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The Maria Wrap Apron Reversible Tutorial

How to Make a Reversible Maria Apron

I’ve seen some lovely reversible  Maria Wrap Aprons appearing by way of the growing band of happy #mavenmakers. I’m so delighted to see your makes and you’re a very creative bunch!

I’ve had many-a-request for a tutorial of how to make a reversible version. It’s not too complicated, and as with most things there is always more than one way to do it, but this is the method I found the easiest.  Do feel free to share your process…I’m all about an easy make!

The Maria Wrap Apron Reversible Tutorial

Arm yourself with the original instructions – to keep this tutorial shorter you’ll need to refer back to them for the full maker instructions.

Be sure to use the seam allowances as stated in the instructions.

CUTTING OUT: we are making Version A of The Maria Apron in this tutorial.

  • Use the FRONT (pattern piece 1)
  • BACK (pattern piece 2),
  • POCKET (pattern piece 7) 
  • TOP STRAP PATTERN (pattern piece 3)
  • DO NOT cut understraps or facings.

CUT 1 set for body A in fabric choice 1 (I’ve used a striped ticking from Ditto fabrics)

Cut 1 set for body B in fabric choice 2 (ideally equal in weight and density to fabric A, so one fabric doesn’t show through the other when reversed.)

*Please forgive my fabric choice 2…I’m currently working on a ‘use fabric from the stash policy only’ or I end up wasting days looking for the ‘perfect’ cloth. So my reversible apron is less reversible, more lined and without pockets in calico.

FACINGS: do not cut in fabric, ONLY cut 1 set in fusible interfacing (I made mine 2cm narrower than the pattern)

UNDERSTITCHING: in the instructions when it tells you to understitch, DON’T – doesn’t apply to a reversible one.

OVERLOCKING/NEATENING OF SEAMS:  They’ll all be enclosed between the two layers so don’t bother. YAY!

Don’t forget to press as you go, that’s my very TOPPIEST TIP for a professional looking garment.

Test your topstitching tension, it’s going to need to look good on both sides of your garment.

STEP 1: INTERFACING

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorial

Fuse the interfacing onto the wrong side of one of your fabrics, doesn’t matter which one, but I’d advise doing a little test first to make sure it doesn’t show through on your fabric (it really showed through on my calico).

Follow the instructions and make up bodies A + B of the Aprons, complete with pockets. Don’t overlock or neaten the seams, they’ll all be enclosed so as I said before, there is no point!

STEP 2: MAKE THE STRAPS

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorial

Make up the straps (one A + one B for each strap) and turn through. This is where we deviate from the instructions…don’t understitch the straps. Normally you’d want those seams to sit to the underside of your strap (that’s why there is an understrap pattern, it’s slightly smaller so the seams roll to the underneath) but as we are doing a reversible one it needs to look good from both sides, so our seam is now going to sit exactly on the side, neither to the front OR the back. Practise on your straps – you’ve got to do the same on the armhole in a minute. Topstitch your straps, neatly does it, remember it’s going to show on both sides.

STEP 3: ARMHOLE

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorial

Place body A + body B with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER (RST), use a 6mm seam allowance and stitch together at the armholes only. Turn back to the right side, so the seam allowance is enclosed and press.

STEP 4: ATTACH STRAPS 

Follow the instructions and attach the straps to body A. Just check they’re correct before you continue, you’ll thank me if you’ve got it wrong. All good? Great, let’s carry on then…

STEP 5: FRONT NECKLINE

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorial

With RST pin and then stitch A + B together. Cut off the bulk in the corners (as described in the instructions), turn back to the right side and press neckline flat.

STEP 6: BACK AND HEM

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorial

With RST again, pin the backs together at the top edges (where the straps are placed) and then continue to pin down the back and all around the hem, make sure you line up the side seams.

Here’s the (not-so) secret to bagging out a fully lined/reversible garment, leave an opening to turn everything through – you are literally going to pull the whole apron through it after stitching to turn it to the right side. If you are just lining a garment (rather than making it reversible) I’d suggest leaving an opening on the side seam as it won’t show at all when you are wearing it. But, as this is reversible and has pockets that sit over the side seam, I’ve gone with leaving an opening on the back seam. It’s a personal choice thing…I could have just as easily left an opening at the hem.

