Lucille's pinafore pattern

In the late 1800's women usually only owned two dresses. When you realize that one dress took almost 13 yards to make it's easier to understand why pinafores (aprons that covered from the neck to the knee or sometimes longer) were so very popular.

A pinafore usually consisted of a square piece of material on the bottom that had been gathered into a waistband, and a top piece, (square, heart shaped, or round) that was sewn into the waistband.

In Wilhelmina Beth, Women of the Drifting Anchor Ranch, Chapter Three; Beth's Mother, Lucille Bond gives each of her three daughters a new pinafore that she has sewn for them. She then promises to teach each of them how to make one.

The instructions that follow are for a pinafore apron comparable to what women wore in that time period. The fabrics that were used were mostly either cream colored muslin, gingham, or calico. Some women knitted or crocheted lace to adorn their pinafores and make them prettier. This pattern will be quite basic. On the other hand I will give a simple, moderate, and difficult adaptation so that you can make the pattern according to your personal level of expertise.

I also realize that unlike most women in the mid to late 1800's you probably have access to a sewing machine. I enjoy sewing by hand sometimes. It does remind me of a simpler time. Yet sometimes it's necessary to use a sewing machine to do things quickly.

SIMPLE DIFFICULTY

MATERIALS NEEDED: 1. A three yard piece of fabric. (Fabric was usually only 36 inches wide during that time) 2. A two yard piece of fabric (that meant it was two yards squared) 3. Six yards of ribbon, either satin or grosgrain. Sewing needle and thread to match the pinafore.

SKIRT OF THE PINAFORE: 1. Take seventy two inches square (2 yards) of fabric and gather it all with a very loose hand stitch. This can be done by stitching in and out, in and out of the fabric (like the folds of an accordian fan). 2. Hem the raw edges of the skirt just as you did to the top of the pinafore.
TOP OF THE PINAFORE: 1. Cut out a square of fabric that is thirty six inches (1 yard). 2. Turn under the raw edge of the fabric by sewing a tiny locked stitch. (In and out and then pass through that loop to create a lock knot).
WAISTBAND OF THE PINAFORE: 1. Buy 3 yards of grosgrain, or satin ribbon. (Sometimes they would re-use a ribbon from something else, an old dress, hat, etc.) 2. Attach the ribbon to the gathered fabric of the bottom of the pinafore with a locked stitch (in and out, making a loop with the thread). 3. Attach the ribbon to the bottom of the upper part of the pinafore with the same locking stitch.
TOP STRAPS OF THE PINAFORE: 1. Using the ribbon left after making the waistband, attach one end of the ribbon to the outside edge of the pinafore top. 2. Stitch it securely to that position, with the stitching done on the wrong side of the fabric. 3. Next stitch the other end of the ribbon to the other outside edge of the top. 4. Cut the end of the ribbon in a slant. 5. You secure the finished apron top by tying it in a bow behind your neck.

MODERATE DIFFICULTY

Follow the same instructions as above only this time cut a circle pattern out of a large piece of butcher paper. Using the pattern cut out a circle for the top of the pinafore. Then follow the above instructions.

MOST DIFFICULT

Take a large piece of paper and make a giant heart pattern. Cut out two hearts. Put the material right sides together. Sew from the bottom around the top and down again to the bottom leaving a 3 inch gap at the bottom to turn the heart right side out and then attach the bottom unsewn portion to the waistband of the pinafore.

You can also make straps by sewing right sides together of long pieces of material and then turning them and using them instead of ribbon.

Lacy, frosted, whiteness

The tree with lacy whiteness on redded berries danced branches open to embrace winter's wonders

I HATE WINTER!! Looking at the above line you might not guess that. I was born in the winter warmth of Southern California. I do NOT need snow to think it's Christmasey. Actually I would prefer to go to the beach, and tiptoe into the waves, dancing with the oceans rhythms.

I lived for six wonderful years in socal as I've heard it called now. SIGH, I know that by confessing the next statement I'm showing my age. At the same time I'm proud of each and every year that I've lived and would NOT give any back, EVEN the miserable ones...they had something to teach me!

So....age, and life aside, I have since lived in Utah, Minnesota, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where they proudly announce that they receive at least six FEET of snow each and every winter. They fail to announce that said snow falls over the period of around SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS EACH YEAR! Really, really? Who wants to live in winter longer than any other season?

