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Instructions

1. To make your pattern, and depending on the child's age, you'll need one big piece of paper, art paper is perfect. My sheet was 18" x 12". If you need bigger, you can tape two pieces of paper together. Grab one of your daughter's shirts/t-shirts and lay it out on the paper, aligned with the edge as shown in the post.
2. Draw a little curve where the arm sits. Don't sweat making it perfect, just a little curve, the arm on the shirt will guide you. Use a ruler to draw an angled straight line, angled out a bit to create a flared A-line bottom for the apron (flare it out or make it as straight as you like!) Draw the line a few inches past the bottom of the shirt. The longer the line, the longer the apron. Cut out your pattern.
3. Iron your fabric before cutting. Align the pattern on the fold of the fabric. Cut one piece each from the apron and liner fabric.
4. Optional pocket: I drew half of a tea-cup-shaped pocket and cut out four pieces on the fold of the fabric. Pin the two pairs, right sides together. Sew all the way around with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a small opening on the bottom. Turn the right side out, and push the corners all the way out. Iron flat, tucking in the bottom opening so that's closed. You will stitch the opening closed when you sew the pocket to the apron.
5. Lay your pockets out on your apron front, align them as you like, and then pin them in place. Sew around the outside edge of the pocket. Use matching thread to stitch the ricrac on the edge of the pocket if desired. Stitch down the center of the ricrac. Trim the ends of the ricrac clean and flush with the edge of the top of the pocket.
6. Use a fabric marker/chalk to mark your opening for both of the ribbon ties starting about 3/4" beneath the arm. Lay your ribbon on the mark as shown to mark the second line for the proper width of the opening, about a 1 1/4" opening for 1" ribbon.
7. Lay your apron front and liner right sides together, align all of the edges, and pin them together. Sew all the way around the apron, starting at the top (you are going to leave the top of the apron open), with a 1/4" seam allowance. Remember not to sew over the tie openings!
8. After you finish sewing around the apron, use a pair of scissors to notch under the open as I did below. This will remove buckling on the seam under the arm when you turn it right side out.
9. Turn the apron right out, and poke out all of the seams points/corners evenly. Iron flat, tucking in the seam on the tie openings and pressing to make an even edge.
10. The length of the ribbon ties depends on the size of your child. I cut mine for my 3T and 5T daughter about the same, 22". Insert each ribbon tie in its opening and pin in place.
11. Sew the opening closed with matching thread in the main spool and bobbin thread for the liner. Trim a clean angled edge on the end of each ribbon tie.
12. BOTTOM: Cut a piece of ricrac a little bit longer than the bottom of the apron. Line the ricrac along the bottom. Using a matching thread, stitch a straight line through the center of the ricrac. Trim the ends of the ricrac even with the apron edge.
13. TOP: Fold the top in 1/4" and press flat. Cut an 18" piece of ribbon for the neck (or the size needed). Insert the ribbon in the top opening and pin in place. Sew around the top 1/8" from the edge. Sew ricrac to the top, using the same steps as the bottom.