Machine stitch A + B together, use the seam allowances stated in the instructions. Don’t forget to leave the opening on one side – mine is about 12cm long. Press your seam.

STEP 7: TRIM & PRESS

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorialTrim away the excess seam allowance at the hem and around the curve so it will lie flat when turned through to the right side.

Turn the apron to the right side by pulling it through the opening. Now take your time and press the seam where you have joined A + B together, again you want that seam to sit exactly on the side so it neither favours A or B.

STEP 8: FINISH!

Maven Patterns: The Maria Wrap Apron reversible tutorial

Close the opening with a slip stitch, you shouldn’t be able to see your stitching when you’ve finished. Now you can topstitch around your Apron (all in the instructions). Personally, I left that stage off…

A: because I liked the look of my apron without it and

B: because my machine was in a bad mood, and I hate ropey topstitching so quit while I was ahead.

So that’s it, a fully reversible (or just fully lined) apron!

Off you go then….get stitching!

18 thoughts on “The Maria Wrap Apron Reversible Tutorial

  1. Thank you for sending instructions for a reversible apron. After finding your wrap apron pattern, my final goal was to make a reversible version. I have completed a non-reversible apron and absolutely LOVE it. The style and fit was exactly what I wanted. I am looking forward to completing a reversible apron for myself before making some for family members. Your design is wonderful. Instruction detail like yours is hard to find today. Thanks. JK

    1. I’m so pleased you love your apron! x

  2. Perfect timing! Have my fabrics washed, ironed and ready to cut out. Fingers crossed it turns out as well as I’m hoping for. Thank you so much for preparing this tutorial! Jen

    1. No problem Jen, I’m looking forward to seeing your apron! x

  3. OK – I’m just about finished with my reversible (lined really cause no pockets on the other side) apron. I guess I thought I would be able to slide my arm in and wrap it around, but I guess you must pull over your head – is that correct, or have I messed my straps up?

    1. Hi Lynn,
      Well done!
      Because the straps are fixed you do need to pull it on over the head, the straps should lay flat then.
      If you’ve lined it with a cotton fabric like I have, rather than a slippy lining, you may need to pull the apron down and arrange the straps so you’re comfy as the cotton doesn’t ‘slide’ over clothes like a lining fabric does.
      Sharon.

  4. How do I get this pattern?

    1. Hi! You can purchase this pattern from my Etsy store as a PDF download to print at home.
      https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/229862879/the-maria-wrap-apron-pdf-sewing-pattern

  5. […] Etsy and Shop Fog Linen), so much as it is about the pinafore style. There are a metric fuckton of free pinafore / Japanese-style apron / “Maria apron” patterns online, so this is both a chance to craft AND stay clean while crafting in the future.  Sculptors […]

  6. Have only done the toile so far – decades since I sewed! And not (yet) doing a reversible one, but impressed with the fashion industry terms I’ve learned and also the fit. I’m short-waisted and was convinced I’d have to make fiddly alterations, but at the moment the toile looks great! Really looking forward to getting the final fabric – I thought a lightweight denim?
    Thank you for your thoroughness (though I did haver a bit of trouble fixing the straps on correctly).

    Mo

    1. A lightweight denim would be perfect! I’m so glad you are enjoying the process. I will add a tutorial with photos for the straps to my To-do Tutorial list, it may help as I think some people prefer photos over illustrations.

  7. Can you just send me the pattern don’t have a printer

    1. Hi Vicki, We now have the pattern in paper format in our Etsy shop:https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/567532667/the-maria-wrap-apron-sewing-pattern (the pattern itself isn’t reversible, you’ll need to follow the tutorial to do that)
      Mrs M x

  8. Do I iron on the interfacing to all pieces of the apron pattern or just certain pieces?

  9. How much fabric does this call for?

    1. Hi Lynn!
      The apron takes 1.6m of fabric (150cm wide) unlined and I’d allow an extra 1m for the lining.

  10. What size is the pattern?

    1. Hi Jane,
      it’s small – X large, but you can see the full size chart in the listing photos.

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