I remember aprons .... Do you?
By weemam
@weemam (13372)
March 24, 2007 4:55pm CST
This was in an email sent to me tonight , It brought back so many memories , I still have new aprons in a drawer that my aunt made me , she used to sell them at the Church Fete , It is only a few years since I stopped using them xx
I remember aprons .... Do you?
Aprons
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath,
but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks,
and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.
And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.
Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.
Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.
From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.
After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.
In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much
furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron,
and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.
It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace
that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.
11 people like this
38 responses
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
24 Mar 07
My ex used to wear an apron especially when messy food like bolognaise I always used to tie the strings up at the back. It was an apron with cats on it. I don't actually remember my mum wearing an apron, she probably did but I have no recollection, you can still buy them today however, ideal especially if you have little ones and teaching them to cook! We wore them at college when we made bread.
3 people like this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
25 Mar 07
That brought back all sorts of memories. My mom had 2 drawers full of aprons that she had done embroidery on. I used to use them when I would play "dress-up", and later in life, when I was cooking with my mom. I wouldn't mind having a few now. Lord knows I need 'em! LOL
3 people like this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
24 Mar 07
I remember aprons, as we still use them especially when using flour so that it does not end up all over my clothes, and my husband has an apron for when he is cooking outside with the B-B-Q. Yes I know apart from this that the apron was used for many other reasons. The apron certainly was good for holding a lot of items, and yes my mother also used to wave in the men from the fields.
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
24 Mar 07
I do remember the aprons that my mom and grandmother always wore my mom always had the apron with out the bib, and Gran's was the type with the bib.The first ever sewing project we did in home EC was making our own apron, We had to buy the white cotton place the pattern properly cut it out and sew it, I worked so long on mine it was Grey with dirt before I ever finished it I hated that darn thing, . When I was a cook for 20 odd years an apron was very important to me because I could easily wear the menu. It might have had to do with the fact that I was only 4'11" and had to get real close to reach the back of the grill. Most companies rent the aprons but I loved to buy my own I found a shop that supplied all sorts of aprons and always got the butcher aprons as the were big, long, and had a pocket on the top. as well as an adjustable loop for the neck. my next favorite were the cobblers aprons sort of like a vest with ties on the sides the beauty of these was you could turn them around and get a clean front twice a shift.
3 people like this
@Connie1013 (1098)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I think you are correct. I don't even own one. I know my MOM and my Grandma owned plenty. Maybe we just don't cook like they used too. I know I don't.
@Connie1013 (1098)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Could be! My MOM wears hers and makes them. I wish I could sew.
1 person likes this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Weemam...You wonderful woman.Thanks you so much for the walk down memory lane.My granmama and mother both always wore one.Mama always kept a clean nice one in the drawer of the sideboard so she could quickly stuff the old dirty everyday one and replace with the pretty one if company arrived unexpected and we often had folks just drop in.
I read the discussion and could smell Granmama's kitchen,a combination of apples,wood burning,pine chips from the kindling box,herbs drying,cinnamon,strong coffee....
Thanks Honey..sniff
@rainbow (6761)
•
25 Mar 07
My mum wore aprons, mostly now they seem to be plastic coated, great for the kids but no good for me. I have to admit my teatowel has many uses like an apron. I wear long skirts so I often use them to arry things to, lol.
One day I will turn ino a pinny-person and protect my clothes, I often think how I would like one when I'm cooking.
Maybe I will make one, I used to like my mum red and white oxo one, and be-ro flour one she had to save packets to get them, and my mamma (mums mum) had a lovley white one with a pleaty bit all round the edges, thank-you so much for bringing those memories back.
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
25 Mar 07
I remember Aprons really well. I come from the generation when Aprons were used all of the time. What a memory these are, and these are Great memories to have with the thoughts shared here.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
25 Mar 07
I remember aprons quite well. Perhaps I should still be using one.
My mother & Grandmother always wore an apron when cooking, sometimes for other jobs too, anything messy.
The idea gradually faded out, due to fashion I suppose.
I often get messy when cooking, & I have thought of using an apron. But I would look old fashioned...
Also, aprons were easy to sew, and it was often one of the first items new sewers could make.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Oh, I remember aprons, I remember growing up and my great grandma would cook, She would give me one of hers to put on. I loved aprons, but as I got older, I never really bothered to put one on. Alot of my family members such as great aunts, grandparents, my step mom still use aprons until this day. When they come home from church instead of going to take off their clothes, being they were going back to church later on that evening, they would put a apron on and make dinner.
Now talking to young ladies now a days, you talk about a apron, they are like what, why? I'll just go change my clothes so they don't get dirty..lol
2 people like this
@mrsturner (518)
• Canada
25 Mar 07
I wear aprons all the time to protect my clothes. unfortunately, I have a bad habit of wiping my hands down the sides of my legs while I bake. This results in ruiniing a lot of my outfits if I forget my apron.
2 people like this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
25 Mar 07
Weemam, that brought back so many memories for me of when I was growing up in Scotland, and it made me cry. As I was reading it, I could still see my mother in her "pinnie" as we called it. She had one of the wrap-over ones and I remember hiding inside it when someone new came to the house (I was a shy child); it was my protection. I used to wear one over my dress as a very small child, and I remember filling it with little frogs I used to find in our garden and bringing them into the house in my pinnie! Those aprons served so many purposes, and I don't think they will ever be replaced. You're right - kids today wouldn't know what an apron was or what is was used for! Such a shame don't you think?
@Lavera1 (896)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Yes, WEE, I certainly do remember aprons. Infact I still wear them when I'm doing heavy dish washing and especially heavy cooking. I've also made some for myself and for my daughter.
I require pockets to be on mine also. They come in handy when I need to remove finger rings.
@Galena (9110)
•
25 Mar 07
reading that just made me think how grubby it would have been and all the cross infection risks.
hehe.
I wear an apron to work in, just one of the butcher style ones that is just below the waist.
trouble is, it's got me into the habit of wiping my hands on my thighs even at home, which means I get cooking mess on my trousers. hehe.
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Mar 07
A friend's mother actually gave me an apron a few weeks ago. It's hanging in my kitchen. I don't get so dirty when I do house work or kitchen work but I do need something to wipe my hands often. I keep a pretty or colourful hand towel handy for that purpose.
I don't need an apron I need a bib for when I eat cos I always spill something very messy down the front of me. So embarrassing ...lol...even if I'm on my own.
@ashleypastor (173)
• United States
26 Mar 07
I use an apron, I love them. When I clean it is nice because you have a place to put small cleaning supply's. Also I make chocolate powder almost every weekend and I have to wear an apron.
I really think that aprons have great purposes as you have stated :)
@wifeofharvey (1156)
• United States
25 Mar 07
I still wear aprons, and I love them. They do keep clothes cleaner, also that pocket [and my aprons must have at least one pocket] is very handy for all sorts of things. I sew, so having aprons is not a problem. I have seen in some 'fashion' media where aprons are being used as an accessory or fashion item, that baffles my mind. I doubt that the wearers of those aprons get the same homey and comfortable feeling that I get in mine.
@franxexces (1096)
• Philippines
25 Mar 07
that was a cute e-mail.. =) i remember wearing aprons when I was in elementary in our HELE club were we used to cook and serve food when we were in the sixth grade. And in third yr high school in our cooking class we cooked several delicious meals! it was fun!
2 people like this
