I think it is too small to be an apron, or perhaps it was a child's apron, but it could also be an old fashioned lap bag. These were for wearing like an apron, but you kept your knitting or sewing in them so that it was always handy. I remember making one in primary school. It was pink fabric with simple embroidered stitches around it. Each year after that, we kept our knitting in it. Did anyone else make anything like that in school? (Perhaps I'm just really ancient!)
I love the paisley pattern and the hollyhocks (such a great word)!
Paisley museum has a wonderful collection of vintage shawls with paisley pattern which were made in the town and were popular with Victorian women. Their displays are fabulous, and show how the shawls changed with the fashions of the day, for example when the bustle was introduced, a shawl would have covered this, so shorter jackets became more fashionable and there was a decline in shawl making.
There are some wonderful examples in Victorian art.
 |
| Charles Rossiter - To Brighton and Back For 3s 6d (Birmingham City Art Gallery) |
 |
| William Holman Hunt - The Awakening Consccience - 1884, The Tate, London |
Love, Liz
Popping over to see everyone's treasure at Flea Market Finds.
.JPG)
36 comments:
Absolutely I enjoyed the side track..how fascinating..thank you! I do love your fabric. I feel the same about paisley.. so familiar but I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps Nan had a feather eiderdown covered in paisley fabric. Have a lovely week Liz. Much love Catherine x
I love this pink Paisley pattern, it reminds me of vintage eiderdowns. My mum has some very old Paisley shawls that have been passed down through the family. When she was up in Scotland visiting my sister she took them in to Paisley museum and found out a lot more about the different patterns and age of them. They are really beautiful and very large but so fragile.
Ann x
beautiful! i love paisley too! precious :)
What beautiful, beautiful fabric. Far better than any Cath Kidson attempt at imitation. Is it a polished cotton?
I'm with you on it being a lap bag. I heard about how you could hide one under your work apron and instantly remedy idle hands with your latest handcraft.
I am a paisley fan! I love it in all its manifestations - from Victoriana to Seventies skirts! Your fabric is just lovely.
I'm ancient and I'd never heard of a 'lap bag', maybe its a local thing Liz?
I like paisley patterns too and remember my first flying visit through Paisley many, many years ago (please forgive me if you live there) I expected a pretty place and was bitterly disappoined to see the parts we drove through seemed quite run-down and a lot of steel shutters :o( I'm certain it must be different now though!
When I was small my Mom made a dress from a greeny grey background with a yellow paisley design on it, I used to call it her 'banana pattern' dress!
Sad or what?
Rose H
x
Ooh I love that pink paisley! Really pretty. What will you do with it?
x
Rose H - you are right - unfortunately Paisley has become rather run down due to the decline of heavy industry in the area. Also because a big new indoor shopping complex was built nearby which took a lot of trade away from the town centre. It is such a shame!
Liz
Lovely paisley pattern. I’ve never heard of a lapbag but what a good idea. I’m off to make one!
I have always liked Paisley fabric, showing my age probably as it was around such a lot as I was growing up. I remember my mother having a Paisley scarf, greens and blues and purples, wonderfully rich colours and pattern.
Lovely post.
Thanks for this wonderful post, I love the Paisley pattern ..and the history behind it..
I made an apron too at school in Amsterdam, we learned knitting,crocheting and embroidery, but I'm in my 50's so rather old ..:)
Hugs from Amsterdam
Erna xx
Beautiful paisley floral pattern. I love the colours. 'The Awakening of the Conscience' is such as interesting piece of pre-raphaelite art. I really enjoyed your little deviation :)
Gorgeous paisley Liz
The fabric is beautiful. I have never heard of a lap bag. I love the idea of it though.
Beautiful Paisley fabric! The colors are so lovely.
Hi! I love your things! Beautiful!
Lovely post - thanks for sharing the history of the fabric; must have been a devil for those artists to depict though;) I love paisley designs in pinks, reds and purples - sure someone must have thought of bringing out a paisley patchwork wallpaper design? I'll go and do some googling... xx
Enjoyed your sidetrack history on Paisley!
What a lovely little apron, I love the aqua trim. I wandered over from Her Library Adventures, you have a beautiful blog!
I love paisley especially eiderdowns in paisley fabric. I know I made a pinny at school but it's far too long ago to remember what it looked like!
I love paisley too!
Very pretty pinny!
Melx
I love the Paisley pinny, my auntie Ruby used to wear a apron very similar in blue, I love the idea of wearing your knitting, we made a large material envelope at school for ours and we had to embroider our initials on it, I remember it well! but I think your Pocket is a much better idea.
Thea x
Gorgeous fabrics and pictures xx
Visiting from Her Library Adventures. Really enjoyed your post! Love the paisley and the art too!
Beautiful paisley! Love the idea of the lap bag. I need to make one! Have a great night! xo Heather
Wonderful paisley, there are some beautiful patterns. I can remember a peg apron that looked like your lap apron. Anyway it brings back memories.
Thank you for your kind words, I shall try and keep the blog going.
Enjoy you week.
Hi Liz, the paisley reminds me of one of my Nan's eiderdowns too! I thought that the apron could be a peg apron, for wearing when you are hanging out the laundry. And thanks for explaining the connection between Kashmir and Paisley I didn't realise.
I really enjoyed reading your interesting post and feel quite educated lol! I love your paisley find the colours are just perfect.
Anne x
That's a lovely Paisley pinny Liz, great find! x
Hi Liz,
Thought I had left you a comment, but I can be very rubbish on computers!
Soo if you recieve two,I have pressed twice!
Loved the paisley and have a vintage eiderdown on my daughters bed complete with feather filling in the same....
Soo very nostalgic!
What a lovely piece of paisley to find! The colours in it look lovely together. I always think there;s something quite comforting about paisley.
It looks so like a Cath K - but in a good way, very pretty, am sure she'll bring out something similar soon!
The paintings reminded me of 'Salem' a painting my neighbour when I was a child used to have in her house. It showed an aged woman in traditional Welsh dress at chapel, and she's wearing a paisley shawl you're supposed to be able to see the devil's face in. Do you know it?
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever/collections/salem.asp
i love pink, I love paisley too. I was rather smitten with a young man at University worse name I never knew, but we always called hin Paisley Shirt owing to the fetching Purple number he always seemed to be wearing. My friend Kate had a similar
crush on a chap we named Green Cardigan. I have a penny I now know is a lap apron for looking after my scissors and a pins etc. when I am sewing.
Thanks for the history of the pattern, Liz
I love your paisley fabric, so pretty. What a lucky find!
I am in love with paisley a tthe moment, I would have bought this too.
I love paisley! I've made a quilt made entirely of paisley fabrics. My ancestors lived in Paisley, in fact my great, great, great, great grandfather (yes, that far back!) was a weaver of silk in Paisley!
Post a Comment