On the heels of last week’s post, Moms Should Dress for Success, this week it’s all about . . .
Aprons
The word conjures up images of grandmother or mother baking in the kitchen or doing housework.
Gathering eggs, wood,
or flowers.
Or bringing in the garden’s bounty.
It brings to mind days of yore when aprons protected the few dresses one owned.
An apron is a shield to protect from food and grease, dirt and grime. It is also used to dry a child’s tears or wipe a sweaty (or perspiring) brow.
It swats at pesky flies, shoos away unwanted taste testers, or bum pinching husbands.
It also makes housework more fun when dressed up like this! At least that is what my daughters think. I think so too.
So today I’m giving away this “Betty” apron, designed in honor of my grandmother. Want to win one? Leave a comment of a memory you have involving an apron. Leave more than one memory (in separate comments) for more chances to win! Want to know who won? Look here!
Me? It’s seeing my other grandmother cooking tamales, enough to feed a small army.
This post is part of the Establish a House series that runs every Wednesday on this blog.
I only remember my paternal grandmother wearing an apron, and when she died, I was lucky enough to get one her aprons. It is still my favorite.
I love wearing aprons every day! I had to laugh at the bus stop last year when my new neighbor said, “you do know you’re wearing an apron right?” I thought, “No one would question why a nurse was out in public wearing scrubs!” I’m proud of the job that I do and enjoy reminding people that a Mom’s work never ends.
My best friend has her grand mothers apron framed and hangING in her kitchen along with a handwritten special recipe. I love seeing it!
My great grandmother immigrated to the United States from Albania in the late 40’s. I can’t ever remember her NOT wearing her apron…whether she was hanging laundry or baking she always seemed to have it on!
While on my mission in Ireland I was surprised by how many women wore aprons compared to what I was used to seeing growing up in the states. Often they would be outside working in their gardens with aprons on. It reminded me of Mrs. Cleaver on the old sitcom Leave it to Beaver :). I love wearing aprons!
My grandma used to wear an apron from the time she came home from work until she went to bed. On the weekend she would have it on all day long until she had to go to church or out some where. Miss that old lady.
My sisters and I were too young to have much spending money and it was my mother’s birthday. We gathered our change together and bought her a plastic four-in-one measuring spoon at the neighborhood market. From an old plaid shirt, we sewed a half apron, complete with pockets, edged with scraps of ric rac and random lace. She wore it out (or maybe the shirt was already worn out). One of my sisters inherited it when my mother passed away and still keeps it in her box of treasures.
Every time I see an apron in a store or a pattern to make one I want to make it or buy it. Isn’t that crazy. I think when you wear an apron you can become super women in the kitchen. Whip up a meal in a single bound.
Several years ago, my mother and her sisters decided to make a sister blog where they could all stay connected. They named their blog ‘Angels in Aprons’ because of the several old pictures they have of their grandmothers, great grandmothers, and great aunts in the kitchen wearing aprons. My great grandmother was a ranch hand cook in Kings River, Nevada 45 years ago, and we love the pictures of her cooking.
No way! Kings River is just up the road from us! (Well, about 45 minutes away but out here that’s just up the road) Do you know the name of the ranch she worked on?
Amazing! She cooked on the Rio King Ranch in Kings River. I don’t know if it is even there still. I have relatives in Battle Mountain and Fallon, but no longer any in Kings River.
Both of my grandmothers passed away before I was old enough to have any memories of them. But I cherish the pictures I have of my maternal grandmother. She was smart and stylish and always used an apron to cover up her beautiful dresses while she worked at home. I don’t wear an apron much, probably because I don’t have any cute ones, but every time I notice a hole or stain in a shirt, I wonder why not!
I love going to visit my grandma. I love the smell of her house, her baby dolls, and her all her thrift store finds. Every time I visit her, she is wearing an apron that is color coordinated with the outfit she’s wearing that day.
My husband wears an apron every Sunday afternoon to do the dishes. 🙂 He’s done this ever since we were first married almost 35 years ago!
My grandson often reminds his mama to “wear her apron.” when she is in the kitchen. He often brings it to her. He is 4.
I wish I had a memory involving aprons! And not even just because of this post, but because I’ve always loved the idea of aprons. I had one at one point (as a little girl) that went with a play dress, and I wore it a lot (because playing pretend Cinderella was fun), but none of the adults in my life wore one! Then again, none of the adults that I grew up around were very, well, fantastic about the house! We got along fine and clean and fed, sure, but nothing messy was ever made or done!
I wish I grew up with apron memories, but I didn’t. I grew up in a not big on the cooking side, kind of home and family. My husband on the other hand, grew up with a Mama wearing an apron, all the time! She has passed that on to me. I LOVE Aprons, I wear them often! One time I even took off on a walk, and put my jacket on over my apron. My walking friend, asked me if that was my apron, I just smiled!
