Cross Back Apron in Watercolor Linen
Our Cross Back Apron is the perfect cooking accessory: as functional as a paring knife, as useful as a wooden spoon, and as classic as a Bundt pan. For this version we used our gorgeous Watercolor Linen, a lightweight fabric that will stand up to the heat of the kitchen!
Watercolor Linen comes in a beautiful rainbow of semi-solid colors, each one lovelier than the next. Our original Cross Back Apron was in Purl Soho’s Handkerchief Linen, similar to Watercolor Linen but solid in color. We love the new look, complex and wonderfully elegant.
But whichever Linen you choose, our Cross Back Apron is definitely what’s cooking!
Materials
- 1 ¾ yards of Purl Soho’s Watercolor Linen. We used Pink Sand.
- One 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Sewing Thread. We used color 1240.
Update, May 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!
Size
One size fits many.
Pattern
For the free pattern, please visit our original Cross Back Apron story.
Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!
love this pattern — it would make a wonderful gift for foodie friends!
Another winner pattern! Love this – I can’t wait to get started!
This pattern is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thanks.
This is fantastic! You will never bundle a loop again. 🙂
Thank you for the pattern, what a beautiful apron and so easy. I can not wait to get started on them. I am going to make them for my friends using their favorite animals. They have fabric for any ones likes, such as flowers, cats, and dogs. I am excited about getting started.
This will be wonderful gifts for my friends
love this style apron
I could not download the pattern. Can I do this when I buy the material?
Hi Dottie-
You don’t need to buy anything to download this pattern. You can easily download to print or save using the PRINT button! If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find the Print icon in the right margin just below the Save to Favorites button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find the Print icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials.
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
Wow! A classic beauty for any “chef” -at home or in a professional kitchen. Purl Soho delivers, again!
This is just the cutest thing ever! I think I would like to turn it into a summer dress or overalls. I’ll need extra fabric …
What a terrific apron! I am definitely ordering the material but have a question. What are the differences (aside from color choices) between the Watercolor Linen and the Handkerchief Linen? Do you recommend one over the other for durability? Thanks!
Hi Diane-
They are both the same weight and durability. The big difference is that the Watercolor Linen is woven with one color as its warp and another color as its weft, so it has a unique depth of color (and almost iridescence). Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Molly
I am having trouble with the step where I’m to sew the side seams of the pockets and then attach them to the back. First, I attached pocket A to pocket B incorrectly, but figured that out. Now I’m stuck with the directions for attaching (what?) to the back of the apron.
Hi Ouise! Great question!
The first part of the pattern has you create the back pieces. The second part of the pattern has you create the pockets out of pieces A, B, and C. The step you are currently on has you attaching the finished pockets to the back pieces you made in step one!
Let us know if you have any other questions!
Keith
If someone out there is making 2, I would love to buy one… this is exactly what I am looking for – can no longer take the neck strain from regular strap….
Will this apron fit someone who wears a 2X? I’m leery about ordering this lovely fabric & making the apron to find out it doesn’t fit.
Hi Dawn! Thanks for writing in!
As the pattern is sized for “one size fits many” I can tell you – personally, I am not one of those many! Haha! My chest is 46″ and the apron fits snug.
If you are interested in sizing this pattern up, it would be an easy adjustment to widen the “Front” and “Back” panels and extend the straps while maintaining the same dimensions of the pockets. We’d recommend purchasing an extra yard of fabric to give yourself room to play and if you need any help in additional measurements – please let us know!
Thanks for writing in and happy sewing!
Keith
I have a couple of questions. First of all, I am an experienced quilter and bag maker, but I have never made anything else (knee deep in the fine line log cabin quilt right now). This looks like a good project for trying something different. Can I cut this with a rotary cutter? I have never cut fabric with a scissors. Also, I had a problem with the handkerchief linen earlier because it is so fragile and I couldn’t cut it straight. Lots of fray. Any suggestions? Maybe cutting with a scissors is better? Maybe the watercolor linen is a slightly tighter weave?
Hello, Lauren!
Thank you for writing in! You can definitely use a rotary cutter for this pattern. We recommend using a rotary cutter with a clear quilting ruler on a self-healing cutting mat. This will make the long straight cuts much easier and more precise than with scissors. If you don’t have these supplies already, we’ve compiled everything you need in our Rotary Cutting Tool Kit! Also, we recommend starting by cutting the long strap pieces perpendicular to the selvage first, and then cut the strips that run parallel to the selvage next. This way you’ll be working with smaller pieces when going in to make your diagonal cuts.
All linens tend to fray, however the Watercolor Linen cuts a bit cleaner and doesn’t fray quite as much as the Handkerchief Linen. Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best,
Kumeko
This is a wonderful pattern, clear, easy-to-follow instructions make it a one-afternoon project. I have made four of these and they are tucked away for Christmas presents. I especially like the French seams which give the apron a neat, professional look.
If only you had a pattern for men. My SIL loves to cook.
Hi Emma,
Thanks for writing in! All of our apron patterns are unisex! I understand that this design may not work as well for your SIL but may I suggest our Simple Linen Apron. It features and adjustable neck and a tie around the back! Recently, we remade this in watercolor linen but it work well in almost any fabric!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I love this apron. Thanks for sharing.
