joysandtears

Free Patterns

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 03:52:55 GMT

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Empire Style

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 03:48:39 GMT

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Dorcus Style

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 03:45:10 GMT

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Apron and Bonnet Pattern

Mon, 13 May 2024 04:39:33 GMT

Why are bonnets appearing along with aprons, you might ask? The reason is bonnets were combined with aprons in two ways. (A) as an apron and bonnet ensemble or set, and (B) a piece of cloth designed as an apron but also worn as a bonnet. Patt-o-Rama, a syndicated house name pattern for years sold a pattern for the letter (A ). This combination of bonnet and apron were often made up in red and white gingham and worn by all the ladies running booths at a church social or bazaar.

Apron and Dust Cap

Mon, 13 May 2024 04:26:43 GMT

Early 1900 magazines offered patterns also. One magazine was called, “Farm and Fireside”. It offered the homemaker a variety of patterns. A full-length coverall apron and dust cap was one of the early patterns. This ensemble was popular for nursing and serving occupations also. Farm and Fireside was a magazine published between 1879 and 1939.

Vogue Pattern Company

Mon, 13 May 2024 04:06:34 GMT

Final four - major apron pattern company- Vogue. The pattern company was formed in 1914, and it was in 1916, the patterns started to be sold in department stores for around 15 cents each. Before the company produced patterns, it was publishing a fashion magazine. Designs were considered fashion-forward, featuring styles of important designers. This concept was established with the early publisher, who capitalized on women’s dress clothes to look like “Silver Screen” stars. In 1949, Vogue patterns began the “Paris Originals”, a series featuring fashion-house designs of Schiaparelli and other designers. During the 1950’s, when apron designs turned from functional straight lines to more elaborate designs, Vogue apron patterns were increasing in availability. Finally 1960’s, the torch was passed to a new generation of designers including Yves Saint Laurent and Hubert de Givenchy. Last-but-not-least, American designers were being influential around 1967. Bill Blass was one of many contributing designers keeping the fashion-forward look in their pattern designs.

Simplicity Pattern Company

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:03:51 GMT

In 1927, it was Joseph Shapiro who started the Simplicity Pattern Company. It was a company which created and reproduced patterns that were affordable for the average household. Other patterns on the market sold from between 25 cents to $1. Simplicity patterns were mass-produced and generally sold for about 15 cents. They were sold in over 60 countries. Their first patterns too were unprinted patterns and by 1946 were all printed. In 1931, Simplicity partnered with the Woolworth Company to produce DuBarry patterns, which sold at an even more affordable price at 10 cents. During the WWII years DuBarry patterns followed many of the fabric restrictions found in ready-made wear.

A Puzzle Or A Pattern?

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 02:33:19 GMT

What was the experience like for the home sewer, to use one of those early Butterick or McCall’s patterns? We all know what it is like to put together a 500 piece puzzle or larger. It takes time to group colors, determine the patterns etc. The early patterns were definitely not like the patterns that can be purchased in 2024. A type of tissue paper was the norm used. Upon unfolding the pieces of tissue there were no printed markings at all, only notches and dots cut into the tissue for markings. So what did all this mean? The envelope; might be the only place where instructions or diagrams would be listed. Some patterns did have a separate instruction sheet; again with limited wordage telling the sewer how to assemble. Many patterns did not have seam allowances, thus the sewer needed to add when cutting. Other markings not printed included, grainlines, button and buttonhole placements, notches and even what size a finished garment would be. The home sewist was expected to have a very good familiarity with garment construction and basic pattern drafting in order to create their own garments. The first pattern company to introduce printed patterns was McCall, who started printing directions on their patterns in 1919, and held the patent rights to their printed pattern technology until 1938, their deadline for the rights. Other pattern companies were slow to adapt the new pattern printing technology and most didn’t print their patterns until the mid to late 1950s.

