A Complete Course in Dressmaking/Lesson 2/How to make aprons and house dresses
LESSON II
HOW TO MAKE APRONS AND HOUSE DRESSES
Now that you have learned in Lesson I to stitch, make seams and hand sew, you will want to put this knowledge to practical use in making charming and dainty things for yourself and others.
Greater enjoyment and quicker progress will be made by selecting the more simple garments for the first steps. The making of an apron, the most simple of all, may be the forerunner of an infinite number of successful achievements in making pretty things. However, do not feel that you are only learning how to make the aprons illustrated, but realize that these designs have been carefully selected and planned to demonstrate the different methods which can also be used in constructing patterns and making children’s clothes, ladies’ dresses, undergarments and negligees.
This practice in Lesson II will serve to train your eye in the selection of charming and becoming combinations of materials and colors as well as training in pattern making, planning the layout or cutting of the material. Also it will give skill to the hands in the various forms of sewing, including the folding of bias bands and applying of other finishing edges.
After this lesson is thoroughly understood you will be able to copy any apron you see. Many a tempting but expensive idea in some specialty shop may be carried home in the mind’s eye, and with some delightful novelty goods from that mine of treasures, the remnant counter, a thing of beauty will be evolved at little actual cost.
There is an almost unlimited range of material for these captivating necessities, house dresses and aprons—from unbleached muslin through the calicos, percales, ginghams, seersuckers, chambrays to the art prints, chintzes and sateens. Or for midsummer the always attractive dotted and crossbarred swiss, muslin and organdie make the most bewitching affairs. And after all, since the homekeeper wears aprons so much, they should add a distinctive charm to her appearance rather than just be dully useful.
Much of the charm lies in the selection of the material, although the combinations of trimming may add greatly to the prettiness. The substantial gingham which wears so well has returned to popularity in all the cheeriness of the red, green and yellow checked with white. The checks which are used for the body of the garment, as well as for bias edges and bands, are considered in better style just now than the Scotch plaids, which must be selected with infinite care.
The checks lend themselves to the use of cross-stitching in the same or contrasting colors or black. Black always tends to bring out the value of other colors and for that reason it decorates almost everything at the present moment.
Aside from the checks, where embroidery or fancy stitches are to be used, a plain material is a wiser choice, and featherstitching or outlining in color will show up to far greater advantage. You will find many pretty fancy stitches described in Lesson IX.
Sateens and the art prints are more for afternoon use, to slip on when preparing afternoon tea, serving dinner or when there is a moment for the stocking mending whose lint will cling to the woolen frock or suit. Indeed, the apron habit saves many brushings as well as spots and by its use the few minutes of waiting between things may be well employed without disarranging one’s trig appearance.
There are styles of aprons appropriate for any and all occasions and make most enchanting and much appreciated gifts. Many a young bride in her new environment daily blesses the friends who gave her bungalow aprons for the morning, slip-on aprons for odd moments, big comfortable aprons to save the crisp house dress on baking days and the fascinating affairs to cover her lovely new frocks at tea or dinner hour. Especially is the apron acceptable with pockets which hold all the little things—buttons, thread, darning cotton and small scissors—so that one may sit quietly without the tiresome jumping up and down.
The children’s aprons make such pretty particular gifts, especially when embroidered in gay flowers, darling bunnies or little chicks. At church fairs and bazaars the apron table is always one of the most successful. It affords an opportunity to display taste and ingenuity at little cost to the giver.
For the smart, simple house dresses there is even a wider range of material. In addition to those already mentioned cotton crepes, galateas, seersuckers and other washable materials can be used most effectively. The same rules govern the choice of trimming and it is wise to remember that the smaller the article the brighter and more intense the color may be. Review combining colors in Lesson I and work out some color problems in house dresses. It is good practice.
The most simple designs are the most pleasing, depending on the choice of material and edge finishings, which are usually in contrast to the material. I am giving you in the following paragraphs some simple finishes for edges which are especially appropriate for aprons and house dresses. They are also the most practical manner of finishing wash dresses and the summer cottons for the children.