Apron of Quilt Squares
All hand-stitched, from the colorful patches to the bias binding, even the waistband and ties. I'd expected even stitches from a treadle machine, but found tiny hand-sewing, one spot still sporting light blue basting thread. Made by Grandma Ruby? Or by her mother-in-law, Nellie Neal, who helped on the many family quilts. Did this apron see action at family dinners? The blue bias binding and trim make it festive enough for special occasions. Even more precious since a grandmother's hands set together the cheerful squares, some probably cut from feed or flour sacks.
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This apron is a cousin to the one above, including some of the same fabrics, but this one is almost entirely sewn by treadle machine. There’s hand-stitching on the back of the waistband and bias binding.
Someone went to the trouble to whip-stitch the raw edges of the squares on the backsides of both aprons. She meant for these to last, and I’ve decided that these two aprons are “keepers.”