Case study of a 1950s apron

Recently I snatched up this sweet half apron at a thrift store to add to my collection of vintage and retro aprons. In my opinion, if you're standing in a kitchen or doing chores around the house, nothing is more practical wearing an apron. Draped over your skirt or pants it protects them from splashes and spills. An apron is a handy towel strapped to your waist, an impromptu basket, and the perfect garment for a retro homemaker!

Yes, I could rave about aprons for ages, but instead how about I "pick apart" my newest garment so you can see how it was constructed?

First of all, you will notice the delicate cotton fabric used in its construction is covered with a whimsical yellow and black cat print. Since half the kittens are sitting on their heads, you'll be sure to have one staring at you with those big black eyes and oversized whiskers when you tilt your head down.

The blue object on the right is my ink pen.

The biggest surprise for me was the shape of this apron when spread out. To achieve fullness on the sides, the cloth was cut much like a circle skirt but with either end extending outward in a straight line and rounded off. The resulting flounces on either side harmonize perfectly with the folds in the middle.

A simple cloth band is attached to the waist. And just like a circle skirt, absolutely no gathering was needed to create the volume of this apron.

A small loop sewn onto the center back of the waistband ensures the apron can be hung up when not in use.

Finally, an ornamental edge with a scallop shape was created with sewing machine using what looks to be a blind stitch. Does anyone know the details of how to achieve this effect on a raw edge? I assume it has something to do with the tension being set higher so the cloth puckers at regular intervals.

Hope this "case study" comes in handy for anyone looking for some inspiration for a new project or information on how to create an authentic-looking retro apron.