Apron Strings Exhibit
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From the Museum's
Collections
Michigan
Apron
Challenge
More about Aprons
Kid's Stuff
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Make an Apron:
Apron Ideas
Be
creative! Here are some ways to get the ideas flowing:
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Think
color! What colors remind you of patriotism, Michigan, times gone
by or another theme you'd like to make into an apron?
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Think
pattern! When you close your eyes, what does your apron look like?
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Get
out an apron you've saved that was your mother's, grandmother's or
great-grandmother's. Trace its shape and make your own pattern.
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Page
through magazines from the '20s, '30s, '40s, etc., at a library or
antiquarian book store. Check out the women in the advertisements.
Perhaps the magazine offered or printed actual patterns.
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Don't
forget men and children! Let's see . . . there are barbecue aprons,
work aprons, children's art aprons, pinafores and more.
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Aprons
aren't all gingham and flowers. Some of the aprons you'll see
exhibited in Apron Strings have comic, tourist souvenir or
ethnic themes.
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Buy
a pattern. McCall's Spring Preview 2002 book had the "Retro
Collection" with patterns from the 40s and 50s (2811, 3440, 3295)
and others (2233, 2947). Simplicity for Spring 2002 had retro/vintage
patterns (8372, 8720), a patriotic picnic apron (9161), child's apron
(8916) and more (7027, 7481, 7889, 8698, 9361, 9565, 9684). Add
your own creative touches.
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Want
to go back in time to the 19th century? Check out patterns reproduced from
original garments by companies with web sites. Past
Patterns has an 1896 Dorcas apron pattern (993).
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See
some vintage aprons in the collections of the Michigan Historical Museum.
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Some
companies on the web, such as Patterns
from the Past, sell (recycle) old patterns. Web sites for museum
and historic site reenactors, such as Harper
House, sell patterns that reproduce aprons from American colonial
days. You can often find old patterns at flea markets, too.
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Not
all aprons are meant to be used near food or work. There's always the
"apron as art."
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