The past week I have been experimenting with aprons again, the pattern inspired by the aprons in my 1920s Herrschner’s catalogs. I used this same pattern for my Valentine apron, but this time I am changing it up a little by using vintage linens and adding embroidered details. To make them hang better and look…
Vintage cotton organdy is the best fabric ever for making doll petticoats, and flocked cotton organdy (my favorite) makes a beautiful doll party dress. Unfortunately, the heart pattern on this remnant was a bit large for doll clothes. I was thinking of making an apron, but, since I just couldn’t see myself wearing a 1950s…
I love these old Herrschner Art Needlework catalogs from the 1920s; the aprons and children’s wear items are my favorites. The style of these aprons is appealing to me because they are simple to make, have good coverage (I am a messy cook), and the embroidered details are so sweet. For my two aprons, I…
The illustrations in this booklet are so cute, and the aprons are pretty sweet too. Yesterday I decided to make another donation apron for the thrift shop, and I tried to figure out the easiest way to enlarge the patterns in this book. Drawing the designs on paper seemed like a drag, so I thought…
My copy of this victory apron is slightly different from the pattern. The original version had side seams, and mine is a one-piece circle; my pockets are larger, because I like to be able to actually put stuff in them and the pockets on the original apron seemed smallish; and finally my waistband is not…
Now that our presidential election is finally over, I want to celebrate by having an apron giveaway. Of course, I realize the victory referred to in this pattern has nothing to do with presidential elections, but I don’t care — they’re patriotic and so cute. Although I don’t own this pattern, I’m thinking I can…
I enjoy making these aprons so much that I am continuing to sew them even though I’ve only sold a few. They are very nice to have on hand for gifts. I have used one for a hostess gift and Emily has taken taken a couple for bridal shower presents. For these two aprons, I…
Lately I have been obsessed with browsing antique newspapers, looking for apron inspiration. This set of children’s aprons is so cute, that I thought I would clean up the image and share it with you. The directions in these old publications are always so quaint and are usually well written, but inevitably they assume a…
Just a couple more aprons after this, since I already have the fabric selected. Then I promise to change it up and move on to the little quilt kits. The fabric for this first apron was advertised as a cutter luncheon cloth. It was homemade using medium weight fabric that I think had faded evenly…
This set of aprons was really fun to make because I had more fabric to work with. Vintage chintz is pretty much my favorite fabric to use in aprons. It’s especially nice if the piece hasn’t been washed and still has its original finish (like the strawberry fabric), but chintz is still pretty even if…
Nashua Telegraph January, 1942
I hope you are not getting sick of looking at these aprons, because I am clearly on a roll here. This cute vintage geometric print was purchased in a cool thrift shop in Arcata, California on one of our road trips down the coast highway. The combinations on this apron are a little odd, but…
The apron inspiration is still going strong. Even though I should probably move on to doll quilts or some other product idea, I don’t want to stop when I’m having this much fun. The vintage fabric on the Rose Apron is a sort of cheater quilted fabric. I have several variations of this type of…
The borders of this apron are made with the prettiest French glazed chintz fabric. The remnant I purchased was just a length of cut border with one wide selvage. It was advertised as vintage, but I have no idea how old it is. I used the selvage as the hem, so on the inside…
To make these aprons, I cut this cute vintage border print into two pieces, just like I did with the Violet Chintz Aprons. One apron is made with the bottom of the border print, while the other is made from the less interesting top portion of the print. The bottom border apron was easy, with…