Reading Dorothy's lines about the old time apron has brought back many
memories. I remember all those uses and more - including holding the
carded wool for spinning, carrying the seed potatoes up the rows for
planting, rubbing down a newborn - be it foal or lamb and many more.
The thing being of course that all these aprons had something in
common - their size. As time has past and needs have changed the
apron has shrunk along with it's uses. If you find aprons now they tend
to be tiny fancy things - more decoration then use, because the old
aprons where usually made by the wearer. Sacking for garden/field work.
Calico for rough work/housework/cooking. maybe cotton for cooking
when companies due and of course the fancy worked ones for best
(when companies arrived). Some made lovingly with Patchwork or
stitching, some with pockets or bibs, some without. Each morning when
she would get up a fresh apron to start the day. No fancy washing
machines - but boiled up in the copper and hung on the line to bleach in
the sun. Just as it was a sign of growing up that a girl was given her
"first grown-up" apron to mark the fact that she to be treated as an equal
in the kitchen/house. Along with the apron came responsibilities. But the
home is not the only place where the apron is no longer important - do
not forget that once a part of every nurses uniform was the freshly
starched white apron - a badge of honor which commanded respect for
the training and dedication of so many tireless women. To some it was
a mark of servitude, to others a mark of pride. Either way you look at it
- times sure have changed. Trish - New Zealand
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