20 Vintage & Retro Apron Sewing Patterns

October 2, 2022September 8, 2022 by Staff Writer

Contents list:

1600, 1700, Victorian, and Edwardian era
1920s
1930s
1940s & 1950s
1960s & 1970s

1600, 1700, Victorian, and Edwardian era aprons:

In the late 1600s, half-aprons (below the waist) were common and had ornate embroidery.

In the 1700s, “pinner” aprons were popular. They had a long gathered skirt tied at the waist and a square bib. The bib was pinned between the shoulders, not held up by straps.

Both styles (pinner and half aprons) continued to be popular during the mid-1800s. At this point, the American civil war had begun (1861-1865) and shoulder straps were introduced to make aprons more practical.

In Britain, the Victorian era (1837 – 1901) and Edwardian era (1901 – 1910) saw aprons used for both utility and fashion purposes.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11).

1860s Civil War / Victorian Era Work or Pinner Apron

Buy now from Daisy Viktoria – $9.99

Sizes: Standard size with instructions on how to adjust the pattern if needed.
Design: 1860s Pinner style work apron. Full, gathered front skirt. Bib pinned onto the front of your bodice. Wide waistband with large ties that form a bow tie at the back. Perfect for historical costume or reenactment events.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, cotton lawn, calico or light linen.
Format: A 12-page tutorial booklet with photographic instructions on how to cut and sew the apron.
Suitable for beginners? Yes, suitable for a confident beginner as it’s a very simple style. Some techniques like gathering and attaching a waistband can be tricky for a complete beginner.

“B5509” Historical Full-Length and Waist Aprons

Buy now from Something Delightful – $3.99

Sizes: 8 – 18. Waist: 24” – 32” (61 – 81 cm).
Design: 1800s style historical aprons with 5 style variations, including:
- Half apron with gathered skirt,
- Pinner style apron with full-length gathered skirt and pinned front bib,
- Civil War era style full-length apron with bib, button straps and eyelet ruffle detail,
- Pinafore style apron with full length gathered skirt, tie back square neck bodice with wide straps,
- Full-length apron with princess seams, patch pockets, scoop neck, back straps and ties.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen.
Format: Print-at-home digital download in A4 / US letter format with A0 copy shop files included. Paper pattern is also available. An instruction booklet is included.
Suitable for beginners? I think an advanced beginner could make the half apron variation but more experience may be needed for the full apron variations with attached bib, ruffles, and princess seams.

“B6229” Full-Length Apron with Tucks and Frills

Buy now from Walmart – $14.95

Sizes: US 6 – 22. Waist: 23” – 37” (56 – 94 cm).
Design: 1800s style full-length apron. Self-lined bib. Shoulder straps with frill detail. Full gathered skirt. Shoulder straps and skirt tie at the back waist. Tuck detailing.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen.
Format: Paper pattern with instructions included.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist. There are lots of techniques in this pattern that could prove tricky to a beginner like creating tucks, gathering, self-lining and sewing frills.

Historical 1880 – 1890s Kitchen Apron

Buy now from WickedStepmothers on Etsy – approx. $18.88

Sizes: Size information is not given before purchasing the pattern.
Design: Reproduction of an authentic 1885 pattern. Full length dress style apron with princess seams and a scoop neckline. Large, inseam pockets finished with bias binding. Bias trim finish to straps and neckline. Button-up fastenings at the back.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen, canvas or chambray.
Format: PDF digital download that fits 36” wide paper. The pattern does not come pre-tiled, the printer needs to be set to print correctly and the designer advises how to do this within the pattern listing.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist. Some experience in garment sewing would be helpful with construction of the princess seams, bias binding and sewing of the pockets.

Victorian / Edwardian Cross-Back Maid / Servant Apron with Lace

Buy now from PaperScissorsFrocks on Etsy – approx. $5.49

Sizes: 2XS – 2XL. Waist: 24.5” – 34” (62 – 86 cm).
Design: Full length pinafore style apron with gathered skirt. Cross-back shoulder straps with lace frills. Front bib with tucks and lace detailing.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like Broderie Anglaise lace, cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen.
Format: PDF digital download printed on A4 or US letter size paper. Step-by-step instructions included.
Suitable for beginners? The designer suggests this is an easy sewing project, but some basic sewing skills are needed. I think this would be a difficult project for a beginner to sew due to the techniques involved in constructing the bib and shoulder strap frills.

