Thursday, January 15, 2009

The History of Aprons

My mom sent this to me and I thought that it was fun! I loved rummaging through my moms apron drawer and finding just the right one to wear when helping in the kitchen! My very favorite was one that she had made that covered the front and back part of you and tied on the sides. It was made from a pork and beans print material and was awesome!

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 easier to wash aprons than dresses and they 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 knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be along time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

21 comments:

Noodlegirl said...

I love aprons! I don't have one as I don't deserve it yet I cook crap!

Brandi said...

I Loved this!! So neat and true! Now that I have a few, I should wear them a little more often!
See you soon!!!!

Michelle said...

I love vintage aprons. I didn't know some of this. I knew they were used to carry eggs and vegetables, etc. and to keep one clean. :) That's about all! I would use one just to look cute.

~gail~mooselovingmamabear said...

Loved this... I love aprons; the ones I have/wear are the chef/kitchen white kind since I have kids who were in culinary in college...LOL

TFS...

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I have quite a few aprons and my daughter loves to borrow them. Love this post.

~The Dippold's said...

I absolutely love aprons!! Such a cute and informative post! :)

Katie M. said...

What a creative thing to post, emily! Thanks for the lift. I heart a good apron..

Noor said...

I loved reading this. I posted something about aprons along time ago, titled my baking obsession, lol.

I missed your blog bc I was away from awhile but glad to be able to catch up on all your yummy recipes.

Cheri Sicard said...

I loved this article. Thank you. Well written and so nostalgic.

As for me, I wear aprons all the time, or my clothes would be ruined. I am a slob in the kitchen (well...not just in the kitchen).

Sandy said...

I just made 6 little aprons for Brooklyn's Birthday party. All the little girls looked so cute in them.

Chelsea and Cody said...

I just made your monterrey chicken...it is to die for! Thanks for the delicious go-to meal!

Jenny said...

It's funny, I love those cute aprons, but I rarely put one on while I'm in the kitchen. Then I get mad at myself when I get all dirty! Go figure. Great little story.

Deb and Blake said...

Love this post Emily! My favorite was a little red apron with yellow and white flowers. It is still hanging in my Mom's kitchen and it brings back memories of baking bread with her when I was a little girl! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Maria said...

I have tons of aprons, I love them all!

Pam said...

What a great post. I never thought of all uses an apron has.

Anonymous said...

I just discovered your blog today and found this post in the archives. I thought you might like to see the picture of my daughter at her wedding wearing an apron over her wedding dress. She was 24....
http://wendyusuallywanders.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/i-love-these-pictures-of-heathers-wedding/

Now she is 25 years old and off hiking the Appalachian trail! :-)

GrandmaJ said...

I have worn aprons since little. Infact, on a real busy cooking-baking day, wear one front & back. My pride and joy ones are for purple ribbons at the county fair in bread baking! Dress or Sunday aprons were gingham checked and cross-stitched on them. My granddaughters graduated from bib to apron by age 3. A friend decorated the tops with Grandma's Helping Hands. And when we cook, they get them down and wear them. Little Rachel Rays.
I have many of my grandmother's aprons (she died 1981) and I will cherish them always. When you worked at a wedding or anniversary party in any job, your gift was a decorated nylon lacy apron.

GrandmaJ said...

I have worn aprons since little. Infact, on a real busy cooking-baking day, wear one front & back. My pride and joy ones are for purple ribbons at the county fair in bread baking! Dress or Sunday aprons were gingham checked and cross-stitched on them. My granddaughters graduated from bib to apron by age 3. A friend decorated the tops with Grandma's Helping Hands. And when we cook, they get them down and wear them. Little Rachel Rays.
I have many of my grandmother's aprons (she died 1981) and I will cherish them always. When you worked at a wedding or anniversary party in any job, your gift was a decorated nylon lacy apron.
The uses listed are just some of the many.

apron sale said...

i waas looking regarding Aprons history and i found this and i think this is not the history of aprons. If this is where did you get this? Gosh. Some resources please???

Anonymous said...

I had an apron given to me last Christmas and the poem came with it. I want to start a tradition in my family so I've bought 2 aprons, 1 for my 37 year old daughter and for my 29 year old daughter-in-law. I have a new 11 month old granddaughter that I will give an apron to when she learns to stand up in a chair and help her mom make cookies. I have my mom's and grandmom's apron that are over 76 years old and I cherish all of them. I will be wearing on Christmas day. Ladies...start a tradition today..give an apron with Love.

Womens aprons said...

I love that poem! Aprons have really changed over the years. What started as a very practical article of clothing has almost become a fashion statement. They are very stylish and sophisticated today.