Selecting your fabrics

Desirability vs. availability

Finding fabrics which meet historical standards can be extremely difficult, or very easy, depending on your requirements. If you are trying to find a period-correct print, you are pretty much doomed. There is one 1780's print available from some fabric stores, i.e. G-Street Fabrics, in Rockville, MD, reproduced from a swatch provided by the DAR Museum in DC. Other historically accurate prints are available from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. After that, good luck.

Upholstery and drapery sections of your local fabric stores are the first places to look. Cotton damasks, with stylized floral motifs, are out there. Look for a repeat of no more than 12". Any larger, and you will look like you are wearing Scarlett O'Hara's draperies. The cotton damask has the same appearance as wool. No, it is not 100% historically accurate, but it has the same look. You might also find similar damasks that are rayon/cotton, which have the same look as 18th century silks. Same situation. Not 100%, but about as good as we'll find outside of a decorator's showroom.

Linens are usually available in the Spring. Watch out for funny names, i.e., summer linen, which has 100% rayon fabric content. I have found linen damasks and silk taffetas at chain fabric stores in MD, VA and DE.

These are general fabric guidelines. We can discuss your selections on a case by case basis.

Regardless of your final selections, please pre-wash and iron any fabric which will be washed after the garment is made.

Remember to purchase all the necessary notions when you are out fabric shopping. If you cannot find spiral boning, don't fret. You can use plastic feather boning, or when we get to that part of the lesson, and you know the exact length of boning you will need, you can order it from Burnley and Trowbrige, who always have it in stock.

Don't forget to buy 3- 4 yds. of something to use for your fitting muslin!

©J. P Ryan, 2002. All rights reserved, including the rights to reproduce this lesson or any portions thereof in any form. This lesson is intended only for the use of those who take the class via Costume Classroom, and is not to be shared in any form for any purpose without the express permission of the author.

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