Making a Shop Apron

There are plenty of aprons out there, but I really liked the idea of making one customized just the way I'd want.
An apron is a great intro project to sewing, and a great weekend project that doesn't have to take too long or cost much. You can use a canvas type material, but it's not required; I show a lighter material option at the end.
Fire up those sewing machines!
Affiliate links to some of my new favorite things I consistently use in my shop:
I really do use these pencils and glasses in my apron pockets!
1.3 Lead Mechanical Pencil: -- amzn.to/2QjRC28
Kuru Toga .5 Mechanical Pencil: -- amzn.to/3964LTc
(convenient having a few sizes at hand)
Bolle Safety Glasses: -- amzn.to/3cWNuN5 Perfect fit for underneath headphones or ear protection
BACK IN STOCK: Silicone glue roller: -- amzn.to/3mNGqHd
DeVilbiss StartingLine Spray kit: -- amzn.to/3lC4GLW
^This was my jump into spray finishing and it works like a champ
Irwin 6" quick clamps: -- amzn.to/2NCxvLB
Crown Tools Burnisher: -- amzn.to/3f3QmdU Nothing better for taking burn marks off wood
Denko Sekka Folding flush cut: -- amzn.to/3lCABf7 Love that it folds up!
Through the Amazon Associates program, I earn from qualifying purchases. I buy my own stuff, and will share with you the things that have improved quality of life in the shop. I’ll get a small commission for purchases made through Amazon links in this description at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of this channel.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Many of you will have seen Bob @ILikeToMakeStuff who also made an apron recently. His is a different approach, and definitely worth watching.

[@margaretdossantos7563]

I am extremely impressed by your sewing skills!!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Ah, you are too kind, thank you

[@gsm7983]

This is so awesome. Great looking and functional. Love the pockets with their flaps.

[@judymcdonald7815]

I'm very impressed. I've been sewing for over 50 years, and love your carefree approach. Your apron is awesome!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Very kind of you, 50 years of expertise is amazing!

[@Samcraftcom]

I've been binge watching DIY apron videos today and this is about the 20th I've watched, but the first I've commented on. :) I really like how you made the chest section wider than what most others do. I also appreciate your design element explanations and that you made another one from a curtain. But probably the best part was you leaving the kids in the background. As a Dad of two and videographer I can appreciate the difficulty in voice overs with home-life. :)

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Haha, thanks. The kids were having a wild time for sure. Good luck on your apron, I love mine.

[@annblachly8068]

I have some aprons to make for my men. I was thinking I was procrastinating, but this apron is a gem with the angled pocket for pens, etc. and the cross back straps. So simple to wear. I hate neck straps with a passion.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks Ann, good luck with your versions. Agreed on the neck straps, this is comfortable to wear all day.

[@tedhobgood]

That was really smart, to lay down your objects on the apron itself and trace around them with chalk. Good tip! Thanks!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks, it's worked out well for me.

[@roseanna1652]

Thank you so much for this! My husband asked for a customized shop apron and I didn't know where to start. I really love the look of the trim and your designs for comfort and efficiency that I would've never thought of.. back strap vs neck, and the angled pocket... genius.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks! Hope yours turns out great, I wear mine all the time. Get your hubby to run some of the stitches, maybe he'll catch the sewing bug.

[@jonlocke1624]

A cool addition would be to sew magnets into the flaps and the pockets. Use small earth magnets and they would hold really well.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Ya, there could be a number of uses for integrated magnets, thanks!

[@fieryinferno88]

Bring me back to the days as a kid when my mom made us all take sewing lessons. (Still have the pj pants I made actually.) I'm definitely going to try and make this, though I will be getting my mom to help me. Haven't touched a sewing machine in over 15 years.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

That's awesome! I'd guess your Mom will have better ideas and techniques. Good luck!

[@lizhumble9953]

Thank you! I am a sewist and was looking for a good gift for my husband. This was a great tutorial. i liked your strap details, and specialty pockets.

[@simut10]

Great Job! Well done!