OK...so, six years in wintry warmth, and forty-nine years in winter frost and ice. HMMMM....maybe I should finally learn to embrace winter? That is my goal for this year. So, once in awhile you will see me post something wonderful about winter as I try to change my attitude towards this specific season.

I'm going to partake now of one of my favorite gifts of cold....HOT COCOA! Either made with Kaffix, or Pero to give it a mocha like sweet and bitter, or with cinnamon, and whipped cream to turn it into a Mexican luxury...either way it's warmth and goodness both to sight, smell, and sniffing, and gently it warms you from the inside out.

So...two positive things about winter, writing fun little sound bites of beauty, AND drinking hot cocoa. Please, anyone that reads this put in the comments positive things that you like about winter. Maybe I can add your reasons to my I EMBRACE WINTER list.

Christmas Tradition

The hill was steep, strewn with gopher holes, and small bushes trying to trap Angela's feet
as she trudged along. Suddenly she was airborn. Two strong arms slid her onto a tall back.
Angela shrieked, "Eric, what are you doing?" "The doc said that we have to make certain
that you don't over do any physical exertion." "Phooey," Angela grumbled. "Doctor's don't
know nothin' about nothin'!" Eric chuckled. I'm glad that Dr. Stone isn't hearing you say that!"

"Come on Angela, let's run!" Angela shrieked again as she clutched her arms around Eric's
neck. She put her short legs around Eric's waist as far as she could and hung on hard. At
one point Eric said in a raspy, choked voice, "Um, do you think that you could loosen that
grip around my neck just a tad? I find choking to be most uncomfortable!" Angela giggled.

When they reached the top of the hill Angela gasped. The world seemed to slant away from
them. Below them were silvery clouds that seemed to be tucked in between the trees. A cozy cottage was nestled in the valley below with a stream that ran by.

Jamie came up and tickled Angela. She couldn't stop him. Everytime she tried to capture
his invading hands he just moved to a different spot. Finally Angela said, "Eric, help me.
Stop Jamie!"

Eric turned quickly and slid Angela into his arms in front of him. Angela
thought that she was safe from tickling. She couldn't have been more wrong. Now Eric
and Jamie BOTH started tickling her ribs, her knees which were EXTREMELY
ticklish. Angela was laughing so hard that tears ran down her cheeks.

When she could catch her breath she called out, "Help me Papa Blake!" Blake and Red
came up behind them. Red and Blake had been taking turns hauling a large sled. The
sled was to pull the tree home.

Blake said, "Jamie, Eric, you need to give Angela a break. After all you should pick on
someone your own size!" Jamie looked at Eric, Eric looked back at Jamie. Eric put
Angela on her feet, and the two of them began to tickle their father. Both of them knew
that Blake was very ticklish. Angela saw what they were doing and moved in to help
them. Laughing hard Blake couldn't fight off the three of them at once.

Finally Red whistled between his two fingers. The sound was shatteringly surprising.
The ticklers all ceased their actions. "Now don't get me wrong. I'm all in for a good
tickling, especially when it's directed at Mister Blake. On the other hand we need to
get Angela home quickly. She can't get a chill.

Angela groaned. "I'm all better. Honestly! When are you menfolk all going to quit
treating me like Great Old Aunt Matilda?" "'Great old aunt Matilda,'" Eric and Jamie
mouthed at each other in delight." Angela bristled, "Don't you two fools go off
making fun of the way I talk. I reckon that if you had lived my life you wouldn't
know how to talk too good either."

Blake nodded, "Angela is right." Now, enough of this, let's get tree hunting. The
great Christmas tree hunt of 1890 began.

Lucille Bond

Lucille Bond LOVED nothing better than creating! She created all day long. Willard Bond, her husband had helped her in the creation of a family. Their love had created three beautiful daughters, Wilhelmina Elizabeth (Willy), Roberta, (Bertie), and Alexandria (Alexa).

Her family gave her the motivation to create, beautiful meals, clean clothes, a lovely home, and a community that was a positive place to live. Lucille spent every minute of everyday "creating."

Even in Lucille's sleep she "created," the things that she needed and wanted to do the next day, the next week, the next month, she fell asleep "creating," and her dreams were filled with her "creations."

