Apron Delight

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Christmas Apron

Mom and Me Aprons

Apron Delight

Who among us has had a relationship with their mother that is unique? Good or bad? Strained or easy? Deep or shallow? Many stories and movies seek to explain this relationship that many times is hard to articulate and understand.

I love aprons as a woman. I was never into aprons as a young child. My maternal grandmother wore them all the time. Her half apron was an accessory to her daily wear of a dress that buttoned up the front, knee highs and white shoes. If it was cold, she sported a cardigan sweater. My mom wore aprons, but not all the time. So, where did this fascination with aprons come from?

In my thirties I asked my mother to teach me to sew. She and a couple of her sisters were excellent seamstresses, a talent they inherited from their Grand-Mother. When I made my request, she didn’t respond as I expected. I thought she would be so happy to show me her craft. But she was not excited. Why should she be? Her experience with her children and her sewing machine ended with a broken needle one time and a thread jam the other. When the accused were interrogated about those crimes, no one seemed to have any idea what happened.

Resume of the teacher

Finally, she said, “yes” to teaching me, but I had to get my own machine. She would not teach me on hers. My mom was an owner of an older model Singer. It was a black machine with a gold embossed seal and gold stenciling across the top that read, “Singer.” This gem was enclosed in its own cabinet which had an extended arm to keep the garment or craft at the same level as the needle and not drag the floor. This Singer was the only machine I saw her use growing up.

I recall the many outfits she made for my sisters and me for Easter, family functions and any special event at church. In collaboration with her trustworthy Singer, she made my prom dress when I was 17 and my wedding dress 25 years later. In my mother’s prime, before arthritis, she was sought after by other women to create ensembles to wear to the Cincinnati Kool Jazz Festival. She has been known to make bridesmaid dresses that fit to a “t” and exquisite wedding gowns as well. I could go on about her talent, but let me get back to the apron.

Getting to Know Her while learning to sew

What is my love for this item called an apron all about? As I take time to ponder, I realize the apron has come to represent a pure connection I have with my mother that no other sibling shares. It is not the garment but the activity of sewing. As we connected in our creativity while learning to sew, I learned of a woman named Dolores Tribble who later became my mom. Dolores had a dream that she never explored, of having her own sewing shop with her sisters. “Wow, she wanted to be an entrepreneur!” I thought. As I continue to listen, she chats about wishing she had done that before becoming a wife and mother of six.

As we cut fabric patterns for a basic apron and listen to jazz on the local radio station WCIN, she began to reminisce as songs called her back to times in her past. She talks about dances she went to, getting ready using the soot from their stove to make a mock back seam up her calf as they didn’t have back seam hosiery. She remembers listening to music her father would play around the house during the holidays along with other memories.

As she shared her tips and secrets that pattern directions don't tell you, I grafted insight into the core of this person. She took such care in her teaching. I learned to do each step, slow down, press all seams and cut all loose threads. It sounded more like life lessons than sewing tips to remember.

On My Own

I remember the first item I made without her by my side. It was a sleeveless dress I made with fabric she purchased for me in New York. Once completed with only the finishing of the hem to be done, I drove to my childhood home to show her. “That’s nice. You did good!” she said. “Are you wearing that to church tomorrow?” Now, it was a little chilly so a sleeveless dress would not be worn to church the next day. But that didn’t matter. All I remember are the three words, “You did good.” Like many of you, I wanted my mother to see me do something and say it was, “good.” I wanted to have a piece of her, a skill she possessed and show her it can be trusted with me to do well by it. Maybe I was looking for a way to show my love, admiration and appreciation for all she was outside of her identity as a mother and wife. I wanted to be a sponge for her talent that revealed a smart, fashionable, knowledgeable, patient, accurate and strategic woman. I felt if she knew my authenticity, she would trust me with her treasure chest of gems that she may not have found a vessel to share with before.

Two bright moments on my sewing journey were nods of pride I got from my mother. The first time was the compliment after completing a dress on my own.

The second was when my niece needed a dress for an event at school. It was last minute and after my sister couldn’t find anything in the stores, my mom offered to make the dress. There was a caveat. She told my sister she could get it done only if I would help her. Whoa! What an honor to be a trusted “seamstress in apprenticeship” to take on the task of creating a dress with my mom!!

So here I am today. Sewing aprons more than ever and sharing with others with love. Each time I begin a project, I remember Mom’s words, “Take care, slow down, press hems and cut all loose strings.” Will I have a chance to share with the next generation? God only knows. I know this for sure. My mom knows I appreciate her skills and I thank her for trusting me with her knowledge to create art for others to appreciate and love. Not only do they see a beautiful apron, but hold an apron that is wrapped in a love story between a mother and her daughter.

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