Farmer's Daughter Apron

Remember the apron I was making a few weeks ago?

I finished it!

I am so happy with it. It's exactly what I was going for (rare). It's generous and sort of . . . serious. Pretty but serious. Makes you feel like you can bake a ribbon-winning pie. I love long aprons — baker's aprons — the ones that really cover you, with long, generous ties (ahem).

The apron is made of linen, and trimmed with binding tape (not bias cut, just straight). It's about eight yards of binding! I don't like full aprons that just have a neck loop and then tie separately at the waist. The neck loop is never in the right place for me. These ties attach at the top of the bib, cross in back, go through loops at the waistline, cross again, and come to the front to be tied in a bow. Doing them this way makes the apron really adjustable, so it fits better.

The embroidery is a couple of Swedish floral designs I put together, done entirely in satin stitch (with two strands of cotton embroidery floss) and outlined with dark brown back stitch. I picked up some of the flower colors that were in that dark brown calico (from JoAnn's, many years ago now).

My friend Sarah and I finally saw Julie & Julia a couple of days ago and we loved it, especially the Julia parts. The clothes. The kitchens. The . . . everything. Her aprons — long, straight, serious. French. It was all so beautiful. I've got to see the movie again and just watch the sets and costumes this time. I went right home and cleaned the kitchen. And stared happily at my apron. I'm going to do the ties and binding a bit differently on the next one (have the side-bodice binding turn into the ties, and also, bind it completely by machine). (To be honest, and fully disclose my lunacy, I did the binding on this one by machine and hand.) There are plans for a next one — next four ones. (Three are already in progress. All different colors. I told you, I'm crazed.) There is a special someone's birthday coming up, and I am going to make three more for my mom and sweet sissies for Christmas. My sister Susie is an actual pastry chef, too — how cool is that.

This one is for me, though. My uniform for fall baking. Hmmm, what should I make . . . something French? Not a tarte tatin, though. I made one of those last year and I didn't really like it (quel dommage!). Something from Baking with Julia, maybe, because it's now (naturally) in my TiVo queue. Or maybe these chocolate souffles.

Wasn't Meryl Streep so amazing as Julia? Magical.

Comments

[Stéphanie]

Lovely, just lovely !

[water works]

I totally agree with your stance on the typical around the neck, then around the waist ties. The neck piece always makes me feel choked. I have been dreaming of an apron just like this wonderful one you made. But everytime I plan to make something FOR ME, I get sidetracked with new pants for the youngest, new cradle sheets for the soon-to-be-youngest, and gifts for birthdays. One day soon, it'll will all be about me!

[Sue Jacoby]

It's been a couple of weeks since I saw the movie and I am still swooning over the sweater with the embroidered neckline. Fantastic! I love the apron in just the same way. Great job!

[beki]

Alicia, I love this!

[Gloria]

Oh Alicia, that is SOOOO cute! I love the linen! I have a "thing" for linen...:) I just saw Julie & Julia on Labor Day with my Dear Hubby. We loved it!!! Meryl was amazing as Julia. I loved her in The Devil Wears Prada too. I went out after the movie looking for Julia's original cookbook (republished), but could not find it. I bought the paperback Julie & Julia...then Richard (my DH) brought me home the cookbook that he found at Costco last night! I can't wait to really look at it, and make some things out of it also..:) As always, I love your blog! Keep up the wonderful writing, photography, and thoughts from your heart.

[sara]

Meryl was amazing!

My sister and I were watching a Brit movie "Cold Comfort Farm" on YouTube lately when both of us were like "Wait - that's Posie Gets Cozy's apron!". Not *exactly* like, but the colors and materials are very similar. We thought it was cool! :)

[Carling Shirley]

Wow what a beautiful apron you created. Yay on hand stitching! I try to only hand stitch, its slower but I feel its a lost art. And yes Meryl Streep is pretty amazing as Julia Child.

[Mountain Mom (Rachel)]

OK I love how this is different from the current trend of cutesy, sexy, frilly 1950s aprons. This one is so much more subtle, pleasant, pretty without being so distracting from the enjoyment of cooking food. The embroidery is why I popped over here, to see if you had any embroidery going on in the blog... It looks so perfect that it's almost too perfect. But not too perfect because you are you. I love the outlining. I want to go make a flower and outline it now! Thanks as always.

[Junie]

Gorgeous!

[Marian]

I too would love the pattern for the apron. Is it an original or perhaps an adaptation? The apron would make such a wonderful gift for several of my buds. So tell me dear lady is there going to be a pattern or can you share your source.