Edwardian Reproduction 1900s Short Half Apron With Straps

Buy now from RepeatedOriginals on Etsy – approx. $12.60

Sizes: One size, to fit a bust of 38” (96 cm).
Design: Reproduction of an authentic 1908 pattern. Tie waist half apron with wide waistband. Cross back shoulder straps. Curved, floaty hemline.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like Broderie Anglaise cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen.
Format: PDF digital download printed on A0, A4 or US letter size paper. Instructions are included.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an advanced or adventurous beginner could have a go at this pattern. The design of the apron is simple and there isn’t any gathering.

1920s aprons:

Fashion in the 20s was dominated by straight silhouettes. This influenced the design of aprons at the time which were also long, straight, and had dropped waists.

Cooking aprons were normally as long as the dress underneath, if not a little shorter. They didn’t have pockets. Some had shoulder straps and others were the pin-on style. Cooking aprons were used to catch food splatter and dry your hands.
General-purpose aprons were long (about knee-length) with pockets at the front. Some had ties at the back (cross-back or waist ties). Some were a slip-on style with a V-neck and no ties.
Water-resistant rubberized chintz fabric aprons were used for doing the dishes.
“Clothespin” aprons were half aprons with 1 or 2 big front pockets. They were used to hold clothespins while you were hanging laundry outside.
Fancy aprons with embroidery, ruffles, lace, and decorative trims were used to serve guests food.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3).

1920s Ladies Apron with Gathered Sides

Read tutorial on Cranial Hiccups – FREE

Sizes: One size.
Design: 1920s style straight apron with dropped waist and straight silhouette. Scoop neckline. Bias bound edges. Gathered side panels for shape. Cross-back wide shoulder straps.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen, chambray, broadcloth.
Format: PDF digital download printed on A4 or US letter size paper.
Instructions: Photo instructions for sewing the apron are included within the accompanying blog post here.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an advanced or adventurous beginner could have a go at this pattern. The apron is simple in design but instructions are a little vague in places and can require some previous knowledge.

Vintage “Pinny” Half Apron with Pockets

Read tutorial on Sew Mag – FREE

Sizes: One size.
Design: 1920s “clothespin” style half apron. Knee-length, straight silhouette. Large front pockets similar to those used to store clothes pegs in the 1920s. Slightly gathered waist. Wide waistband with tie back. Curved hem. Ric rac trim.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen, chambray, broadcloth. Charity shop fabric finds such as curtains or tablecloths with an interesting print could be used.
Format: Dimensions for cutting out the apron sections are included within the article instructions.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think this project would be a good one for an adventurous beginner to try, as the style of the apron is simple with lots of straight sewing involved.

1930s aprons:

The 1930s was the Depression-era in the US so there was a culture of “making do”. People started turning used flour sacks into clothes and aprons. Flour companies took notice and started selling printed flour sacks in pretty colors and designs. This trend continued throughout the WW2 era.

1940s and 1950s aprons:

Aprons became more fashionable in the 40’s and 50’s. They had more decorative details and prints. Pattern companies advertised wearing them over simple dresses. This trend continued into the 60s.

Pinafore aprons were popular during this period and worn by women and little girls. They had bibs, shoulder straps, ruffles, and a skirt.
In the 50s, half aprons were still very common. They were normally pleated or gathered and had a waist tie. They were typically worn over full skirts and dresses, so they had to be wide enough, but still a shorter length than the garment’s hem (normally above the knee).
Day-to-day aprons had front bibs, shoulder straps, an A-line skirt, and front pockets. The pockets were sometimes in novelty shapes like hearts.
Smock-style “cobbler” aprons fully covered the top half of the body and part of the dress/skirt underneath. They had side ties and were cinched at the waist. They were very popular around 1955. Plastic versions were made for messier tasks.
“Hostess aprons” (aka. “cocktail” or “party aprons”) described pretty half-aprons made from delicate fabrics like cotton lawn, silk, satin, lace, organdie, etc. They were worn over party dresses. They were just designed for serving guests food, not actual cooking.

(Sources: 1, 2).

“S1221” Short Vintage Aprons with Style variations

Buy now from Simplicity – $12.57

Sizes: S – L. Waist: 25” – 34” (64 – 86 cm).
Design: Vintage style aprons in different styles:
- Scoop neck bib with triangular skirt. Patch pocket, ties at the back.
- High-waisted half apron with divided patch pockets.
- Square neck bib with wide straps and a triangular wide waistband. Gathered skirt, patch pocket. Optional lace ruffle on the straps.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico, cotton blends, light linen, chambray, broadcloth. Broderie Anglaise lace for trim.
Format: Paper pattern with printed instruction booklet included.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would best suit an intermediate to advanced sewist. In all of the apron variations, there are techniques involved such as bias binding, gathering and attaching frills, which could be difficult for a complete beginner with no previous sewing experience.

