Thursday, February 26, 2009

The History of the Apron.








Someone sent me this the other day and I thought it was lovely, so I would like to share with you.

The History of the Apron.

I don't think some kids know what an apron is. The principal use of Grandmas's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears and on occasion was even used for washing dirty faces.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, and fussy chicks.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

It will be a long time before something that will replace that 'old -time apron' that served so many purposes.

I must still belong to that era because my Mother used to always wear an apron (or sometimes we would call them a pinny.)
I still love to wear one when I am baking and cooking. These are my aprons and don't you just love the old McCall's pattern to sew your self an apron.

When Lavinia said her mother made her aprons, I just rememebered that is what my Mother used to make pretty flowery ones edged in lace or ric rac braid.
She gave me a lot but I think they must have all worn out because I can't find them.
I did find this pink and green apron tucked away in a drawer.

For another little nostalgic trip, I found the little sack oven cloth I made, and the cross stitch I did in pretty coloured wool and this little tea cosy a dear little old Lady made for me.
I loved making those cross stitch oven cloths and made them for my Mother and Grandparents as gifts.

I wonder if you are still a wearer of an apron?

Hugs
Carolyn

18 comments:

  1. Yes, Carolyn, I do on occasion wear an apron. I have quite a collection of aprons, most of them handmade by my mother. She loved to make them. The kind that tied around your waist, not the kind that went up to the neckline.

    I mostly wear them when I am expecting company and am cooking in my 'good' clothes. I rarely wear them on weeknights because I am usually wearing jeans and an old shirt suitable and don't care if it gets spattered or stained.

    I should post some pics of my aprons! THe history you have given here is so sweet and nostalgic...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, yes! I am a firm believer of aprons. Mine is pink with just a slight ruffle to it. And it goes up around the neck, because I'm kind of a splatterer. Makes me feel feminine as I'm sweating in the kitchen.

    Here in Tokyo, a friend told me that all the tiny school kids are required to bring in aprons. And if mommy makes the apron, that really shows that she loves her child. No store-bought aprons, oh no. True? Dunno.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely to hear from you Lavinia and Bella.
    Yes, my Mum used to make the flowery aprons with braid and lace, but I went looking for them but can't find them.

    At primary school we all had to make an apron and a headband from gingham material, before we could start our cooking classes.

    Life seemed to be so simple and sweet back then!

    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  4. I often wear an apron if i'm cooking or especially if i'm baking. I wear the practical kind with a loop which goes over your head.
    We too made an apron and headband thingy (all by hand) for 'Domestic Science' with our names embroidered on in chain stitch.
    We also made one in gingham (house colours) which had an enormous pocket across the front which was where your sewing was stored and the straps tied round it to form a bundle so nothing got lost(in theory!) :o)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am very attached to my apron! I have had it for 15 years and if I need to I'll patch it and mend it for as long as I possibly can. At this very moment I have decided to make aprons for my daughters and granddaughter. Thanks for sharing the tale.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful story. I wear an apron sometimes when I am working at the shop on Saturdays. I have 'gone green' with many of my projects and began making aprons from old vintage linens. I put lots of pockets in them to hold my glasses (if I put them down in the shop it could be months before they are found again:), my cell phone, and any sort of tool that I need for whatever I am working on. My mother made me a Christmas apron some years ago that I treasure. Fun post!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't wear them as often as I should! I do, occasionally, though. I fondly remember my grandmother wearing them all day long... not just when she was cooking. One of the aprons many uses for her was pinning found safety pins on them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Lynda,

    Yes, we also had to embroider the name on the apron, so they would not get mixed up - it does seem so long ago!

    Patrica that will be lovely to make aprons for your daughter and granddaughter.

    Victorian Parlor, loved about the glasses, putting them down in the shop and months to find them ( I have that problem sometimes)
    That was neat your Mother made you a Christmas apron.

    Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping - yes my Grandmother wore them all the time.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh...no...Carolyn! Although I think aprons are lovely. A quick little background, no one in my family ever did where an apron. Not one of my Grandmas, surprising because one of my Grandmas was an AMAZING BAKER! An AMAZING baker! Maybe it is because we are GERMAN???

    Lovely post, makes me want to get a pretty apron!
    ~Miss Kris~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Kris,

    I hope that you get yourself a pretty apron.

    One of your Grandma's been a wonderful baker - we knew a Lady that was from Vienna and I have never tasted cakes and biscuits like, she used to bake. Yummmm - still think of her cooking and that was about 20 years ago!

    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  11. I sure do,I have made myself a fancy one which i can wear any time...you can see this on my block.

    they have been Fashionable for a while when a designer decided to have them in his collection so lady's wear your Apron it is a fashion statement ( not that i care!)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Carolyn, the apron is making a come back! My sister's friend paid $52 for a cotton paisley apron in Wellington and thought it was a great buy. Gosh, a metre of fabric for $10 would make one. I'm making an apron using a fat quarter of fabric this week at a class. Having already paid $10 for a pattern I have had good intentions of making one for sewing. I'm always covered in threads so I figured an apron (with a pocket) would be very useful.

    I remember the gingham apron we made at sewing class. Had to do cross stitch on them ah. I'm sure Mum's probably still got mine!

    My granddaughter will be 5 this month. I could make her one for her birthday. Thanks Patricia for the idea.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Karen,

    Yes, you can make an apron much cheaper than buying them and so much prettier.

    That will be nice to sew one for your Granddaughter.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love aprons! And I have some of the vintage patterns as well. I keep telling myself that I will take the time and make some...but it just hasn't happened yet! Love your blog...
    melanie

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love this! We have a lot in common...we both make bears AND love aprons! I'm enjoying spending time on your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  16. My mom always wore an apron and of course I wear an apron. If I am cooking, if I am baking, the first thing I get is my apron. It doesn't matter what I am wearing underneath, it is a habit with me. If someone else is cooking in my kitchen, I often offer them an apron. My mom made all of my aprons. I love the full apron and do not wear just the half apron. It's not that I am messy but I hate to have flour, grease or a tomato splatter on my clothing. I have made aprons for my eldest son and his wife and my son-in-law has two that I made but I have yet to make one for me. Years ago I made one for my husband to wear when he barbecued. It has a stuffed hamburger and hot dog on it. My middle daughter, who lives in California sent me a photo of a full apron that she saw in a shop window and thought was very nice. She thought it would be nice to have one just like it but I have yet to make her one. Perhaps one day soon.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interesting to hear your story on the Apron, Dolores.
    They are a useful and I love them.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  18. I enjoyed this post so much! And thanks for your sweet comments about the apron I made!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx