An Apron a Day
An Apron a Day
June
-
Mon May 12, 2008 @ 07:14AM
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The latest apron...Flapper Style
I've been in business now for nearly four years, on again, off again with the ebb and flow of pregnancy, child-rearing, illness, life, etc.
Well, I'm finally getting back to business on a regular basis (you know, in my "spare time,") and I know just scads of you apron lovers are dying to see the "behind the scenes view" of
Dorothy's Aprons.
All kidding aside, I love my "job." Over the weekend I was working on a pattern from 1931 and as per working with vintage items, someone along the lines had cut a second pattern to fit from an old newspaper. It was a gem.
I love knowing each of them was used by someone at some point, and try to imagine what they were like, and how their aprons turned out, and all the memories associated with them.
I learned a LOT along the way. I learned I didn't really want or have to do EVERYTHING and offer EVERYTHING, and that I couldn't realistically do EVERYTHING. I finally narrowed it down to the niche I loved and which I believed isn't currently being filled out there. Aprons that are one-of-kind, practical in their coverage, and all from patterns dated BEFORE 1950. I have some patterns that are crumbling as they near their 100th birthdays.
It is just so much fun to piece them together and watch a lovely piece of attire come from a flat, unimpressive piece of woven cotton threads. (The same reason I love KNITTING!)
They take a surprising amount of time. Each one takes me anywhere from 4-12 hours to make from beginning to end and I don't leave out any details or skimp. I started the business with a longing to reconnect to my grandmother, and my childhood, everything that was good about "back then."
So, for all of you apron lovers out there, the excitement begins....the first item on my list before I even crack open the sewing machine, is the theme music. I have an "Apron Mix" of big band, and music from the 20s, 30s and 40s. I personally don't think I can sew aprons without it.
All kidding aside, I love my "job." Over the weekend I was working on a pattern from 1931 and as per working with vintage items, someone along the lines had cut a second pattern to fit from an old newspaper. It was a gem.
I love knowing each of them was used by someone at some point, and try to imagine what they were like, and how their aprons turned out, and all the memories associated with them.
I learned a LOT along the way. I learned I didn't really want or have to do EVERYTHING and offer EVERYTHING, and that I couldn't realistically do EVERYTHING. I finally narrowed it down to the niche I loved and which I believed isn't currently being filled out there. Aprons that are one-of-kind, practical in their coverage, and all from patterns dated BEFORE 1950. I have some patterns that are crumbling as they near their 100th birthdays.
It is just so much fun to piece them together and watch a lovely piece of attire come from a flat, unimpressive piece of woven cotton threads. (The same reason I love KNITTING!)
They take a surprising amount of time. Each one takes me anywhere from 4-12 hours to make from beginning to end and I don't leave out any details or skimp. I started the business with a longing to reconnect to my grandmother, and my childhood, everything that was good about "back then."
So, for all of you apron lovers out there, the excitement begins....the first item on my list before I even crack open the sewing machine, is the theme music. I have an "Apron Mix" of big band, and music from the 20s, 30s and 40s. I personally don't think I can sew aprons without it.
Patterns All in a Row
Serger & spare sewing machine...just in case.
My beloved Elna Heirloom Machine
From a distance....yes it does look like chaos...but is organized chaos!
The current apron in the works
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