Blue Siamese Apron

My collection of vintage aprons is growing by leaps and bounds.
I just purchased this blue kitties design, in mint condition.


Some of the kitties have bead and sequin eyes!

Two fun apron patterns

I just bought two more vintage apron patterns that I thought I'd share with you.
The holster-type one reminds me of the hipster bags I recently posted about on my purse blog.
I mean, really, how fun is that?! Dated 1999.

(click on image to enlarge)

Also, this killer find that combines my love of aprons with my love of sewing with towels. Dated 1967.

I can hardly stand it, it's so good!

Tie One On: local pride (updated)

*Note: this post is currently unfinished.
I will edit it when I have a photo of the full apron.
I wanted to post now, just to show you what I have so far.


(click on image to enlarge)
The challenge for Tie One On was to make a regional apron--to showcase where you live.

I decided to make another apron from a floursack towel.
(I made an embroidered apron for a previous TOO, but I used a heavy duty floursack that I purchased at a quilt show for that one).

For this challenge, I just tried a light-weight towel I purchased at the grocery store.
I took a vintage hankie with a California theme, and fused it to the center of my piece--both to hold it in place and to give it strength.
The hankie is a map of the state, and is surrounded in California poppies (the state flower).
The apron is finished with vintage orange bias tape with white polka dots (why oh why does Wright no longer make patterned bias tape?).

(click on image to enlarge)

The embroidered apron I made previously was folded in half to create large pockets.
This time, I wanted the hankie area flat so the scene could be more visible.
I cut the towel lengthwise, giving me the longest possible piece.
My idea was to make a cafe-style apron that is almost like a wrap skirt (except on my fat ass, um, it doesn't quite reach around...but I digress..).
I wanted the ties extra long so they could reach around the front and be tied there.

Initially I was going to have plain pockets on either side, but then I decided to try someting unique, and I made a horseshoe pocket from a 1920's skirt pattern that I purchased, specifically for that fun pocket with the inverted pleat.


The pattern has only vague instructions, and I couldn't figure out the lap piece on the top of the pocket.
I ended up just finishing it in bias tape, which ties the apron together better anyway.
Because it's so large, I opted to make just one pocket.
I placed it on the left to balance the California on the right...but I'm right-handed, so in retrospect it would have made more sense to place the pocket on the other side.
Oh well, live and learn.
Hard to really see with the scanner, but here it is anyway

(I just realized that the way I laid this on the scanner, the stitching looks cattywampus. I assure you it is quite even. Really it is!)

Here--you can see it better in black and white


I rushed this project, so it certainly isn't my best work, but it's cute.
The orange is so cheerful.

Apron Inspiration

For those of you that love aprons, there's a great article in the July/August issue of Belle Armoire Magazine,
"Artful Aprons: Fit to be Tried".

I, of course, was especially drawn to the apron with neckties appliqued to denim

Apron/Embroidery love

If you enjoy aprons and/or embroidery, Gina has a new blog featuring her amazing collection of vintage loveliness.
Find it here.

Also, Floresita has Vintage Transfer Finds, featuring some really unique designs.

Apron info

Dressing up work: the apron diaries, is an art installation involving women's work and aprons.

Threaded Pear is an indie company that has four retro-style apron patterns out on the market. I actually saw these at a quilt shop (the company also sells quilt patterns).

Drool-worthy aprons at, where else?, Anthropologie.

Links about Aprons

I love research. If I could find a job where this was appreciated, I'd be in high Heaven.

I was looking for some information for a freelance submission, and in my search I came across some things I thought might make interesting links for the Tie One On website.
So, just for fun, I forwarded them to Angry Chicken (who runs that site), and also to my friend Jen.
Jen wrote back and suggested I share them here.

free apron pattern

And another free pattern, this one to knit a bib apron.

designer (from Project Runway) apron

Ha! Apron-shaped cake!

whoa, beautiful chenille apron from Calamity Kim.

mag articles
here
here
here
here
and here , some history of aprons.

apron blog, Amelia's aprons.

not all aprons, but fun site, Jane's aprons.

kid's projects
gardening apron to decorate
handprint apron
towel apron

apron from jeans

dishtowel apron tute

Dutch aprons

Apron Swap (over for Spring, but hopefully there will be others)

artwork: painted apron (scroll down)

to buy:
here
here
here
here
and here

The January/February edition of Belle Armoire Magazine had art aprons (scroll down to see pic). Lovely.
These were made by artist Jacqueline Myers-Cho.
She sells her designs on etsy, and also has things like kits available.

*Post script: there has been an unfortunate thread cycling through blogland recently about bloggers who post products in order to get a dollar return.
This has brought the character of some posts by bloggers into question.
I find this terribly sad.

I WANT to read about products you enjoy, sites you enjoy, inspirational magazines, etc.
Does everything have to be questioned? Sheesh.

I post ideas and inspiration because I think that is what blogging is all about.

I assure you I do not blog for profit. If I did, I'd tell you.
Yeah, I (openly) link to Amazon on my book blog. So? Does it hurt anyone? But all the other mentions to stores, blogs, etc are for FUN.

I think we ought to just trust one another and be done with all the questioning of motive already.
That's my two cents.

**PSS: That being said, this whole gushing about the worthiness of a product and pretending it's really your unsolicited opinion...that's wrong on so many levels.

But let's assume that most of us know about ethical and moral ground, shall we?
Again, I assure you that my comments are my own. I have in the past backed a product as a favor (and because I really did like it), but did so with full acknowledgement to my readers, and without payment. I hope PayPerPost goes down in flames.
Interesting post about this on The Spiritual Knitter.

Vintage apron

Isn't this cute? This is one of my mom's aprons from the '50s, and still in such great shape! Tulip pocket and rickrack trim. She has a black check one too...I'll have to look through old photos to find a pic of her in that one.