One Yard “Use it All” Half Apron

Read tutorial on Sews It All – FREE

Sizes: The front waistband is 18” wide so it should fit up to a 34” (86 cm) waist.
Design: Vintage style half apron. Full gathered skirt. Wide waistband which ties at the front. Two patch pockets. Ric rac trim. Zero waste pattern.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico, cotton blends, light linen, chambray, broadcloth, soft furnishing fabric.
Format: Cutting dimensions and photographic sewing instructions are included in the blog post.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think an adventurous beginner could try this pattern. The apron is cut from various different rectangles so lots of straight sewing is involved. This pattern would be a good one for practicing garment sewing techniques such as gathering and making patch pockets.

1940s “Cobbler” Style Apron with Scoop Neck and Bias Trim

Buy now from BrightYoungThingsVP on Etsy – approx. $7

Sizes: Bust: 34” – 36” (86 – 91.5 cm).
Design: 1940s reproduction pattern. Knee length apron with side panels and back ties. Scoop neck. Shoulder straps. Optional frill detail. Patch pockets. Bias binding trim.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, cotton lawn, calico or other cotton blends, light linen, chambray, broadcloth, or gingham.
Format: PDF digital download in A0, A4 and US letter size. Instructions are included with the pattern.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think an intermediate to advanced sewist would better suit this pattern. This is a vintage pattern reproduction and vintage pattern instructions can be vague and difficult to follow. There are some tricky techniques involved in some of the variations such as bias binding and attaching ruffles and frills.

1940s Apron with Fitted Waistband and Paneled Skirt

Buy now from laprairielady on Etsy – approx. $6.36

Sizes: M – XL. Bust: 34” – 44” (86 – 112 cm).
Design: 1940s reproduction pattern. Knee length apron. Fitted, shaped waistband with curved top. Cross-back shoulder straps gathered into the waistband forming a deep V-neck. Paneled skirt with pockets. Bias bound edges. Optional embroidery trim.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico, cotton blends, linen, chambray, broadcloth, or gingham.
Format: PDF digital download in A0, A4 and US letter size. Instructions are included with the pattern.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think an intermediate to advanced sewist would better suit this pattern. This is a vintage pattern reproduction and vintage pattern instructions can be vague and difficult to follow. There are some difficult techniques involved such as bias binding and attaching ruffles and frills.

“S8814” 1950s Half Apron with Very Full Skirt and Bow Tie

Buy now from Simplicity- $16.07

Sizes: One size.
Design: 1950s style half apron. Very full gathered skirt. Large bow tie at the back. Wide waistband. Shaped patch pockets. Optional applique, embroidery, trim and scalloped edge details.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico, cotton blends, linen, chambray, broadcloth, gingham, seersucker or broderie anglaise.
Format: Paper pattern with printed instruction booklet included.
Suitable for beginners? I think this pattern would suit an adventurous or advanced beginner. The style of the apron is fairly simple. Some experience with gathering would be an advantage.

Retro style apron with gathered skirt

Download now from Sew Mag – FREE

Sizes: One size.
Design: Retro-style apron with sweetheart neckline. Wide, adjustable neck and waist ties. Gathered skirt. Front patch pocket.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, cotton lawn, or linen.
Format: Print-at-home digital pattern in A4 and US letter size. Written instructions are included with the blog post.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. Suitable for an advanced beginner due to the sweetheart neckline and the gathered skirt. The instructions are sparse, so this pattern is not ideal for a complete beginner.

Pinafore apron with frilly straps

Buy now from StudioHandworks on Etsy – approx. $11

Sizes: 2XS – 5XL. Hip: 34” – 59” (86cm – 150 cm).
Design: Vintage-inspired pinafore apron. Square neck front bib with added frills. Waistband. Full gathered skirt. Cross-back straps with frills and waist tie. Front patch pockets.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like quilting cotton, cotton lawn, gingham, or linen.
Format: Print-at-home digital pattern in A4 and US letter size. Illustrated instructions are included with the blog post.
Suitable for beginners? No. Although the instructions are clear, the frills and the gathering make this pattern more suitable for an intermediate sewist.

