Handy Dandy Apron

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”~William Morris

I always say that some projects take longer than others. I’ve been in the middle of a big project, that has multiple pieces. This project is for Mia, you will see it in an upcoming blog post. Until she comes home for more fittings, I needed small projects to occupy myself with. I decided on another apron. There is a method to my madness though. Marisa wants aprons to sell along with her freeze dried goodies, so it was the perfect project!

In case you missed it, here is the link to Russell and Marisa’s freeze dried goodie business, The Pantry Portal. https://www.facebook.com/thepantryportal

I have numerous apron patterns and decided on this one. It is a Marion Martin, mail order pattern.

This one did not belong to grandma. I got it at a local second hand store. It still had the original envelope that it was mailed in. There was no date on the postmark, so I had to research this pattern. I could only find that it was from the 1950’s.

The pieces were all still there. Its a simple apron with one pocket. The front of the pattern says that it is size “medium”. On the pattern directions and envelope there are no suggested size charts. “Medium” in the 1950’s is most likely a small today.

The pattern directions were easy enough to follow. In doing research on this pattern I found lots of people online complaining that the pattern directions on this brand of patterns were hard to follow. I might find that to be true in the future, when I’m sewing a more complex pattern.

The apron is trimmed in bias tape. How much was needed? Who knows! The directions didn’t specify so I grabbed a vintage, unopened package and went to work.

Thanks Grandma Doris, again, for hanging onto it because it could come in handy someday. It’s handy day had come! Besides, she paid 15 cents for it once upon a time, I wasn’t going to waste her money! HAHA!

I opened up the package and the label had this printed on the backside! It was like Grandma was saying “hi”.

The apron front had simple darts. Since I knew the apron would be a modern day “small”, I wrestled with the idea of up sizing the pattern. I decided not to since it is the first “mail order” pattern featured in my blog. I wanted to sew it exactly as it was meant to be. Plus, I’m going to sell it so it doesn’t need to fit me! (I’m more of a modern day medium, which would have been large in the 1950’s)

Sewing the back pieces together. At first I wondered why this wasn’t just cut on the fold so there would be no back seam. If you look back at the pattern layout at the top of the blog, you’ll see that it all fits on 1 yard of fabric. I’m sure it was designed this way to save fabric and money.

Sewing on the bias tape. Confession time. I hate bias tape. I hate it because I usually mess it up along the way. Since I had decided to sew it as the manufacturer calls for, that meant lots of bias tape. I figured it would be an opportunity to lean into something I’m not good at, and get better!

Then came a problem. One package of bias tape was enough for the back of the apron, and all around it. I still had the neck hole to do and I didn’t have anymore of the same color and size! I decided to use black bias tape. It would match the ants on the fabric, and it was on hand. The red bias tape I had been using was skinny, so I had to cut down the black bias tape to be the same size.

Pinning the pocket into place.

Button holes for the sides.

Basic black buttons to finish it off!

One last finishing touch.

I wanted to learn more about this pattern company though! I did some quick research on “Mary Martin” patterns, and mail order patterns and found some limited information.

It seems that Mary Martin patterns, and some by other names, were all marketed to middle to low income families. They were sold through newspapers throughout the country. I had questions. How much did they cost? How were they marketed? Did you just send off your address and some change? The internet didn’t know.

I knew that if Grandma were still here she would know. She had sent off for a pattern, I had the proof.

Grandma’s pattern.

The proof! In her own handwriting too!

I called Aunt Tamy to see if she knew anything about mail order patterns. She sewed, and might know how the whole system worked. However, Aunt Tamy didn’t know. She did, however, have a great idea!

“Look up the Fresno Bee’s Archives and see if you can see the advertisements.” So back to the internet I went.

Much to my disappointment I needed a subscription to look at The Fresno Bee archives online. There was another site that had them but required a subscription as well. “If only I could just find an old Fresno Bee and flip through it.” I thought. Then I remembered.

I HAD an old Fresno Bee! Right in my house!!

I had my dad’s childhood “Handy Andy Tool Set” box! (Yes Dad, I have your tool box in case you were wondering where it went, haha! In my defense it was in the garage, and I didn’t want it to get messed up. 😁)

His name is scratched into it.

Inside was The Fresno Bee from Monday, November 25, 1963. It is a newspaper reporting all about JFK’s funeral, and the whole case. Would it have a pattern ad in it? I carefully turned the pages!

(Conspiracy theorists, I also believe that Oswald was a patsy, and not the lone gunman. But that’s for a different blog, HA!)

Almost on the back page I found it! An ad featuring “Today’s Pattern”.

I love this dress! If only I had this pattern! (I don’t, I checked.)

The description and instructions on how to send away for the pattern, the information I was searching for! I felt like I had solved a mystery!

Back to the apron now that the mystery had been solved! I love the way it turned out, mismatched bias tape and all!

Side view with the button.

The back of the apron.

There she is in all of her 1950’s, mail order, style!

The bias tape went on well, so I’m no longer a hater of bias tape.

This little sew was fun to do, but even more fun to research!

I guess the theme of this sew was, “you never know when you might need that, better save it!”. Grandma’s bias tape and my dad’s newspaper came in handy for sure, just like a gift from them, or “Handy Andy” himself!

When you add Aunt Tamy’s advice, this one was a family sew and post for sure! Thanks for the help, even if you didn’t know you were giving it!

And thank you Grandma, for your sewing notions, and inspiration. I look at you every day when I go in my sewing room, and you are never far from my mind. I’m still sewing with you.

As for everyone reading this I’ll never be one to tell you to purge or get rid of something useful. The keyword in that is “useful”. You never know when you might need that!

As for me, onto the next!

P.S. The Handy Dandy Apron will be sold at an upcoming farmers market. However if any of my readers are interested you get first crack at it, loyalty has its rewards, HA! As you read it is size small, if interested let me know at [email protected].