Seeking a quick and gentle sewing project since I’m suffering from carpel tunnel syndrome from massive gardening work, I simply sewed a machine stitched project from my Vintage Notion book.
Recalling directions from a premade item in this 1920s reprint of fashion newsletters from the largest home economics publication at the time, I found them on pages 30 and 31, for the month of January.
1925 ORIGINAL PUBLICATION
Originally written by Margaret Murrin, for Inspiration in 1925, Men’s Shirts Put to Feminine Use presented directions for sewing an apron from a man’s shirt looked quite simple.
Gentle movement would help restore my aches and pains!
Instead of including patterns, diagrams and explanations allowed me to sew the apron without even need of drafting a pattern.
Interestingly, Murrin described how to use one man’s long-sleeved shirt for two aprons, one comprised only of the sleeves, and the other rest of the shirt.
1920S BEAUTY?
Not really a fan of 1920s fashions, I’ve enjoyed discovering a few that I love.
With that goal in mind, I determined to create a cute apron despite the lackluster renderings for this project, which typified 1920s plain aesthetic.
Humorously, despite lackluster plain renderings of the finished product, Murrin wrote:
When remodeling, the end in view is the accomplishment of something of use or beauty, but when use and beauty are combined, the result is doubly worth the effort put toward it. Such a result may be had I making use of the unworn parts of the discarded shirts of the masculine members of the family for aprons cut, trimmed, and finished… -Vintage Notions, Barickman, p30
Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder…and seamstress, I looked forward to creating beauty alongside utility.
SEWING THE SHIRT-APRON
Obtaining an unwanted man’s shirt, I experimented with beauty and function with this little worn like-new shirt that I’ve always liked.
Since the diagrams and instructions are crystal clear about the demolition process, cutting the shirt into usable pieces to properly prepping the shirt was a snap!
Within minutes I had a one-piece apron, that merely needed the connecting parts sewn together.
Despite lack of detail for finishing the apron ties with buttons and buttonholes, I merely fit it to myself and stitched away.
Digging through my button stash, I found these adorable heart buttons.
Dare I say, the more I worked on this shirt apron, the more I liked it?
Since the shirt pocket was part of one the straps that I cut, I decided to keep the pocket for the fun of it.
Here’s the proof that it was once a man’s shirt! A label inside my apron! I love it!
MODELING
I love this apron! The rickrack! The robin’s egg blue fabric!
The criss-crossed back!
The heart buttons!
And how about that unpractical pocket in the back?
How funny would it be if someone slipped me a note in my pocket while I was busy cooking?
This simply, cute apron took me only two hours to sew from a 1925 Magic Pattern, which really had no pattern as we think of it today.
Instead, it was all written directions and diagrams.
REACTION
Everyone in the family likes it and have pretty much laughed through the entire process.
I don’t think any sewing project has brought so many gleeful looks from my family members. Fun, fun, fun!
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
COMMENTS FROM MY OLD BLOG
The Quintessential Clothes Pen – June 1, 2015 at 8:45 PM – Very cool! It reminds me of “make do and mend” ladies suits made from mens suits in the 1940s. I think it’s fabulous that you get to keep using a garment that you hold in such high regard. And it’s a centuries old practice to keep reusing cloth items until there is nothing left!
Best,
Quinn
Black Tulip – June 2, 2015 at 5:32 PM – This is lovely! So many happy family memories in one super-practical garment. I love that all your family so enjoyed the making of it as well.
