Original 1937 McCall Pattern No. 512 - Apron with Rick Rack Transfer for Kitchen Decoration

Original 1937 McCall Pattern No. 512, a women's bib apron with a transfer of rick-rack flowers to match it to a whole kitchen: curtains, a breakfast cloth, napkins, and pot holders. Complete Nice Condition; the transfer has been used, with the apron motif cut out and the rest of the motifs present.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: McCall No. 512
• Year: 1937
• Garment: Apron with Rick Rack Transfer for Kitchen Decoration
• Size: Small (14-16), 32-34" Bust
• Condition: Complete Nice Condition; Transfer Used but Present (apron motif cut out)

Design

The apron has a fitted bib with a scooped neckline, back straps, a full skirt cut in one curved piece, and a tie-belt that finishes in a bow, all edged in rick-rack. Its trim is the star: star-shaped flowers worked in rick-rack and embroidery on crossed rick-rack stems. The transfer carries 40 motifs, enough for two pairs of curtains, a breakfast cloth or scarf, eight napkins, four pot holders, and the apron, with directions for making each. The apron takes about 1¼ yards of 35-inch material and 7 yards of rick-rack in the Small size; linen, percale, unbleached muslin, dimity, dotted Swiss, lawn, sateen, organdy, chambray, and cotton with a linen finish are suggested. Four pieces and one transfer; the transfer is printed by Kaumagraph and numbered 512.

A Moment in Fashion History

Coordinated kitchens were a 1930s fashion of their own, as homemakers dressed windows, tables, and themselves in matching colors and trims. This pattern turns one transfer into a full kitchen set, the kind of thrifty, decorative project that made rick-rack one of the defining trims of the decade. Kaumagraph, whose name is on the transfer, was a leading maker of hot-iron embroidery transfers in these years.

Illustration

The envelope front and back are shown as scanned, framed on our blue mat without retouching, so the artwork appears in its true color and condition. The front shows a woman in the apron beside a window hung with matching rick-rack curtains, a breakfast cloth, napkins, and pot holders, with a large detail of the rick-rack flower. We've also included a photo of the transfer sheet: the apron motif has been cut out and used, and the other motifs remain.

Connections

This pattern is part of our exhibit, Kitschy Kitchen -- McCall Edition, a growing collection celebrating the whimsical, decorative side of kitchen textiles. While I love everything about McCall, it must be said, "McCall Makes the Cutest Aprons!"