by Virginia Allain

Created on: November 10, 2009

My mother and sister found themselves collecting vintage aprons. It wasn't something they planned. It started after my mother wrote a nostalgic essay titled "Mother's Aprons." A family memory writing class, with an assignment to write about their mother, started it all. The essay triggered a strong response in family and friends who read it. It won a prize in a monthly essay contest on the Our Echo website.

Many apron collectors start with just one apron catching their eye at a yard sale. It might be a fancy tea apron or a homely, faded gingham one. Whatever the shape or color, that apron stirred memories of their mom or grandma preparing the family meal. Soon the individual spots a second apron and later a third one. Before they know it, they've started a collection.

Ideally an apron collector finds vintage aprons in spotless, like-new condition. The reality is that most aprons show wear-and-tear from frequent use over the years. If the apron is inexpensive, or fills a gap in the collection, get it anyway. Later on if a better example is found, it can replace the lesser apron in the collection. Dressier aprons tend to have survived in better condition that work aprons.

Wash and iron the vintage aprons using the guidelines for older fabrics. Most are made of sturdy material and endured many washings over the years. Using a gentle cycle or hand-washing the apron protects the aged material from damage. There are special cleaners for washing antique quilts and those will work with antique aprons as well.

Store the aprons using the same guidelines as other antique fabrics. Keep them away from strong sunlight. Don't let them come in contact with the sides of a cedar chest where the oils from the wood might stain them.

Once the collector accumulates a large number of aprons, they wonder how to make use of them. Some actually wear the aprons for special occasions, such as using a dressy apron for a ladies tea party. The aprons are not easy to display since the shapes are so varied. It's difficult to display the aprons in a public setting like a public library because of their size. A typical display cabinet will only hold a few aprons. One way to feature them is by running clothes line along the walls of a meeting room. Hang the aprons with clothes pins along the clothes line. Then viewers can wander around looking at all the aprons.

Give a talk about the aprons to senior center audiences and nursing homes. Ask audience members to choose an apron to wear while you tell about the apron as they model it. Explain the different types of aprons and how they were used. Read an apron poem or essay. Tell about why you started collecting aprons. These talks have a nostalgic appeal and audience members like to tell about their own memories of their mother's aprons.

There are a number of books on collecting aprons in general plus some that discuss specialized areasof apron collecting. Search online with the keywords "apron collecting books" to see some of these.

Learn more about this author, Virginia Allain.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.