In the 16th century, the apron (often a long waist apron) became an obvious part of the peasant woman's everyday clothes. In addition to being practical, and protected from dirt, it was also about decency, without an apron, the woman was not considered to be fully clothed. There was also shock around the aprons. If a meeting a woman without an apron gave it bad luck and could give a different diseases. 
 
 The apron was part of the female attire a bit into the 20th century and then, with inspiration from the USA, the apron became something associated with housewives. *
 
 I bought my first waist apron second hand. I thought then that it would only come in handy when I cook, but that did not happen! On days when I am at home, I wear the apron almost evenly. It's so practical and nice!
 
 Now I have sewn a waist apron myself, inspired by what I bought second hand. It is pleated at the top, which gives the apron a nice fall, and it has a large pocket on the right side. The pocket has a simple embroidery consisting of "sloppy" split stitch. 
 
 The fabric is 100% untreated linen fabric, which is reasonably strong. Because linen we shrink the first wash, I always wash linen fabric before I create, so you do not have to think about it.
 
 When you get the apron (and after washing) it will be a bit stiff but as soon as you start using it it will soften and become supple.  
 
 
 
 
 * facts taken from Susanne Cassé's article  Not without an apron!  published in the journal Spaning (2019),  Västmanland County Museum.
 
 The pictures are taken from Kulturarv Västmanland's website. Eva Timm was a priestess and hobby photographer who took lots of photographs in between  1895 and 1915, most of them from Lillhärad parish in Västmanland. The pictures show life in Lillhärad during this time.