The History of 'APRONS'


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.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love...

How sweet! Thanks for sharing.

I love this w/ the pics. My MIL always wore an apron, long after she passed my DD asked for her aprons. They were long gone, so from pics of her I sewed miniture aprons and made my DD a lovly shadow box. A treasure she will always have w/ pics of her and gramma, the aprons , wrist watch, ect.
Thanks for the memories.

An apron was the first thing we made in our Home Ec sewing class. Mine was blue gingham checks.

I have been wanting to sew a apron! I love the size of the pattern from way back when, it kinda puts things into perspective when everything is so small nowdays.

I love that. I am only 46 years old and still wear an apron everytime I walk into my kitchen. My daughter now 21 was making cookies the other day and said "mom" may I wear your apron?" It brought a smile to my face. Thanks for sharing. :-)

Thanks for sharing, brings back memories.

I could see my grandma in every point here. I do wear aprons because I am a slob when I cook or bake and always get something on me. Hope they make a comeback.

So was mine.

Aprons are making a comeback. I can spot kits for making them at Hancock Fabric/Joann and in places like IKEA.

I love using one when I cook.