Aprons: a love letter

 Oh, the apron. So simple, and yet so...not. It’s been around for practically forever, it’s endlessly useful, and just as endlessly changeable. Not only does it protect the clothing underneath from whatever muck might threaten, it has at many points in history, much as today, served as a fashion statement and accessory. Ask ten different people to sew an apron and you’ll get ten wildly different results, from silhouette to fabric choice to trim.

  When I was working on my historical Cinderella ensemble, I spent longer than was reasonable (certainly longer than was necessary) agonizing over every detail of the apron. Pockets? No pockets? How long should it be? How full? Wide waistband or narrow? How wide or narrow should the hems be? I ultimately decided on narrow waistband and hems with no pockets in the interest of maximizing my fabric, and because a white apron would probably have been more for show than practicality, I left off the pockets.

  I have scads of aprons pinned on my Pinterest boards, ranging from frilly unpractical styles popular with the upper class during the eighteenth century to coverall linen styles inspired by Japanese smocks to gardening aprons with pockets to the “apron dress” ubiquitous amongst Viking and SCA reenactors.

  Some of my very favorites come from the eighteenth century, either very frilly and silly or colorful and practical and a fun way to add some color to an outfit. My other favorite time for aprons is the 1930s, when the Great Depression made economy a concern at the forefront of most people’s minds. Traditionally the purpose of an apron was to protect the clothing underneath, as the apron would be easier to launder and could be worn several times in between washing. Not only was laundry a very labor intensive chore for generations preceding the automatic washing machine, soaps were often caustic and damaging. An apron was less fabric to wash and cheaper to replace. During the 1930s there were patterns published for aprons that only needed one yard of fabric, and plenty of ideas for trim to add some style.
  I have half a shelf in my pantry devoted to storing my own aprons. I have a cute little red and white checked half apron from my childhood just-learning-to-bake days, a yellow cotton crocheted half apron that was an impulse project a few years ago, the green linen smock apron I bought from this awesome Etsy seller (I LOVE Etsy, that’s a whole ‘nother post!), and very fun Firefly nerd reference apron from a dear friend with Vera composed of versions kitchen tools on it, a strawberry shortcake apron my mom sewed me...I have plenty, is the point. More than. I have enough to host a baking party and outfit several guests. And yet like Ariel, I’m not satisfied - I want more! My next apron project will probably be an attempt at the Dottie Angel frock pattern from simplicity (1080). Because I definitely need another one to add to my collection ;) And some matching ones for my daughter. Because reasons.