Not Your Mothers Apron Strings...

Aprons, fun to wear and a time honored tradition. With Holiday Dinners, Entertaining and Crafting in full swing maybe it is time to pop on your apron! Our Moms and Grandmothers were always big fans back in the day. We have collected a few stories about the history of Aprons and a few ideas on Aprons you can create yourself. Mary Jo's Cloth Store has fabric just waiting for your inspiration. On our Sale Page we have some cool Dr. Suess fabric, cheap to buy and fun to wear. When you are online, check out our collection of fun retro prints, you are going to love them.

A gal named Emily has a cool blog called "The Open Pantry" she has a sweet take on Aprons and their history. I don't think our kids know what an apron is.The principal use of Grandma'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 cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
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. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be along time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Another happy and creative blogger posted her very cool Apron, from a pattern called "Emmeline". Ta Da.It was fun and fairly simple to make. The most tedious part being the bias tape (making it). I love this bright colorful fabric from Alexander Henry. I think my favorite color combination right now is this red and aqua.The contrasting fabric is red and white polka-dot. Those tiny dots are hard to photograph. Photo credits go to Emma. I made her take a bazillion and yet we still didn't get very good ones. I did not hand sew the bias tape on. I used the machine and if I were to make this apron again (surely I will) I would make that same decision again. Next time I will use thread that is the same color as the trim. I was trying to be all artsy fartsy and I used an aqua thread-- it is far too revealing of my lame sewing skills. The reverse side is a little blue dot pattern. You can see it in yesterday's post (it was the liner in the little clutch I made.)

This apron is pretty cute on, especially flattering in the area that I am, ahem- lacking. Now its your turn. Get the pattern.Emmeline Apron Pattern

The Emmeline Apron is the one you’ve been waiting for - modern, stylish, and fun to sew. You’ll never want to take it off! Best of all, Emmeline is completely reversible, so it’s like two aprons in one. It can be tied in the front or back. Make it for yourself, your mother, your grandmother, and your friends. It’s guaranteed to add some spice to your culinary adventures!
This pattern includes easy-to-follow photo tutorial instructions and full-sized pattern pieces. It is suitable for advanced beginners. It is now available for $11.95.


Lastly a blogger named JCaroline weighs in with her take on Aprons and their functionality. May 14th is National Wear an Apron Day. Don't know who came up with it, but I felt compelled to participate by making an apron on Saturday. The Anna Griffin's Calorie fabric from the Elsie collection was just made for kitchen and dining accessories. The pocket is out of the coordinating Red Double Dot fabric. The ties in the back and the top are 7/8" Lemongrass grosgrain ribbon.


My mom made the pattern, which I will put on our how-to's this week. The apron took about an hour to make and takes 1 yard of fabric for the apron and you can vary the pocket size based on how much fabric you have. Great gift idea!
The instructions and pattern are on the web. Click here.)

If you are not inspired yet, cruise around on our website, find some fabric that really grabs you and stitch up an old fashioned, time honored Apron, some traditions are fun and worth keeping.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mary Jo's Cloth Store.