[@sareasarea3311]

Awesome ! I'm working on a shop apron for my dad and was wondering how to make the straps. This video is great!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

That's great, good luck! What a great gift

[@andrewcontreras5528]

Now that I've seen this video, I relized how useful an apron is, and now I want to make one.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Mine isn't perfect of course, but I was surprised too at how useful it is. Good luck if you try one!

[@grandpasmountain]

Dude! That was awesome. Watched with my wife....she drooled over "your" sewing machine! Loved the apron idea. Loved hearing the kids -- we raised 7.....just about all gone now. Enjoy every moment. I have moments of sadness remembering what once was. Kids don't come "help" daddy in the shop any more. Great job with the video, too..... I am not techy like you, for sure.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks much Jon, we picked up this machine used, and have had it back in the shop on occasion. In this video I skipped over all the times I broke thread or had to change the bobbin. It's sort of a love/ hate relationship. :) Ya, screaming kids. Not always fun in the moment, but I'm sure you are right and one day will wish it all back.

[@grandpasmountain]

HAHAHA! My wife saw you stitching through 40 layers of canvas and said, "I gotta get me one of those!" -- he machine is about 3 years old and is half dead....she has used it up, I guess. Those kids are getting older by the minute, and one day, if you play your cards right, will become your best friends.

[@austintx5781]

Excelente trabajo amigo!!! Muy inspirador, definitivamente me confeccionaré uno igual. Gracias por el aporte.

[@barstad-9591]

Awesome job. Thanks.

[@Zeis]

Love all your videos mate, keep them coming!

[@lauraweiss7875]

I love the slanted tool/pen slots in the chest. Exactly what I want on my leather crafting apron.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

They work well, still using this everytime I'm in the shop. Good luck with yours!

[@dusbus2384]

Gangster AF

[@StuffIMade]

Great job and nice paced video, easy to watch!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@beverleythomas5708]

Thank you for your very informative video. I used it to make myself one out of a piece of canvas-like upholstery fabric that I had left over from some cushion covers that I had made a few years back. It turned out beautifully, and I still have room to add more pockets. 😊

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Great to use some extra fabric, huh? Congrats, sounds like it turned out really well.

[@stewartmcmanus3991]

It's 9.26 pm here in South Western Australia and this is the best apron video ever, so out comes my sewing machine, ironing board and some leftover canvas from a sunshade. Stand by for the wierd looks from my wife !!!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Ah ya, I love to hear that, weird looks and all! Cheers my friend from the states!

[@JodyGates]

I like that the second one is curtain material, very "Sound of Music" of you. Great video, it inspires me to try crafting outside of my comfort zone.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Oh my gosh, I totally missed the chance for an awesome floral print. It's on!

[@TinyBasementWorkshop]

Wow! Nicely done 😊 watching this gives me enough confidence to make my own apron 😉👍🏼 thanks for sharing!!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks! Hope yours turns out great, good luck

[@staylor3491]

Going to make my son a work apron, you had lots of really good ideas. Easy to follow.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thank you, I hope your apron turns out great!

[@justplaintommy63]

I'm fascinated by this. I have a machine and can sew, my hesitation is the dimensions. My local Harbor Freight store had lightweight canvas tarps on sale this past weekend, so I have one laid out on my bed trying to decide how wide to make the bib, how far down should the drop go, I'm afraid to cut it almost. lol. But your video is helping me a lot so thank you

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Good luck with yours! I can understand the hesitation, though, grab a sheet from a local thrift store or some wide craft paper and cut out some tests to just hold up to yourself. It's good fun!

[@annepoler6159]

I sew a lot. But I tend to limit myself to a pattern. I loved your improvisational approach. I guess maybe I can put the pattern aside for some things. Thanks for showing me something new!! (And I loved the whole shop apron idea. Maybe I'll try to get a couple of these made for Christmas gifts. Thanks for the idea!!!)

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Hope it worked out for ya, did you get some made in time? Thanks for the comment.

[@damianamejeiras8858]

Excelente!, Very comprehensive and well explained , I have spent more than one hour looking for a Videos Example of making a Apron , you where the best one !, Congratulations from Argentina

[@GeeksWoodShop]

That's very kind, thanks! I've been able to get as far south as Chile, but not Argentina. Hopefully someday!