Second Pattern Company

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 01:52:33 GMT

A pattern company was founded by a Scottish tailor, James McCall in 1870. Yes, the McCall's Pattern company is one of two, oldest pattern companies to mass produce sewing patterns in the USA. The New York company published their first magazine of 4-5 Pages in 1873 called “The Queen”. In 1887 the first catalog was created featuring a broad range of patterns for the whole family featuring women, men and children’s clothing. Mr. McCall died in 1884, his widow then became president of the Company. Throughout the years many influential people designed and wrote for the McCall’s company including Eleanor Roosevelt starting in June 1949 until her death in November 1962. Her writings were titled, "If You Ask Me". Do you remember the famous paper doll, Betsy McCall, created by the company? The paper doll began in 1951 until 1995. The doll became so popular that various sized vinyl dolls were produced by Ideal and American Character Dolls. These dolls even had aprons to wear. Finally, the McCall's corporation folded in 2021 in Manhattan, KS with only 85 people employed.

USA’s First Sewing Machine

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 01:57:01 GMT

At this point, the American homemaker needed one more important item to make clothes and aprons; a sewing machine. Using a needle and thread was very time consuming. Here in America, Elias Howe, 1845, invented a lockstitch machine which paved the wave for the development of future sewing machines. The patent that was filed by Howe stated; “the machine had a needle with an eye at the point. It went through the fabric creating a loop on the reverse, a shuttle on a track that slipped the second thread through the loop, creating what is called the lockstitch.” The last years of the 1800s witnessed a growth of the middle class, in which more people could afford to purchase a sewing machine. The growth of home sewing really started to increase. They became more efficient and novice sewers could create professional looking aprons.

1903 Minnesota treadle sewing machine, which required no electricity, run by moving the bottom peddle back-and-forth with ones feet. I have made quilts and aprons using this sewing machine.

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First Pattern Company

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 01:28:59 GMT

It was during the westward expansion and the civil war when shoulder straps were placed to make aprons more practical. The Victorian era, end of the 1800’s and early 1900’s, women were using aprons for both utility and fashion. The first company to mass-produce and sell sewing patterns to the everyday person was the Butterick Publishing Company. It was established in 1863 by Ebenezer Butterick. He revolutionized the pattern industry by inventing the graded pattern, meaning it came in different sizes. Now it was possible to purchase one pattern and use it to make clothing and aprons for family members of various sizes.

Hand Sewn Aprons

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 05:41:46 GMT

Over two hundred years ago women sewed clothing including aprons by HAND using needle and thread. Factory-produced fabrics were affordable and available but easy-to-use patterns and sewing machines for the home seamstress were not sold in the United States until the 1850s. Early patterns were expensive and not widely available to the public. Dressmakers and tailors kept patterns as trade secrets. This changed in the 1830s when the first printed sewing patterns for the general public were published in magazine called “ Godey's Lady's Book ”. These patterns were simple and could be traced on paper then cut from fabric. Completely hand sewn aprons can help to date early aprons. In the 1960s, when gingham aprons were at their peak, some homemakers again sewed the entire apron by hand. MY collection backs up this statement as there are several gingham aprons all hand-sewn.

A Pinner Style

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 04:50:28 GMT

Time period now is the 1700’s. A small square or a rectangular shape piece of cloth was added above the waist of the skirt portion of the apron. This upper part was pinned near the shoulders to the dress garment. This apron pattern was known as a “Pinner” and was popular for over 200 years. The skirt of the apron was still tied with a string or ties in the back of the body at the waist. Later years this bib had many additional shapes. This apron was greatly appreciated when preparing meals over an open fire. The upper bib would not flop down into the flames of the fire. The pinner style was still worn into the 1940’s by some housewives. Crocheted apron patterns too were created in the pinner style.

1500 to 1600s Apron Patterns

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 04:30:51 GMT

Apron Patterns of 1500-1600s---- were still the basic half apron style but now fancier aprons were added into the wardrobe. These delicate aprons were worn by the elite society over their formal gowns. The overall style remained strictly below the waist but the embroidery and cutwork made them very ornate both on the skirt and sashes.

