Vintage Apron: Seminole Piecing

I ran across a beautiful little vintage pieced patchwork apron while second-hand shopping over the weekend.

This incredibly teeny weeny piecework was made by the Seminole American Indians of Florida. Although the piecework is traditional to the Seminole Nation, aprons were not part of the traditional garb and were made for tourists.

Absolutely amazing patchwork if you haven't seen it before. Bright colors set together, often in combinations you would never think of, and pieced in beautiful geometric patterns. Above is a picture of the back side of that diamond strip - it's been washed a few times but you still get the idea of what went on here.

These aprons almost always were trimmed with yards and yards of mini ric-rac, and this one is no exception! It's hard to say how old this apron is, but I can tell that it is all cotton and handmade with a sewing machine.

I have seen some of these in other collections, but this is theFIRST one I've found for my apron collection! Double-plus good!

 

If you're like me and are inspired to learn more or even try your hand at some Seminole piecing, here are some links for you!

Read more about the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a bit of the history behind Seminole patchwork at the official Seminole Tribe of Florida website.

View a similar vintage Seminole pieced apron from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Take a look at the book The Complete Book of Seminole Patchwork to learn more about traditional work by Beverly Rush right here on Google Books.

Get a preview of the book Basic Seminole Patchwork by Cheryl Greider Bradkin, a great looking text that includes how-to's on the unique techniques of Seminole patchowrk over here on Google Books.

Seminole Piecing Tutorials:
Seminole Patchwork from The Patchery Menagerie
Tutorial: Seminole Patchwork from So Many Colors!
Seminole Piecing from CraftStylish
Make A Seminole Patchwork Border from Learn How To Quilt

Seminole Patchwork Hanging Heart project from Prym Dritz