with them. I can’t wait to make her this apron as a Christmas gift this year. If I hurry, I’ll make one for his daughter as well.
That is such a sweet idea! I bet they would love a special gift like that. 🙂
Hi Liz,
I truly love your repurposed apron!! You did a wonderful job and I can’t wait to make one!!!! I love the idea of getting your shirt from Goodwill too. By the way, the one thing that set your apron apart from the rest was that wonderful pocket. That was like the candles on the cake for me. Thank you for sharing your apron, the easy to follow; no frills directions and great pictures of what you were doing! You are one very creative person!
please send me the men shirt apron idea
This is so cute! I made one for myself 🙂 Thanks for the great tutorial.
https://vegetablog.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/dress-shirt-apron/