The “Medieval Period” in Europe

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 04:05:25 GMT

The “Medieval Period” in Europe starting around 476 with the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance period of the 14th century; paintings of the 1300’s, reveal aprons were worn by the servant staff keeping clothing clean. The nobility did not wear aprons as of yet. The apron worn was very simple. The pattern name was “belly apron”. The simplistic pattern made from a rectangular piece of cloth with a string attached at the waist, tied in back with the cloth hanging downward almost to the floor. Going forward with this series, note how this simplicity changes through the decades.

Way back in Time!

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 03:54:11 GMT

Sewing has existed for as long as people have made their own clothes. The first sewing used hides of animals and bones were made into needles to make clothes covering the body. A sewing pattern, as we know of it today, is a relatively recent invention, dating back to the 18th century. Primitive clothing was made by draping fabric on the body and sewing the form in place with hand sewing. This step became more sophisticated when the form was removed and traced onto paper for another usage. Thus the birth of a pattern. Paper is the main resource for patterns, but early patterns in factories were made from paperboard or a light weight cardboard to with-stand all the usage over and over. A common resource of paper in an early American household to create patterns was newspaper. Here is a Mother Clara story, I often tell in my vintage shows. Mother always wore the same style apron every day whether for work or special occasions and meals. All these aprons, of course, she made. After Mother entered her Eternal Rest and the chore of cleaning out the house was completed. There was wonderment about the pattern she used for making all those aprons. Rummaging through a sewing box one day, low and behold a folded up newspaper, was the pattern for the ever famous Mother Clara apron. Always thought it was from a commercial pattern company. No, it was from a 1959 Fairmont Sentinel paper! See below the actual newspaper pattern and mom’s creations.

Introducing "Apron Patterns, A Historical Tracing"

cycory@bevcomm.net (Yvonne Cory) — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 01:10:58 GMT

Introducing an educational series for 2024 – Joys and Tears in the Apron Strings celebrate 14 years of keeping the JOYS and TEARS memories in the apron strings. Not only is my goal to preserve memories but also to educate individuals about the exciting world of aprons. “Oh, it just an old apron to catch spills!!” is a comment heard throughout the centuries. But, WAIT! There is so much more to that old piece of cloth. In order for it to be made into an apron some type of template was used which was called a pattern. This template/pattern was traced on a woven piece of cloth, cut and made into a wearable garment called an apron. Thus down through the years, these patterns contains many stories, many joys and some tears.

This educational series is the first of two in 2024 called, “Apron Patterns – A Historical Tracing”.

Welcome to Joys and Tears in the Apron Strings Blog

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 15:30:00 GMT

A New Journey Begins...

A new journey begins as Joys and Tears in the Apron Strings approaches the year 2024, launching a website. It will showcase and preserve the legacy of these past 14 plus years of collecting vintage aprons and creating aprons.

There have been many firsts in this unbelievable journey, why not add another! I’ve gone from seamstress, to teacher, to promoter, to public speaker, to fiber artist. Now I hope I can navigate a website. But I am grateful to Rinehart Resources for setting up the mechanics and readying this new adventure, plus guiding me along as it was developed. Also, this website was funded by a Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council grant with funds appropriated from the Minnesota State Legislature general fund.

The website gives readers an insight how this legacy started during my childhood years with a stitch, then another, all with a hand crank sewing machine. In the past years, “The Elf on the Shelf” has been very popular, but for this legacy journey, “The Aprons on the Shelf” took a leap out of their tub and became a business adventure. Finally, how the sewing machine reappears, much more sophisticated, and plays a vital role now in being a fiber artist and designer of high-fashions aprons both wearable and displayed in art galleries.

I am nestled in the open fields of farmland where corn and soybeans grow in Southern Minnesota. I am a farm wife who uses the apron every day here on the farm. I strive to keep the history, culture and art of an apron alive in this 21 ^st century. Remembering and sharing the memories of those of past generations. I hope this website will bring you many memories to the forefront also. As my slogan reads, “Every apron has a story, Every apron has a past, Every apron has a history.”

I hope you will enjoy future stories I will be sharing in the year 2024.