I had this pretty midi floral skirt sitting in my stash — the fabric was lovely, but the skirt itself was a little beat up. The zipper was broken, and there were a few small tears that made it unwearable as-is. But instead of tossing it, I decided to give it new life… and turn it into a handmade apron!
(Full disclaimer I’m a horrible sewer but it still turned out! So if I can do this you can too!)
This was a no-pattern project, and I made it up as I went along — it’s easy, forgiving, and a great way to upcycle something worn but beautiful. Here’s how I did it:
✂️ Step 1: Cutting the Skirt
I started by cutting down the two side seams of the skirt — this gave me one large front panel, which became the bottom half of my apron. Since the skirt was already hemmed, that saved me time!
Then I flipped to the back of the skirt and cut a smaller rectangle — that became my apron top. I just eyeballed the size to fit comfortably across my chest.
🧵 Step 2: Assembling the Apron
Next, I sewed the smaller top rectangle to the larger bottom skirt panel. It already looked like an apron!
I had enough fabric leftover to cut a simple pocket, which I stitched onto the front. Easy and useful — I love a pocket on an apron!
🎀 Step 3: Adding the Ties
To tie the apron, I used a different fabric that coordinated nicely with the floral print. I cut long strips and sewed them into ties:
Two for the waist, attached at either side of the apron. Two for the neck, sewn at the top corners so I could tie it behind my neck.
The contrast fabric added a sweet little detail without overpowering the floral pattern.
✨ Step 4: The Finishing Touch
To add a bit more charm, I dug into my button stash and found two larger buttons that matched the floral tones. I sewed them onto the top corners — right where the neck ties are — just as a decorative accent.
And that’s it! The apron turned out so sweet. You’d never know it started as a damaged skirt.
💡 Why I Love This Project
It gave new life to a garment that otherwise would’ve been thrown away. I didn’t need a pattern — just some scissors, thread, and a bit of creativity. It’s fully customized and one-of-a-kind. And best of all… it’s functional! I’ll be wearing it in the kitchen, in the garden, and probably during crafting days too.
If you have an old skirt lying around — especially one with a pretty print — don’t toss it. Turn it into something you’ll actually use and love. 💕
Have you ever made something new from old clothes? Tell me about it in the comments!
Dandychandee 