I originally designed my Pinafore Apron for a sweet lady at church. She asked me if I could make her an apron similar to one she used to wear years ago. (She was my mom's age, so “years ago” could have meant anything from the 1940s to probably the 1980s...)
She had polio as a child, which left her with weakness in her hands and legs—but I never saw that slow her down much! I was happy to see if I could come up with an apron that would work for her.
I searched the internet exhaustively for a vintage pattern that matched her description, but I couldn't find anything even remotely similar.
Her requirements were actually pretty simple: no ties, Velcro, or buttons, because her hands didn't have the strength to manage them. She also wanted the fabric gathered across the bust “for modesty.” ? And she needed to be able to simply slip the apron over her head without messing up her hairdo.
Since she used a motorized scooter to get around, I designed the apron to be split up the back so she could put it on easily while seated, while still giving her full coverage. The shoulders are designed to stay in place without anything that needs to be fastened, and the whole thing simply pulled on over her head.
I made five aprons for her to choose from, and eventually listed the extras in my shop. If you're curious, this is the one she chose for herself: Cherries & Black Gingham Pinafore Apron. (I've recreated that particular apron several hundred times since 2013!)
What I never expected was how many other people would find this simple design useful. After receiving custom requests for other sizes, I redesigned the pattern to offer both smaller and larger versions. Over the years, I've heard from customers with all sorts of different challenges and needs who have found this apron helpful in ways I never even thought of when I originally designed it.
Today, the Pinafore Apron is the #1 most popular apron style in my shop.
My friend JoAn passed away on Valentine's Day in 2018. She absolutely loved helping people, and I like to think that, in a small way, she is still helping people through the apron she asked me to make for her very specific needs.
I think of her every time I make one.
And I am so grateful that a simple request from a friend turned into an apron that has helped so many other people, too.