Apron Assembly
Almost every day, Gertrude "Gert" Cypher sits at her antique Singer sewing machine and stitches together an apron or two.
Cypher, 90, has handmade more than 1,000 colorful aprons during the past decade, most of which she has given to friends and relatives.
"It doesn't take long to sew them together once I cut them," said Cypher, wearing her favorite red gingham apron at home in Herman.
About 10 years ago, Cypher suffered a mild stroke, and although she recovered well, she was not able to do some of the things she used to, said her daughter Rose Stumpe of Herman.
So Stumpe introduced a few simple sewing projects to her mother, including burp pads and bibs that were donated to charities.
Cypher then made an apron with a pattern first used by her grandson for a school project and hasn't looked back.
"It's a project without a lot of complexity, and you have something to show for your work," Stumpe said. "It's a meaningful, useful project for someone who worked hard all their life."
The original pattern has been altered very little, except for the size, shape and placement of pockets, Stumpe said.
The aprons are usually one-size-fits-all, but Cypher has adjusted the pattern to make child- and adult-sized aprons.
Stumpe and Cypher's other daughter Jeannie White of Butler have given away most of her creations.
"They get a kick out of giving them to their friends," Cypher said with a smile.
Almost every member of their large extended family has an apron or three, and they've been gifted to coworkers, neighbors and other acquaintances.
"I've given mine away to people that I barely know, like the teller at the bank I've met three times," Stumpe said. "That's fun for me, to give unexpected gifts to people."
"It's a fun little surprise that women appreciate," White added.
Some aprons have been sent to friends in several states and in countries like Brazil, Northern Ireland and New Zealand. Others have gone as nearby as Cypher's church family at St. Mary's Church in Herman.
"When they have fish fries at the church, there are all these people in her aprons," Stumpe said.
The gifts are usually met with appreciation, but are sometimes declined, Stumpe said."Sometimes, people will say, 'No thank you, I don't wear aprons,' and I'll tell them to hang it in their kitchen and see if they use it," she said. "They usually do; everyone can use an apron."Cypher keeps her sewing supplies neatly organized, and since each apron takes just a yard of fabric, she doesn't keep much surplus on hand.Smaller bits of fabric are folded and arranged in "pocket baskets," sorted by color, season and theme."We put time and effort into finding the right pocket," White said.Cypher has collected countless fabric designs over the years, including lime green checks, soft florals and patriotic stars and stripes.She prefers the cheery patterns to better hide stains that come from wear and tear.A lifelong seamstress, Cypher made clothing for her daughters and later worked part-time as a seamstress at St. Fidelis Seminary."She would do whatever they needed, like make draperies, and she would mend their clothes," Stumpe said.Cypher grew up on a nearby farm and always kept busy, Stumpe said."She was always growing, harvesting, producing," she said. "And we're producing again, aren't we, Mom?"