My children will grow up with apron memories! My MIL has made them all a few already!! They love wearing them, for dishes, and cooking and even for play!
Just tonight all my little wild, rough and tough boys, asked to wear their aprons! They were playing restaurant and needed their aprons! 🙂
The one you made, is just lovely! I love the design, and colors!
AuntSue
My mother never wore an apron, she liked to wear housecoats, still does. But my mother in law and her mother both wore aprons everyday. They were an interesting design that also wrapped around the back. I made cute aprons for the teenage servers at my wedding, and an apron for my favorite aunt’s birthday when I was a young married. My daughter found a very cute red vintage apron to wear over her wedding dress at her picnic reception. She looked adorable and her dress remained beautiful. I would love to win the cute apron and retire the ugly one I have now.
My Grandmother had 15 children, and plenty of grand kids. My memory of her and her aprons(handmade and not pretty busy practical) were she always had some sort of treat in the pockets. So good memories all round.
I love aprons! I remember my grandma wearing them . When I wanted to learn to sew, the project that my mom started me with was an apron! I made aprons for each of my boys to wear when they were helping in the kitchen or doing messy craft projects! Long live the apron!
One year at college, one of my roommates made aprons as gifts for each of us in the apartment. She chose fabric to fit each of our personalities and interests. Every time I see that apron I’m reminded of that friend and the good times we had together.
I don’t have any apron memories, but I make them for my children. I LOVE aprons. (Planned a whole Stake Girls Camp with an apron theme once.)
Just last weekend, we had company and they were all taking pictures of my adorable teenage boys doing dishes wearing my cute Christmas aprons. They especially wear my aprons on Sunday when they don’t want to get their church clothes dirty.
I love the apron you’re giving away. It’s darling.
The picture of your Grandma made me smile. It reminded me of my Grandma Gwen. Her delicate hands and that smile on her face as she made meals for everyone. She had 7 kids and many, many grandkids to spoil 🙂 Great post 🙂
I don’t remember any of my relatives wearing an apron. It was my mother-in-law that introduced me to them. Teaching me to make piecrust.
My mom would wear her yellow apron every time she baked and decorated our birthday cakes or wedding cakes for family members. When I saw her put on that apron I knew frosting was involved! 🙂
Another memory: Sundays my mom would wear one of her nice cobbler aprons while she cooked dinner (always roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies and rolls). I especially loved it when she would wear her lace cobbler apron because it just seemed so fitting for the Sabbath day.
Last memory: My grandma loves aprons, which is why my mom always wears one in the kitchen and why that has spilled down into me. I love aprons! My grandma has given all her granddaughters a couple of aprons. Last time she attached a cute little apron story similar to the things you highlighted in your blog post. Cobbler aprons especially remind me of my grandma.
I don’t have a memory to share per se’, but I love aprons. I feel pretty and nostalgic and, basically feel like I am getting back to the basics when I wear on. The cuter the better. 🙂
There is an apron pattern in our family referred to as “The Apron”. We make matching ones depending on the event… weddings, holidays, etc. I’m sure it came to by with my Nana. I always remember her wearing one and now I do too.
I think I need an apron so I can have an apron memory. The apron you are giving away is so cute! I did sew 2 little crayon aprons for my girls a few years back. Now my littlest daughter uses the crayon aprons and loves them!
I did work at a preschool about 20 years ago and we wore kind of like a smock over our clothes. Does that count for an apron? It is so funny that I have never seen my mom, mother-in-law, or grandmas in aprons. We are in desperate need.
When I was a sophomore in college, my older sister was a newlywed and I wanted to do something nice for her for Christmas. I wanted to make her an apron, but I had very limited sewing skills. I asked my grandmother to help me. She and I had a wonderful time working on the apron together. My sister was very touched by the gift. And I felt the joy of giving a gift that was homemade and from the heart. I’m grateful for those memories with my grandma and for the time she spent teaching me. I’m also very grateful to have a sweet sister to share the journey of life with.
I had to go to a church function and bring three things that would represent me. Kind of an get to know you thing. Anyway I came up with two, my photo album and hiking boots, but was stuck for a third. My good friend, who had been at my home all day canning green beans, laugh and said of course you have to wear your apron. I am seen all over wearing an apron. I enjoy them because they remind me of my great work as a homemaker and mother. My grandmothers always wore aprons.
I remember falling and hurting myself while playing in my grandmothers barn. I ran into the house sure I would die. She smiled lifted me to sit on the top of the dryer in the mud room and wiped my tears with her apron. Her apron smelled like fresh bread. Then she proceeded to clean my knees and bandage them up. Off I went soon after sure I was healed and swinging once again from the hay loft.
