My recent interest in aprons began when I needed material to use for quilt restoration. After attending a QUILT FESTIVAL where aprons were on display, I was inspired to begin my own collection. As my COLLECTION grew I realised that not only are aprons a practical garment they are documents of womens lives through the 20th century.
They were made of material readily available to a maid or housewife. Some aprons were made from flour sacks, others were decorated with lace, bias trim or rick-rack and some made out of the same gingham used for tablecloths. As time has gone on the apron for use in the home has almost become a thing of the past. A hundred years ago, aprons were part of regular dress attire. Today, at least in the domestic setting, the 'apron drawer' is no more. I have organized my aprons by era but they can be classified by type - waist, bib, smock and also by color. The fabric embellishment and style also help in dating the era when each apron was worn. Have fun browsing through a very small part of my collection.
Here I am at the Waterloo County Quilt Festival, May 2000. This was the inspiration for my own collection of aprons.
With 250 plus aprons in my collection I was able to put together an exhibition at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte, Ontario.
The exhibition was on from May to September, 2001.
Photo courtesy of Jim Young of Reuters
