A practical Apron

The current HSF challenge is #5 Practicality. And as usual I tend to finish the challenge on the last day, even though I spend my vacation at home these past two weeks...
Anyway, I decided that if I'm making something for houswork it should be something I feel comfortable wearing in my home.

My choise is this House-Apron from 1936

It is from the same "Frohne Modelle" Album, as the Pyjamas I made last year.
Now maybe you remember my frustration when I discovered that my 50s tool wouldn't work with the 30s patterns of the same brand, because the scale changed. I had to guess most of the pattern and although the "Schnittzeichner" is supposed to minimize the pattern work, it actually took ages.
So a couple of weeks later I started searching ebay for the original 1930s device. And I was lucky!
The seller didn't know what he was selling and I made a bargain!!!

And it was absolutely worth the wait! Now that I used both the 50s and the 30s method on both 50s and 30s patterns I can confidently say:


The 30s version is so much better! The device is balanced better, since it's material is from sturdy metal, while the 50s one is plastic. Although ist is heavier I felt that overall it was easier to use the older tool compared to the 50s one.

1930s "Frohne Schnittzeicher" compared to the 1950s version of the same brand.

From digging out all tools needed to my completely finished paper pattern it took me 20 minutes! If I remember correctly my pyjamas pattern took about 2 hours with all the calculating that had to be done back then and I had to make a mock up, which I din't do this time.

Patternmaking with a 1930s "Frohne Schnittzeichner"

The sewing was super easy and the only thing taking a little longer to make were the bias strips to bind the edges of my Apron.

The front decoration is using bias strips as well. Only a little more narrow.















My conclusion:
Not only did I make an item of practicality (an Apron for all my dusty houswork), I was also able to use an original 1930s device to create the pattern.
And a device of practicality it is! It makes patternmaking much easier and faster (no calculating, no scaling) and is 100% period!

The challenge details:

1936 House-Apron

The Challenge: #5 Practicality
Fabric: 1,5m printed cotton, 1m black cotton for the bias tape
Pattern: Fohne Modelle 101/36
Year: 1936
Notions: 2 buttons, polyester thread
How historically accurate is it? I am not sure about the ladybird print, but everythig else is good.
Hours to complete: about 5 hours
First worn: Today to clean up after my bunny
Total cost: 15€ for the fabric, Buttons from stash