A is for Aprons

I've been collecting aprons for a long time and store many of them folded on a shelf in the laundry room. Every once in a while I'll go through the piles to see what's there--just for fun. My favorites, however, are hanging over the door in my sewing room. They are the embroidered aprons from the thirties.

This is our laundry room where I keep most of my collection. The curtain on the window is actually an apron and the valance is an embroidered tablecloth folded in quarters and hung over a rod. I made the small quilt from vintage tablecloth scraps that a friend sent me from CA. 

Here is a full view of the apron "curtain" with a patchwork waistband, ties, pocket, and decorative lower edge.

This full embroidered apron has straps that criss-cross in the back and fasten on both sides with snaps.  There are no pockets.

Here is a detail of the embroidered floral basket. Lots of black floss used in this design.

A full bodice and flared skirt trimmed in blue.

The scalloped design is embroidered in blanket stitch; the horizontal lines in outline stitch.

I love this skirt with its dainty flowers and large scallops.

This half apron is gathered at the waistband with embroidery at the lower edge. Most likely from the 40's--or even the 50's.

Lovely shades of aqua, pink and green. Note the pink and white gingham fabric above and below the embroidery.

Another full apron with lots of blue and yellow embroidery. All the outer edges are top-stitched by hand using yellow floss.

Heavily embroidered blue flowers with yellow 'x's scattered throughout the lower portion.

A child's apron with embroidered figures a la Sunbonnet Sue--or is it Colonial Lady--or something else??

And here is my grandmother, Etta Strubbe Bower, as I remember her. Always wearing an apron and always in the kitchen making something good to eat. (c. 1950s)