Apron Strings

Margaret with the maid's and the gardener's pinnies

Continuing our in-depth look at some of the work in Thread Running Through, Margaret Laycock talks about her inspiration for her re-imagined aprons.

The pinny is the oldest item of clothing which has remained virtually unchanged from the time of the ancient Egyptians to the present day.  Its original purpose, which has changed as little as its shape, was to protect clothing during work.  They were also used in religious and cultural ceremonies as well as in national costumes.   ‘A thread running through’ history and society.

In the course of the last 500 years, it has on occasion formed part of fashion.  In such circumstances it is made of fine materials and embellished with embroidery.  Pinnies also indicated a person’s occupation and status in society.  This situation was reflected in Keighley at the local factories and the hierarchy of staff in the mill owners’ houses.

My four interpretations include wool samples from Yorkshire mills.  Green silk and cotton, pieced and manipulated with a buckle at the front instead of the back of the waistcoat for the butler.  Blue for the gardener uses indigo dyed fabrics.  The housemaid wore a traditional bib fronted pinny with a bow.  These colours were traditional and recognised countrywide – everyone knew their place.

  

1. The mill worker - More patch than pinny.

The patches are made from worsted from a suiting sample book.

Whilst growing up in the village of Cowling there were four mills.  There the weavers wore pinnys and with time wear and tear led them to be patched and patched again.  Sadly none of them have survived.

2. The butler - Mr Parker.

Traditionally green was the colour of the butler's pinny over which they wore a waistcoat with a silk back and a buckle to attain a good fit.

Various fabrics have been dyed and printed then pieced together with bought fabrics.

3. The head gardener - Mr Maltby.

Blue was the traditional colour of the gardener's pinny.

The flowers and leaves are indigo dyed fabric with machine and hand stitching.  The stems are machine made cord.

They are complete make believe and not botanically correct.  I don't believe that Mr Maltby would have been too impressed at having to wear my interpretation!

4. The housekeeper - Mrs Spence.

New, old and haberdashery have been incorporated.

The old textiles come from family connections and from the heirloom of a Swedish friend together with fragments from a Christening dress made for grandchildren.

Hand and machine stitching with the bow brought round to the front.  The bow is made from silk mousseline.

  

Personally, I love wearing a pinny - be it from Muji or made from a pattern from The Stitch Society.