Vintage & Sentimental Gift

I have a friend who had a birthday recently...and for that birthday I sent her a gift of an apron.

But not just any old apron, it was a pillowcase apron! You see this pillowcase had sentimental value to my friend and she told me the story about it when she gave it to me. Knowing that I liked vintage cotton sheets she said this gift was special, because her mother, while she was sick toward the end of her life, wanted vintage cotton pillowcases because they are "cooler" and I know exactly what her mother meant. Those all cotton sheets were cooler to the touch. So, for her mother's comfort, Sue made sure she looked and found vintage pillowcases for her to lay her head upon. I thought that was so sweet. I know it made Sue happy to find something that would make her mom more comfortable.

The tag on the gift is from a vintage math game I found at a Salvation Army store. I threw away the rest of the game and kept the pile of cards to use for gift tags, and I circled the number or the "date" of the important event on the card, punched a hole and strung it on some mini rick-rack.


Knowing the story behind this pillowcase, I decided that for Sue's birthday, I would fashion an apron for her using the sentimental piece and found a piece of fabric to use for the ties that coordinated with the print on the pillowcase.

You know, I never realized it but pillowcases are the perfect size for aprons, so now when I'm looking for vintage linens, I will keep that in mind and look for pillowcases in good, crisp condition as this one was.

Sue's pillowcase was printed the same on both sides, so I was able to keep the look of the original pillowcase and still have pockets on the apron by just matching the pattern when I sewed the pocket onto the front. (I don't know about you, but I just gotta have pockets on my apron!) I also make the ties on aprons extra long, because I like tying mine in the front instead of in the back.

Remember our good childhood friends, Trixie and Honey?

I knew Sue liked vintage Trixe Belden books so I included a pink one I'd found at a garage sale from the 1950's in the package, because it was pink and Sue is the only female in a houseful of boys, so she needs pink in her life!

Don't you just love the illustrations in these vintage books?

The back cover shot of the book, love those clothing styles!

Well, Sue loved her gift and I am SO glad. By having an apron, she can keep the sentimental object as a useful item. We all know that vintage pillowcases wash easily and wear well so Sue should be able to keep this for a long, long time to come.

I thought you might like knowing this idea and remember that even a novice sewer can make an apron! And, don't forget on your travels to thrift stores and garage sales, to be on the lookout for cute vintage pillowcases....