Fabric Checking Thread

[Jessamyn]

It's hard to know - it sounds like it's on the cusp. It worries me that they mention coats in the usage. Not so much because if it's a bit too heavy you'll be hot, but because the fabric will be thicker and harder to work, won't dart and seam as crisply, will be very heavy to wear, and will weigh down your crinoline instead of laying lightly over it.

I can see the temptation: a nice fabric at a nice price! Perhaps this is a better choice for a paletote, though.

[Beth Chamberlain]

Ditto on Jessamyn's comments. I've found their descriptions to be quite accurate and so the "medium" and "coat" concern me. It can't be too thick based on how it sits in creases in the center of their swirl (I love that they do those!) but the very wide, round, "bumps" that lead to the swirl make me think it's stiff enough that it could be hard to work the fullness in at the waist gracefully and could create other challenges. I would keep looking. Have you looked at fabric.com and fashionfabricsclub.com? Both also have some wools at really nice prices right now.

Beth

[LizC.]

Would this be appropriate for mid war?
http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/p/17937/Black-Pink-Stripe-Wool-Suiting

[Jessamyn]

Ooh, that's pretty neat. It's an unusual stripe pattern but I'd say yes - certainly a very 1860s color scheme for "better" fabrics.

[LizC.]

Ooh, that's pretty neat. It's an unusual stripe pattern but I'd say yes - certainly a very 1860s color scheme for "better" fabrics.

Awesome thanks! 

[Janine Stier]

http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-fabric-wool-fabric-worsted-wool-suiting-fabric-worsted-wool-suiting-plaid-earth.aspx?cm_vc=756b1813-cbc1-43b3-84bd-29889bf8fb7b

Are plaids like this period correct for mid 19th century - late 1850s, early 60s?

Again, I like the colors, however wonder about the evenly spaced bars of color. I am used to seeing period dresses with several bars close to eachother and a space of the background color in between, if that description makes sense.

Many thanks in advance for your input. I want so badly to make sure I get things right.

Janine

[Veronica Carey]

Janine, thats the one I purchased (6 yards) a few days ago!  I think it is lovely, and is reminiscent of plaids I have seen on original.  You are right that it is more "even" than many originals, but I think it is fine.  The color choices for trim alone make it exciting.  I can see it with pale blue trim to bring out that lovely blue in the plaid, or the right red as trim too.  (That's what I'm thinking.)
Have at it!

[Carolann Schmitt]

http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-fabric-wool-fabric-worsted-wool-suiting-fabric-worsted-wool-suiting-plaid-earth.aspx?cm_vc=756b1813-cbc1-43b3-84bd-29889bf8fb7b

Are plaids like this period correct for mid 19th century - late 1850s, early 60s?

Again, I like the colors, however wonder about the evenly spaced bars of color. I am used to seeing period dresses with several bars close to eachother and a space of the background color in between, if that description makes sense.

Janine

You have a good eye, Janine.    This is an appropriate weave and color combination for the period. But...it's not a plaid, it's a gingham! In the 21st century we think of gingham as woven of white and one other color, usually cotton.  In the mid-19th century ginghams could have up to eight colors and were also woven from silk and wool.  Great find at a very good price.

Regards,
Carolann

[Brooke Whitaker]

I get a feeling this is a no, but I'm gunna ask anyway.. lol http://www.fabric.com/clearance-fabric-fashion-fabric-clearance-discount-fabric-50-off-apparel-fabrics-worsted-wool-suiting-squares-sage.aspx?cm_vc=756b1813-cbc1-43b3-84bd-29889bf8fb7b

[Veronica Carey]

Brooke, I think that has been shown before and others have said it is fine.
Carolann, so glad my pick is good, and I learned something new!  Gingham, not plaid!  Thanks!

[K Krewer]

Think this would behave like silk faille?

http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/MKD4495-Vera-Wang-Twill-Silk-Emerald-44-Wide.html

I got my 10 yards of this last night.  While it's lovely, it's much more GREEN than I had thought (thought it was more like a forest green).  Anyone who might be interested, PM me.

[Brooke Whitaker]

Brooke, I think that has been shown before and others have said it is fine.

Ekk...my bad! But thank you, Veronica! 

[CVanS]

Think this would behave like silk faille?

http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/MKD4495-Vera-Wang-Twill-Silk-Emerald-44-Wide.html

I got my 10 yards of this last night.  While it's lovely, it's much more GREEN than I had thought (thought it was more like a forest green).  Anyone who might be interested, PM me.

I have salt and pepper hair, how would this go with someone like me?  Originally when I saw this I thought it was much too light for my hair and complexion.....light sage would wash me out!

Cindy


OOOPs!  I see now this is not what I thought it was.....sorrry....disregard please.

[K Krewer]

If you're a "winter" I think this would be great. 

I'm just trying to reproduce a dress in dark green faille but find it prohibitively expensive.  The cheapest I can find it is $65/yard.

[Mrs.Dixon]

'Yes' or 'no' on this 'mesh wool?'

http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=87aa4674-21e2-4d12-ac2e-f0774afd8d27

[Veronica Carey]

Mrs. D:
I bought 2 yards to cut into a 60" square and fringe the edges for a folded triangle shawl, probably for one of our junior docents.  It is scheduled to be delivered to me on Monday.  If you want to risk waiting I can answer any questions about it.  My instinct:  it would be FABULOUS for a dress!

[Jessamyn]

Personally I avoid working with open weaves like that for structured garments like dresses. They don't usually have much dimensional stability - that is, they pull out of shape very easily. But sometimes if you really love the fabric it's worth it to stay-stitch all the pieces onto their linings before assembly. And sometimes the fabric can be surprisingly stable despite the weave; it's just a risk to be aware of.

[Veronica Carey]

Yes, I would definitely flat-line it for a dress, but being that it is 100% wool I bet it will have some natural "adherence" (for lack of a better word) that wool tends to have.  An open-weave cotton would certainly be a challenge, but I suspect this wool will be ok.  I'll report back after mine arrives on Monday.  I did plan, if necessary, when I fringe the edges for a shawl, to knot the fringes in some pattern up close to the body of the fabric if necessary.  Fiddly hand-work that I enjoy.... 

[Mrs.Dixon]

Thanks for the opinions, ladies. I think I will risk it and wait until you receive it, Veronica. I will keep an eye on it and make sure it isn't getting snapped up too quickly.

[Veronica Carey]

Mrs. D:
The yellow fabric arrived and it is lovely.  Such a nice buttery, corn tassel shade of yellow!
I would never think of this as "loose weave".  Definitely not gauzy.  It does have a texture, a bit like pique.  I think what looked in the photo like open spaces in the weave was due to the texture, not actually holes or open weave.

So long as the pique type texture is ok, I think it will be a fabulous fringed shawl, and would be super duper (PC term) for a dress.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.  Unfortunately I will not commence the fringing this week--I just got back from the doc because I stupidly perforated & abraded my cornea on a dead tree branch while pruning buses.  I am so accident prone!  I really must pray about that....  My poor husband is always carting me off to the ER or the doc for one reason or another.

Off to put another ice pack on my face!