[@seanoftheroses]

thanks alot, you sparked an interest in sewing for me.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Woot! Give it a try. Has all it's own satisfaction and headaches, but very fun.

[@Patricksworkshop]

nice work I like the cross strap on the back over the neck strap

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks, I find it more comfortable too.

[@opasworkshop8373]

awesome work my friend I was really impressed with your approach to the pockets.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Pockets!

[@opasworkshop8373]

Geeks Wood Shop Yeah especially the flaps over the pockets. I don't know about you but I hate when you dig into your pockets after you been wood turning I hate when you get all that sawdust and chips in your pocket.

[@StavrosGakos]

great job and nice skills!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks!

[@TheWoodYogi]

Superb :) Thank you for sharing this :)

[@marthajane7058]

I'VE BEEN MAKING CROSS BACK APRONS LATELY.LUV THEM.MINE ARE JAPANESE APRONS. BUT I THINK I LIKE YOURS BETTER. GONNA MAKE ONE NEXT.U DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS. THANKS SO MUCH 4 THIS VID.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

That's great to hear, thanks and good luck with your version.

[@sjscreations2608]

You've obviously done a lot of sewing because your hems are neat and all the same. Well done, you've done a great job. Cheers Sean

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks Sean, that's kind of you. It's not so perfect when you look at them closely, but ok from across the room.. ;)

[@GeeksWoodShop]

I did build a cyclone, and a video on it would probably be worthwhile, just to show some of the problems I had. It worked ok, but not great, so I eventually swapped it out for a dust deputy. Good suggestion.

[@PrincessAloeVera]

AWESOME !! THANK YOU !!

Great job... i liked

[@larrysdustyattic7110]

Great! I would share but I am learning to sew and making different aprons for people going to try this one for my brother Thanks

[@bulldogg187]

Nice design. Been working on a similar design. But i think i might borrow the angle pencil pocket design element.

[@GeeksWoodShop]

I borrowed it from someone else, it works great!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

That's cool!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks James

[@kefeiapronmanufacturingcom7638]

Yeaa, i like the design

[@briankinnaman6532]

Very cool. I think I’m to the point that I want to just make my own apron (I guess I’m too picky 😂) Thanks for sharing this video!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Me too! Picky is good, right? Good luck with yours.

[@briankinnaman6532]

@@GeeksWoodShop I thinks it’s good. Just means we know what we want! 😁👍🏼 Thanks!

[@bulldogg187]

On a previous video (Blast Gate), I noticed your cyclone would love to know more about it. Did you build it yourself? How did you do it? How did you make the cylinder and cone?

[@mariwalton8601]

I like your sewing machine.. And I wish you give us some measurements .... Nice job though... I wanna make the same for my husband🤓👍

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Thanks, I just used some scrap material to figure out measurements, but I think roughly 30" across at the waist, something like 34" high and 12" across the top if that helps as a starting point. Good luck!

[@mariwalton8601]

@@GeeksWoodShop Thank you.

[@ShanesHobbyShop]

Awesome job. Question, I am wanting to make my own apron now... Im not a sewer at all, although we do own a cheap Walmart sewing machine. So, how much canvas material should I buy ? Keep in mind, Im on the light side of an elephant...lol Also, where can I ge a pattern of the apron at?. Thanks

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Great! Any ol machine will do. I'd suggest 2 yards. That's not completely clear, as the width varies, but they'll likely have 60" wide materials and 2 yards at that should be plenty enough. I got by with 1 yard, but as shown I had to sew straps together for length. Check the Walmart remnants pile and sale rack and you might get lucky. My apron ended up being ~32" long, 10" wide at the top and 30" across the middle, but adjust for you. I'd love to hear how it comes out!

[@PHYLLISBOWMAN-wb4rq]

could you please give measurements of pockets, straps etc..

[@raufhuseynov5769]

where is plans ? )))))))))

[@pamtreece3862]

he doesn't say the measurements as he is taking them.