Just love this apron and am thinking about ordering some your linen, but before I do……how does it hold up when washed? Is there much shrinking? I’m a very “active” cook and my aprons take a beating and are often spattered with my efforts!
Hi Lori,
Thanks for writing in! I find that the fabric holds up quite well. I made a tank top out of it last summer and wore and washed it constantly. I am looking forward to wearing it again this summer and it still looks great. I would suggest washing the fabric as you mean to wash the final piece first as any shrinking will occur on that first washing and subsequent washes should not have much of an effect.
Best,
Cassy
Good morning,
I’m new to sewing and have what may be an overly simplistic question. Does the 1 3/4 yards of fabric listed in the materials include an allowance for the shrinkage that occurs while prewashing the fabric? Or, should extra fabric be purchased, if I will prewash? If the latter is true, is there a general rule for how much fabric will shrink when prewashed?
Thanks,
Jason
Hi Jason,
Great question! If you are using the fabric suggested, the amount listed, is sufficient for the project. Linen, in general, shrinks very little when washed and we have accounted for that in this pattern. There is no rule of thumb for how much fabric shrinks when washed. Some fabrics shrink little or not at all and other fabrics have a shrinkage rate of up to 20%. Generally, when using the fabric suggested for a pattern, the shrinkage is accounted for in the fabric recommended.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I love that this has no ties! They are such a pain!
Thanks for another nifty free pattern!
Thanks for the tutorial! Do you think this would be fine in Daily Linen? Or would the extra weight of that fabric translate into too much bunchiness/stiffness?
Hi Carina,
Thanks for writing in! While our Daily Linen is thicker than the linen used here, I do think that it will work well for this pattern. I have made several pieces of clothing using the Daily Linen and do not find it too bulky. The apron will certainly be a bit more substantial but I think that it will be lovely!
Best,
Cassy
Can this be made without pockets? I’ve never really had a need for any pockets in previous aprons I have used in my kitchen. Can I get away without them?
Hi Diane,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly make this lovely apron without pockets! I think that it would still look quite smart indeed!
Best,
Cassy
Do men enjoy this design or would one with the ties be better?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! We have seen both men and women use these aprons! If your intended recipient does prefer ties, you can try our Simple Linen Apron!
Happy sewing!
Cassy
I used this pattern for my costume in Annie. It is set in the 1930s and I was playing the cook. I got a lot of compliments on it.
How do you put this apron on?
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for writing in! This apron simply slips on over your head!
Best,
Julianna
I just cut out this apron…I bought the indigo Essex and it’s only 42inches wide…I bought extra but I am piecing the straps which is ok but I barely had enough! What amount of fabric should I purchase if using 42 inch – I believe I bought 2 1/4 yards. I wanted the Essex so it wouldn’t wrinkle so much….Thank you!
Hi Lyn,
Thanks for writing in! I’m glad you were able to make it work! After a bit of diagramming on graph paper I think you could comfortably cut everything out of two and a half yards of 42 inch wide fabric without piecing the straps, but it wouldn’t hurt to get two and three quarters or three yards to be on the safe side!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I can not down load the pattern. I have tried to use the print button under the save to favorites but that does not print the pattern.
Hi Lori,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find the full pattern in our original Cross Back Apron story!
Happy sewing!
Julianna
I hope this pattern becomes available once again. I clicked the link for the free pattern but reached a page that said it’s not available. What’s up? Looks like a beautiful project… if only….
Hi Margie,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely pattern is still available! I have fixed the broken link and will include it here for you as well!
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/11/20/cross-back-apron/
Happy sewing,
Cassy
Thanks, Cassy!
This is a nice pattern, but it should come in sizes. It runs very narrow, and doesn’t hang right if the wearer is wider than the model in the picture.
¡Hermoso! ¡Muchas gracias por compartir!
What a great idea! It’s too late to make a couple of them for Christmas baking, but I’ll be ready for next year. Thanks for the pattern.
I’d love to make this beautiful apron. Do you happen to have a printed copy of this pattern available for purchase? Thank you.
Hello MaryLou,
Thank you for reaching out and for your interest in this pattern! Unfortunately, we do not sell printed copies of this pattern.
Best,
Marilla
Hi. Looking at watercolor linen to make this apron. Would I wash it first? If so, is 1.75 yards enough or should I buy more to accomodate shrinkage? Thanks Much!
Hi Cabrini,
Great question! We always recommend prewashing fabric for garments, even aprons, but we do include a bit of overage in our yardage requirements to account for shrinking, so you don’t need to purchase any extra.
Happy sewing!
Julianna
I love this pattern have been searching for this style of apron for ages.
Great instructions!
Very interesting pattern! I’m looking forward to giving it a go. I’d like to be certain that I’m understanding the poskets correctly: Regarding the pockets; When they are complete, Piece A is the outside cover of the pocket, Piece B turns out to be the inside of the pocket with it’s back facing the back of A and it’s front facing the front of C and last but hardly least Piece C is the back of the pocket with it’s front being partially shown at the top but mostly under cover of the front of B. Does that make sense? Am I understanding this correctly?
Hi Marlene,
Thanks for writing in! Yes, it sounds like you’ve got it! This is the same process we use to create the pockets in our Gathered Skirt For All Ages, so you might find it helpful to review the video which can be found about halfway through that pattern.
All the best,
Julianna