#pocketwin: Lagenlook Aprons

[ysabetwordsmith]

While researching something else, I stumbled across lagenlook aprons. These come in nice fabrics with big pockets, and are designed to be worn over other clothes.  They differ from kitchen aprons in that they are meant as fashion wear, not just for messy tasks; but they still add pockets for practicality.  Alas, they are also ruinously expensive; see examples from America and England.

However, aprons are among the easiest garments to make. Even if you can't sew, you could probably make one with fabric glue or ironing tape. You just take a rectangle of fabric, taper the top if you wish, put a wide strip across the bottom and make channels to divide that into pockets, then attach a neck loop or ties and waist ties.  You can actually put a lot more pockets than that, but remember weight; the more pockets you want, the heavier the fabric needs to be.  For a lightweight fashion fabric like calico, one bottom row is probably plenty.  With denim, you can trick it out like a carpenter's apron if you want to.

Here are some patterns so you can make your own tie-on pocket garment:

https://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/make-a-no-sew-waist-apron

https://shop.mybluprint.com/sewing/article/how-to-sew-an-apron/

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2012/01/16/free-patterns-for-three-apron-styles

https://abeautifulmess.com/2018/01/sew-your-own-half-apron.html

https://weallsew.com/charming-pocket-apron/

https://www.allfreesewing.com/Aprons

Comments

[mama_kestrel]

Looking at those designs reminds me of nothing so much as 19th c. children's pinafores. Not that those had pockets (the pockets were separate and tied around the waist under them), but the shape is very similar. The nice thing about aprons is that they go from outfit to outfit, just as little girls' pinafores did.

I wonder...any bright ideas on selling something like this? Langenlook's designs are nice, but they're so all-enveloping it looks like another dress or skirt. Because my mind is happily designing variants that would be better suited to everyday wear for people who aren't inclined to the bohemian look.

Hmm. I've got a lot of cotton and linen in my stash.....

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

It strikes me that the scarf is the 'normal' addition these days, so the most apt styling for the upper bodice. Maybe done with some sewn in draping? A back fastening belt to pull the weight distribution to the hips and spine. No further down than the knees, it'd be like urban chaps.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Looking at those designs reminds me of nothing so much as 19th c. children's pinafores. <<

I thought so too. They also remind me of much older styles, where the servant women and sometimes the chatelaine would wear a sort of partial dress over their full dress, not just for spill protection but to have somewhere to put things. You could tuck stuff through the tie belt or loops or pockets. It was an alternative to a chatelaine's belt.

>> I wonder...any bright ideas on selling something like this? <<

If I were going to do it, I would consider such things as:

* Offer a loose version and a more fitted version.

* Provide a range of colors including neutral and brighter ones.

* Make some with heavy fabric like denim for robust work, and some in lighter fabric like calico for casual work.

* Try to cover a wide price range. Scavenged cloth is often cheap or free, reducing the cost to time+skill. You can do a lot with recut jeans from a thrift shop or garage sale. Conversely, if you're buying heavyweight quilt calico, that'll cost more.

* Hang a sign that says something like:
Are you tired of women's clothes that don't have pockets, or only have tiny pockets that won't fit your stuff? Now you can buy extra pockets for ..."
And then post pictures of things like phones, hands, and other items fitting into the pockets you've made.

And of course, you should post on my blog, where folks are looking for pockets. :D

Re: Thoughts

[mama_kestrel]

Good ideas all.

Step 1: work up some designs. :)

One of the things I like about the pinafore style is that it hangs from the shoulders rather than the waist. Put something heavy in the pockets of a garment that hangs from the waist and it's likely to pull down on that side. Shoulders take care of that problem.