If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you’ll know of my love for the humble apron.
My affection for aprons started young… way before it was even an ‘in thing’ to wear aprons and certainly at an age when my friends were not sharing the same devotion for such outer attire.
I’m sure this admiration stems from the fact my Nana always wore an apron…. unless of course she was going to ‘town’ and then she took off her apron and put on her very best town dress.
My grandparents lived in the country. My nan was a dairy maid and my pop was a bullocky driver. They lived an old fashioned lifestyle that harked back to early settler days. Their life was nothing like mine growing up in the city, but when I spent my summer holidays with them each year, I thought their farmhouse and country lifestyle was truly amazing…. everything from cooking toast in front of the wood fired stove, collecting eggs to bathing in a deep claw foot bath I could barely see over.
When I reminisce about those early childhood days, I remember with great fondness my nan wearing her apron. Those aprons were practical of course…. they kept her dress clean, carried eggs, veggies from the garden, a pocket full of dolly pegs and could wipe up a great many things from kitchen benches to grandchildren’s tears.
Having worked in an art studio for the best part of 30 years, aprons have proven very practical in keeping my clothes clean and stain free. I also wear them in the kitchen and around the house, so I now have quite a collection of various full and half aprons.
Even so, I’ve never had a Japanese design apron and after seeing them pop up frequently on Pinterest, I knew I needed one for my collection too.
I decided to make this one as a nod to my nan and her aprons… because the Japanese over the head apron is not unlike the vintage pinafore apron of her era.
I added a little something special to this apron in honor of my heritage.
It’s hidden there on the pocket amongst the other decorative bits and pieces.
My nan had passed on to me a dressing table doily set; actually not a full set as it was missing one of the smaller side doilies. I’ve had it in my linen cupboard for most of my adult life… mainly because it is not something we would use today.
It’s an embroidered possum and flower design. My mum thinks it was actually stitched by her Grandmother, my Great Grandmother, and the crochet lace edging would have been stitched by her Great Grandmother, making her my Great Great Grandmother. My mum has a similar pillow also made by the Grandmothers.
I’m not one to hide my antiques and vintage pieces. I use and enjoy them all, so having this family hand-down hidden away for 30 years was kind of sad.
I checked with my mum first and she was fine with me altering the little side doily. I unstitched my Great Great Grandmothers crochet lace, so I can use that for several projects. I then carefully cut out one of the flower motifs and used it on my apron pocket. I also used just a snippet of the crochet lace edging.
The pockets are a mix of modern day techniques and vintage embellishments. There are doily motifs, old hooks and press studs, old buttons and even some Mother of Pearl buttons. The beautiful fabrics are from the Happiness is Homemade collection by Tilda.
I really love how the meshing of two era’s has created an apron that is nostalgic and modern at the same time. It’s so ‘ME’.
Now I’ll have a little piece of my Grandmothers with me while I’m crafting and I hope they are looking on with approval as I endeavor to put the homemade and home baked back into everyday living!
Tomorrow I will be sharing the pattern for this apron, as well as my favourite free apron patterns.
Until then,
Happy crafting
♥
Kerryanne
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How lovely to find something that reminds you of your grandma.
My grandma always wore a wrap around apron that crossed over at the front (very much a 1940s style).
Toni xx
I love this apron Kerryanne and equally as much, the sentiment that goes with it. It is so you 🙂 I think it will be your favourite for some time. xo
Think you have a very caring old soul Kerryanne. I can remember my Grandmothers wearing aprons always as this was in 40’s and early 50’s.
I was around my Mom’s mom a lot more than Dad’s Mom as she lived in Pennsylvania and we lived in Cleveland , OH til we moved to Tucson, AZ in 1950. I was born in 1940 but have such vivid memories of all of my Mom’s family, she had 4 sisters and 2 brothers, we did so much with them til we moved for my brothers health, had asthma really bad.
My youngest daughter has one of my Mom’s aprons as she was one who ended up clearing out my Mom’s house, so think she has right to it.. I’d love to have it to wear but it means so much to her wouldn’t ask for it. I was living in Montana when Mom went into nursing home.
She has couple other things that were my Mom’s also, love that they mean so much to her. Have wonderful week Kerryanne.
Might just have to make couple aprons to wear.
So very special to have wonderful thoughts of your grandmother every time you wear that lovely apron. And I really like the style … Looks so easy to slip on. Thank you for sharing such beautiful memories!
What a wonderful touching story and I love how your incorporated bits and pieces of your grandmother and great grandma and great great grandma in the apron! I’m anxious to see your patterns. i’ve cooked for years and crafted my entire life, and have never worn an apron! Have meant to make one for years and years.. have made some for my sisters but not me! I need to change that and want to do what you did.. find some bits and pieces of my mom’s embroidery and vintage hankies and my grandmother’s crochet, which I still have. Love the wrap around design too. Thank you for the inspiration!
I really want this pattern. It’s exactly like the one my mother use to wear. She’s no longer here and I miss her everyday, and I want to make this to have a little remembrance of her. Thank you so much for sharing! Love you for it.
Simply gorgeous!
My nana always wore a floral wrap around apron, I very rarely saw her without it on. Your beautiful apron is so wonderful in every way and what a lovely tribute to those special women. X
Love the apron and the adorable pockets, I think for grandmother’s would all love what you did with the heirlooms.
Precioso. Muy femenino. Me encantaron las aplicaciones. Que disfrutes tu delantal. Un abrazo!!!
Love this tutorial thank you for sharing.
I saw your first tutorial for Grandma’s Apron, but I can’t find the free pattern you mentioned in the post. Is it available? I love this style of apron because it doesn’t put strain on my neck like the ones that go over your head and around your neck.
Hi Evelyn, this is the post with the apron patterns – https://www.shabbyartboutique.com/2016/05/how-to-make-altered-vintage-aprons.html 🙂
I love wearing aprons. My grandma put her’s on first thing every morning and there it stayed all day.
My Grandmother did the same Gracie… and I loved that about her ♥