Victorian Aprons
Fancy-work Victorian aprons were fit companions to the work-basket, and much artistic taste was expended on this garment to make it a bit of loveliness to the eye and a dressy contribution to the toilette. All kinds of dainty fabrics were used for its construction, and there was no limit to the beautiful effects achieved with ribbons, embroidery, lace, etc.
Sample of Authentic Victorian Apron c 1850
Victorian Instructions for Making
Your Own Vintage Apron
Figure No. 1. - Linen is the material used for this Victorian apron, the simple finish being a deep hem, with the threads drawn and caught in network fashion. Above this are Greenaway designs done in many colored crewels, while the belt is confined at the back by longs ties of ecru ribbon. Pongee or Surah silk was often chosen instead of linen, but the ease with which the latter may be embroidered went far to commend it to the amateur worker not as yet certain of her success on finer stuffs.
One outline design used in embellishing this Victorian apron is illustrated as Figure No. 2.
Figure No. 2. - Whether the little Romeo is here urging an invitation to the dance or suggesting a cool and shady retreat, nobody can say, save the little maid who listens so intently. Such designs would be particularly appropriate for hangings, for linen covers for a baby's couch, for aprons, or for the mantel drapery in a young girl's especial retreat.
This Victorian Apron design is done in crewels, and to the taste of the worker is left the choice of colors. The design is given in the full size, so that it can be easily understood and the effect brought before the mind's eye with very little trouble. Very quaint effects are obtained by choosing tints the reverse of realistic for this kind of work. Very often the entire design is done in one color, and it is really wonderful how much originality of effect may be brought out by such uniformity. Any preferred com-mingling of tints is, however, in order.
Download to make your own Victorian apron or art project. (Download is .pdf)
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The remaining patterns will be available soon.
Apron Appropriate to Wear While Embroidering
Here is an apron that is appropriate, and was higly suggested, for wearing while embroidering or creating any other fancy work. The book providing these instructions was written in 1901.We show here a model for a convenient work apron. The apron should be long enough to nearly, if not quite, cover the skirt, and the hem should be turned up on the right side to a depth of twelve inches and caught down at regular intervals from the ends, to form pockets for threads, small embroidery hoops, piercer, stilletto, and the smaller articles one uses most frequently in embroidering. The apron can be made as ornamental as one chooses or as plain, but it is better to make it of linen, as dust will not adhere to it so readily.
As can be seen by the above Victorian apron illustration, ladies of that era not only liked to remain tidy at all times, they were resouceful as well. The apron, as described, can almost be a sewing basket and apron in 1!
Be sure to check back often for new illustrations and instructions of Victorian aprons.
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