Lucille LOVED to cook. She adored taking raw ingredients and turning them into a savory broth, or stew. Making dessert that made her family smile brought her sincere joy. One of her favorite recipes was one of her simplest. Fresh egg noodles were a way that Lucille connected to her Mother and Grandmother who had both passed from this life.

Everytime she beat out the eggs, thicken with flour, and then rolled the preparation into a thin sheet she remembered her Mother teaching her with a huge smile. As she cut the noodles into long strips she remembered the way that her Grandmother had looked with a winter fire shining into her silvery crown of braids.

Yes, Lucille Bond loved to CREATE!

Lucille Bond's Egg Noodles

4 eggs
pinch of salt

Beat eggs and thicken with flour until stiff. Roll out thin and let dry. When dry
roll up and cut.

Guaranteed DELICIOUS in chicken noodle soup, or any other recipe that uses egg noodles!

JAMES LEHI CALKIN

The first time that Beth saw Jamie she was convinced he was a giant. It seemed to her that his head touched the clouds. At six years of age Beth was not very tall. Jamie was around Wilhelmina Elizabeth's age but he was much taller.

His full name, when the school teacher read it, was almost as big as he was. "James Lehi Calkin," Mr. Dredge said. "Here," responded James. Then he added, "Mr. Dredge, please call me Jamie, everyone does." Mr. Dredge looked over his spectacles, "Well then, Jamie, it is."

Wilhelmina Elizabeth didn't understand why Jamie's skin was so much darker than hers. Of course, she reasoned most people had darker skin than she did. Her skin was very, very light. In fact one of the students in her school told her that she was transparent. She didn't know what that was but she thought it must be bad because the other children snickered.

Her Mother had told her about Indian's. They were savages, uneducated, and godless. It didn't make sense for Jamie to be an Indian, he WASN'T uneducated. He had the same education that she did.

Jamie's Father was Blake Calkin. Blake was golden brown most of the time from working outside most of his life. Yet Jamie was subtly browner, darker than his Father. Wilhelmina Elizabeth had never met Jamie's Mother. Sarah Calkin had died only a few days after giving Jamie life.

Rumors swirled around young Wilhelmina Elizabeth's head. Rumors that said that Jamie's Mother had been the leader of a tribe of Indian's called "The People." The stories said that Sarah had left her tribe to become Blake Calkin's wife. After that information nothing else made sense to young Willy.

Her Mother said, "Sarah Calkin was nothing but a low-down savage." Willy didn't really understand but she knew that her Mother's sweet voice got harder, and darker when she said those words.

Wilhelmina Elizabeth Bond Calkin

A one room school was Wilhelmina's introduction to education. Her name Wilhelmina was intimidating to other children. So they shortened Wilhelmina to Willy. Wilhelmina HATED being called Willy only slightly more than she hated being called Wilhelmina.

Her Father's name was Willard. Her Mother was convinced that Wilhelmina was going to be a son. Since she was the first child it seemed normal to name her after her Father. The name would have been Willard Lucas Bond, Jr. When the baby was NOT a boy, her Mother still named her for her Father.

When being obedient, a model student, and practically perfect in every way did NOT gain her absentee Father's attention Willy began to pick on smaller children, or poorer children, or pretty much ANY children that she could get away with bullying. She decided that she would rather get her Father's attention for negative behavior than to never get his attention at all. Her nickname became WICKED WILLY. This name gave her pleasure because she WAS Wicked. Somehow her misery seemed less when others were also miserable at her hands.

Her parents sent her to a very elite school for women in Switzerland. This was a dream come
true for Willy. She determined before she arrived at school that she would NOT be called Wilhelmina, Willy, or Elizabeth. Beth was a beautiful name, and it would be hers, she would make certain!

When she arrived home after three years in Switzerland she looked very different. She had learned how to wear clothes elegantly. Her hair was dressed in a new style that was very becoming to her long face. The most important difference was that she was extremely confident...actually she was more arrogant than confident. She felt that she was better than anyone else. Especially in the tiny town where she had grown up.

The one person that made her return to Calkington was Eric Calkin. As a tiny girl she had decided that she was going to marry Eric. He was the oldest son of the founder of the Calkington, and the heir to the amazing Drifting Anchor Ranch. Imagine her dismay to discover that her worst childhood enemy Angela Butler was engaged to Eric. There was nothing she could do to stop their marriage, or was there?