My grandmothers and my great-grandmothers all wore aprons. My mother wore one often too. Seeing them in an apron often meant that there was some yummy goodness owing from the kitchen soon. :~)
I don’t remember my mom ever wearing an apron!! But for some reason, I feel that it makes me more confident as a homemaker!! I only have one apron and it makes me feel awesome!!
I have always been very bad about remembering to wear an apron. And now I realize it’s because neither my mother nor her mother ever wore them. As for my great apron memories….all that know me well know that Mr. Neoclassic is the chef in our home. And he wears an apron that I purchased for him years ago that says “Head Chef”. I will always keep the memories of seeing him over the years bustling about our kitchen tending to dinner preparations and sometimes even calmly instructing his children in the kitchen arts. Sometimes those aren’t calm 🙂
I am getting better and usually remember to wear my own apron when baking (which isn’t cooking, you know). My white apron (getting white was a huge mistake) was so stained, I almost threw it out. Then I just threw it into the sink with dark blue dye – make do or do without!
I found these poems online after a google search for apron poems, and thought you all might enjoy them.
Grandma’s Apron
by Tina Trivett
The strings were tied, It was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.
For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.
The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She may have used it to hold, some wildflowers that she’d found.
Or to hide a crying child’s face, when a stranger came around.
Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.
Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.
She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.
To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.
When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.
You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.
She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.
Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.
When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I’m sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.
I miss you Grandma…
And here is an amended version that had arrived in our mailbox and prompted our search for its author:
Grandma’s Apron
(author unknown)
When I used to visit Grandma. I was very much impressed,
by her all-purpose apron, and the power it possessed.
For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.
The strings were tied and freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.
The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She used it for a basket, when she gathered up the eggs,
and flapped it as a weapon, when hens pecked her feet and legs.
She used it to carry kindling when she stoked the kitchen fire.
And to hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.
She used it for a hot pad, to remove a steaming pan,
and when her brow was heated, she used it for a fan.
It dried our childish tears, when we’d scrape a knee and cry,
and made a hiding place when the little ones were shy.
Farm produce took in season, in the summer, spring and fall,
found its way into the kitchen from Grandma’s carry all.
When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I’m sure the apron she chose that day, was her Sunday best.
My grandmother always wore an apron, and when I got married and asked for one she sent several. Now that she’s passed on, I still feel like I have her in the kitchen with me adding that little bit of love to my meals.
I just felt too left out without an apron so I made one today. It is a full size apron and has ruffles and cupcake material and turned out so cute that I can’t take it off. I think I feel like your sister-in-law wanting to clean and dancing around the house. I guess maybe my kids will have some apron memories. My four girls want me to sew them aprons too.
When I was in achievement days we were decorating aprons and all of the girls were making them for themselves or for their mothers. I decided that I would make an apron for my daddy, because he always had to wear the one my mom had with ruffles on the bib. My dad is the best hunter and always brought home the best foods for us. How great it was to go hunting with him and watch the full process of killing it, cleaning it, and then cooking it. So on the apron I made for him I wrote, “I kill it and I cook it!”
Funny thing is, even after having his own, more masculine apron, he seemed to prefer wearing the frilled apron.
My mother had a few aprons, but there was one that was used everyday. It had on it “All-Purpose Flour’ and had a picture of a big turkey on it that said “50 pounder!” After years of wearing that apron everyday, the ties are now hardly still holding on. Actually, one of them did break, but her tiny waist allows it to still be tied. Don’t we all have one of those things that are clearly worn out and someone else would simply throw out, but that item holds way too many memories. When I got married my aunts gave me a “flirty apron” and I can tell already that it may just become one of those items, as that apron is to my mom.
When I was little my parents had matching aprons, a black and white checkered gingham fabric. The one for my mom said ‘Kiss the cook”. I remember loving them and seeing them but I really don’t ever remember my mother wearing it.
For girls camp, our bishopric always made us a really good barbecue meal every year. As a thank you, we made them aprons!
I remember my Mom making homemade wheat bread in an apron.
Both of my grandmothers wore aprons. They always wore them even for sewing…….or maybe they forgot to take them off from lunch!
All my aprons were made by my mother-in-law. I wear the apple one for canning days. My other one needs mending since my girls were playing horsey with the ties and ripped one!
I inherited a yellow half-apron my grandma embroidered many years ago for Beehive class, with a white rose. It had very delicate lace edging so it is only used for decoration.
Sorry, I can’t resist posting another one: My mom wears the cutest apron on Thanksgiving when she is baking her famous pies (well, famous to our family, anyway!). It is tan with a turkey on it and says “Gobble til you wobble!” I love that apron. She also has a really fun Mrs. Claus apron that she wears on Christmas Eve, along with my dad who wears his Santa apron. They wear them when cooking our big red and green Christmas Eve dinner.
My Grandma often wore a blue and white gingham checked half apron while she prepared Sunday dinner. I have that apron now and I love to remember her cooking!