Just Pottering Around: February 2012

(Notice that a "Medium" is a size 14 - 16)
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The History of 'APRONS'

Here's a brief rundown of the "Age of Aprons," as compiled by Vetrovec.

Origin:
The English word "apron" came from "naperon," the old French word for napkin or small tablecloth.

Twelfth century:
Guess who wore aprons first? Men, as hygienic, protective wear.

Fourteenth century:Dark-colored aprons started to be worn tied at the waist.

Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries:
Colors denoted the trade of the wearer. English barbers wore a checked pattern; butchers and porters, green; and masons, white.

Seventeenth century:
Romantic notions began to blossom. Your beau is thinking of you if the apron becomes untied and drops off.

Eighteenth century:

The pinafore apron was "pinned" to clothing.

Nineteenth century: Cooks began turning the apron only once before washing. Any more, and the stains aren't hidden.

1900-1920:
Long aprons cover and protect clothing.

1920:
Straight-line aprons are the style.

1930:
Beautiful prints with bright sashes, along with crocheted aprons, make an appearance.

1940:
Printed half-aprons tied around the waist, and aprons made of handkerchiefs, are popular. Picture credit to The Apron Queen.

1950:
Full-skirted plastic aprons, and ones with cross-stitch designs, gain U.S. popularity.

1960:
Half-aprons with attached hand towels are sure-fire hits, along with aprons sewn with plastic hoops or valance material. Picture from Fabrics.net

1970 to present:
Barbecue, anyone? Grilling is a popular design or theme for modern-day aprons.

For Fairview's Judy Vetrovec, the history of aprons is as important as their beauty and practicality.
(from Judy Vetrovec)

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 also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons 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 folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

(from a link sent by a friend)