Friday, April 30, 2010

New Idea 2839 - Ladies' Work Apron



Nineteen-teens.

The designers are not kidding about this being a work apron; note the good-sized patch pockets (apron patterns without pockets always baffle me; where are you supposed to stash all the kitty toys that you find while you're thumping the couch cushions?) and the sensible dusting cap.

Once again, we see from the layout that piecing the apron is acceptable.


Separate instruction sheets in sewing patterns don't generally show up until the 1920's.  Here are all the instructions for making up this apron:




3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have noticed before that you comment on piecing. Does the pattern give any idication of the width of fabric they expect the sewer to be using? I suspect that the fabric was not wide enough to cut the piece. Or am I reading the layout wrong?

andrea.at.the.blue.door said...

Yes, this pattern gives yardages for fabric widths of 27" (which is 12/16th of a yard), 36", and 42" (1 yard, 6" wide). (I often crop the yardage charts so that bulk of the image is on the design.) The instructions don't indicate which width is used for the single layout given, and I haven't examined the pattern pieces, but I'd guess the layout is for the 27" width, as less or no piecing would be required for the wider widths, so you're reading the layout correctly.

I call out piecing because I think there are two aspects of the practice that are interesting: first, that the maker is expected to know how to do this, and second, that piecing is considered acceptable (primarily for utilitarian garments which are worn in the home, but a piecing layout is sometimes given for the sleeves of men's shirts.)

SAL™ said...

I made one like this on my own. I wish I'd seen this first, it would have helped!