“S8571” Vintage style half apron with ruffle detail

Buy now from Simplicity – $16.07

Sizes: Waist: 25 – 34” (63.5 – 86 cm).
Design: 4 vintage style aprons that resemble 1940s aprons. The half apron has a gathered skirt, curved hem, ruffle trim around the edges and hem, a wide waistband, and rounded patch pockets with a ruffle detail.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics suit gathering. For example, cotton, gingham, cotton twill, linen or chambray.
Format: Printed pattern with instructions included.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think this pattern would suit an intermediate sewist with some sewing experience already. The ruffles could prove difficult to sew and attach, and adding the ruffles to the small patch pockets could also be tricky. The sewing rating on this pattern is “average”

1960s and 1970s aprons:

The 60s and 70s saw decorative aprons become less popular as housekeeping became less popular too. Women were working outside the home more. Household washers and dryers were common. Ready-to-wear clothes were getting cheaper and easier to replace.

Practical utilitarian aprons were now used. They often had front bibs and were made from heavy-duty protective fabrics. Practical aprons were also used as work uniforms in the hospitality industry and in hairdresser and barber shops.

(Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

1960s Simple Smock Apron with Pockets

Buy now from retropatternarchive on Etsy – approx. $1.18

Sizes: One size to fit men or women.
Design: Reproduction of an authentic 1960s vintage apron pattern. Smock or cobbler style. Large pockets at the front. Finished with bias binding. Side ties.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton, broadcloth, chambray, calico, gingham, muslin or oilcloth.
Format: PDF digital download in A4 and US letter size. Instructions are included.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. I think this pattern would suit a beginner with some sewing experience. The design of the apron is very simple and easy to sew but attaching the bias binding around the edges could be tricky for a beginner with no previous sewing experience.

“S6206” 1960s Style Kitchen Aprons

Buy now from Simplicity- $16.07

Sizes: One size.
Design: 1960s style aprons in three different styles. Patterns for other kitchen accessories are also included.
- Half apron with a full gathered waist. Waistband ties at the back. Large, front patch pockets. Optional ric rac trim.
- Gathered apron with waist ties, patch pockets, front bib and cross back shoulder straps.
- Halter neck straight apron. Patch pockets. Waist ties.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico, cotton blends, denim, light linen, chambray, broadcloth, gingham, seersucker or broderie anglaise. Wipeable fabric such as oilcloth could be used for the straight apron.
Format: Paper pattern with printed instruction booklet included.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. The design of all three aprons are fairly simple with lots of straight seams. Some experience with garment making including gathering and attaching pockets could be an advantage. Make the halter neck apron if you would like a very simple project.

“S8152” Vintage Style 1970s Apron and Overalls

Buy now from Simplicity- $13.27

Sizes: XS – L. Waist: 23” – 34” (58 – 87 cm).
Design: 1970s style full aprons. A-line silhouette with a shaped, paneled skirt. Front shaped bib. Optional frill trim. Waist tie at the back. Front patch pockets. Bias binding trim. Option to make a tabard style straight overall with or without sleeves. Front patch pockets. Button closure at the back.
Fabric: Light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton lawn, calico, cotton blends, denim, light linen, chambray, broadcloth, gingham, seersucker or broderie anglaise. Wipeable fabric such as oilcloth could be used for the overalls.
Format: Printed pattern with printed instruction booklet included.
Suitable for beginners? No. I think these patterns would better suit an intermediate to advanced sewist. They all include some tricky details such as bias binding details, gathers, ruffles and button bands so some garment sewing experience would be helpful.

Waist tie apron with large patch pocket

Download now from Sweet Red Poppy – FREE

Sizes: Adult and child sizes.
Design: Simple apron with square neckline. Wide shoulder straps. Neck and waist ties. Large front patch pocket.
Fabric: Medium to heavyweight woven fabrics like soft furnishing fabric, cotton twill, denim, cotton canvas, or oilcloth.
Format: Print-at-home digital pattern in A4 and US letter size. Photo instructions are included in the blog post.
Suitable for beginners? Yes. This would make a great first sewing project as the design is simple, the recommended fabrics are easy to work with, and the instructions are clear with lots of photos.

What to read next:

This article was written by Sara Maker & Sally Gauntlett, and edited by Nisan Aktürk.

Sally Gauntlett (author)
Sally started sewing as a child. In 2008, she started a handmade business selling personalized gifts and homeware. She then became a sewing content creator, sharing her makes on Youtube and Instagram. Read more…