Original circa 1941 McCall Pattern No. 865 - Mother and Daughter Pinafore Apron

Original circa 1941 McCall Pattern No. 865 for a ruffled pinafore apron made to match across the generations, in ladies', misses', and children's sizes. Choose embroidered tulips on a dotted apron or a striped version with an appliquéd salad set. This copy is size Juniors' 10-12. A McCall Printed Pattern with blue transfer. Factory folded and unused.

Quick Facts

• Pattern Number: McCall No. 865
• Year: Circa 1941
• Garment: Ladies', Misses' and Children's Pinafore Apron (2 Views), with Transfer
• Size: Juniors' 10-12, 28-30" Bust
• Condition: Factory Folded and Unused

Design

View A is a full pinafore apron with ruffled shoulder straps, a square bib embroidered with a row of three tulips, a gathered skirt, and a sash; the inset shows it on a grown woman in pale blue. View B is cut from lengthwise-striped fabric, with ruffles over the shoulders, a sash wrapped and tied high at the waist, and a spoon-and-fork salad set appliquéd on the bib. Eleven pieces and one transfer, with McCall's Cut and Sew Guide; gingham, dimity, dotted swiss, chintz, and chambray are among the suggested fabrics.

A Moment in Fashion History

The envelope makes its pitch to young mothers and daughters, and the pattern backs it up by covering four size groups, from Child's 6-8 to Ladies' 18-20, so the same apron could be made for every generation in the kitchen. Ruffled pinafores in candy stripes and polka dots were a cheerful counterpoint to the plain, practical clothes of the war years, and they used inexpensive cottons a home sewer could find easily.

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 mother with a mixing bowl and recipe book between two daughters, all in ruffled striped and dotted aprons, with a large tulip motif and small back views.

Connections

McCall made this pinafore so mother and daughter could cook side by side in matching aprons, and we have both halves of the pair: this copy in the daughter's size, and a second copy in the mother's size, McCall 865 in Ladies' 18-20, 36-38" Bust. Make the two together, and explore more aprons made for the whole household in McCall Family Aprons.