PLEASE SCROLL RIGHT DOWN, 'COS THERE'S LOTS!
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The apron above is a 'pioneer' style design influenced by American aprons, with a cross-over back and nothing to tie - very comfy to wear. The pockets are delightful vintage hand-embroidery on linen. A good choice for the serious cook.
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The apron below is in vintage 1960s 'cretonne', a crepey fabric which is soft to the touch and works well for this flouncy feminine design. It has one really big pocket. This is 'brand new' fabric, sourced as a length of cloth never used before.
All my aprons are made from sturdy, vintage machine-washable linen or cotton, with hand stitching or embroidery and vintage buttons. |
After remaining essentially static during the 18th and 19th centuries, apron patterns have changed amazingly during the 20th century - always reflecting the fashions of the time. Patterns were given away free with ladies' magazines, or just a schematic diagram was printed, relying on the reader's expertise to scale it up and make it fit.
So the frilly apron on the left, with its short skirt and flounces, is a version of the usual Fifties pattern. Other designs were even more tiny and impractical, and to the modern eye look, as if they had strayed from the set of 'Allo, allo' and should be being worn by someone called Fifi Le Banc. The buttonless, easy-to wear apron on the right is based on an early 'pioneer' American design and is kept entirely simple to show off the stunning embroidery on heavy linen. It looks best on the very slim, but will expand to accommodate the more 'traditionally built' cook, and protects all the vulnerable areas of your clothes. |
PEG-BAGS
There are some seriously unpleasant peg-holders out there. I didn't like them so I made these - and many, many more like them. All in vintage cotton or linen, some brightly coloured, some with pretty embroidery. Big enough to take the right quantity of pegs - but not too big.
While some are quite feminine, I like to do some more 'utility' ones too when I get the fabrics. |
CUSHIONS FROM VINTAGE LINENS
I've been very remiss about photographing these - some really nice ones have gone to the shop without me recording them for the website. It's always worth looking in at the shop to see what's in stock as the designs constantly change and, as the slogan goes, 'no two the same'.
Right above - one of a pair of 14" linen cushions with distinctive 1920s embroidery Right below - two big (20") calico cushions with simple hand embroidery done by a little girl in the 1940s - some 70 years ago. How poignant to think she'd be an old, old lady by now! Vintage welsh blanket in lambswool on sofa - sorry, not for sale.
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Left: Two cushions made by appliqueing vintage embroidered linen panels onto toning vintage fabrics. A way of using patterns applied to the corners of tablecloths. |
Knitting and other bags
Right: Knitting bags in Jane's shop. The blue one has a child's embroidery of a kitten on the pocket.
. . . and a sweet little pan-holder!
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Knitting bags are always useful to keep things tidy, whether at home or if you're taking your knitting with you. Sturdy linen, hand embroidery, vintage lace - what else would you expect? A 1940s pattern adapted to make the best use of the available embroidered linen
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