My Grandmother's Aprons

Some of my most treasured possessions are old housewares and pieces of clothing and jewelry handed down by my maternal grandmother. It’s a combination of their age and style, plus knowing that she used, wore, and cared for the items until they passed on to my mother and finally to me, that gives them that special personality.

My grandmother was born in 1896; these two aprons were made by her sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. She always wore an apron at home, as did many women of her generation. This short crocheted apron is done mostly in double and treble stitches, with alternating solid rows and shells. The waistband and straps are double crochet filet, with single stitches finishing the edges, and it looks like a smaller hook was used for those sections. An increase was made along the bottom rows to create a ruffle. The yarn feels like cotton and is very soft. I feel certain that this apron was more decorative than utilitarian; I can’t imagine her using it to wipe the dough or gravy off her hands. Maybe it was intended more to show off her crochet skills than to protect her clothes in the kitchen.

Crocheted apron made and worn by author's maternal grandmother created using various stitches.

The cotton apron, beautifully embellished with cross-stitch and other stitches, is food-stained, proving that it was worn in the kitchen and not just “for show.” The buttons and buttonholes on the straps and waistband indicate that it was custom-made for a petite woman. I’m not a needlepoint expert, but I’ve done enough to know what it takes to make hundreds of perfectly matched cross and satin stitches over fine cloth. The construction of this apron is also very fine, with tiny machine stitches; only the buttonholes are hand-stitched and imperfect. Either Grandma was inexperienced in making buttonholes, or disliked the tedious, difficult task and wanted to get through it as quickly as possible. My mother used this apron before it came into my possession, and I’m sure that little pocket always had a Kleenex in it.

A wonderfully stitched apron full of memories.

Aprons are back in fashion, and racks of them in stores of all kinds attest to their colorful and practical appeal. As we find ways to use less water and electricity, throwing on an apron before cooking and cleaning saves our clothes from constant washing. And for me, my favorite aprons are another category of apparel, fun to wear and destined to be passed on and worn by women in the future.

Decorative cross stitching detail on a well-loved garment.

E.S. Everett has been crocheting since 1968, when a friend’s mom showed her how to do the basic stitches after school. She loves to make small, complex pieces with cotton thread, and enjoys making scarves and other larger pieces with various yarns for her volunteer group.

We'd love to hear your stories about textiles that have been handed down through generations of your family. Send us an email at piecework@longthreadmedia.com. -Editors