How to Pick Fabrics for the 1850s and 1860s || Improve Your Impression 1853-1862

Описание: A quick note: I'm sorry about the echo-there was no furniture in the room and we had just replaced the carpet with laminate. I didn't realize my voice was going to be bouncing like it did. Furniture will be in place before I film again so hopefully the issue will be alleviated.

Let's look at what to look for when picking 1850s and 1860s fabrics for reproduction garments!

Remember… ALWAYS start with original garments first. We never look to movies, other reproductions, or just go to a fabric store and pick something that “looks old”. While we are looking at originals, we are noticing…
-Fiber content
-Color and shade
-Pattern or design
-Spacing of the pattern or design
-Size of the pattern/design
-Details of the pattern/design (outline/no outline, shape of leaves, amount or lack of shading, particular flower shapes or varieties, size and shape of stripes or plaid designs, patterns or designs within the original pattern/design, etc.)

Common Fabrics-Search terms to use today
Underpinnings (Chemises, drawers, night-dresses, petticoats: muslin, Pimatex cotton, batiste (For very nice garments)
Cotton corsets: Coutil, twill, sateen
Silk corsets: Taffeta
Silk dresses: Taffeta, tissue taffeta, organza, velvet, satin
Wool dresses: Tropical weight, 6-8 oz
Cotton dresses: Calico, organdy, voile, lawn
Collars/cuffs/undersleeves/handkerchiefs: Handkerchief linen, cotton lawn, cotton voile, cotton batiste

A common mistake is to take over arching things we can document and just going to pick the modern version of that fabric (ie, “I found an original polka dotted dress so I’m going to go buy a polka dot fabric from Hobby Lobby and make it up since I know polka dots were period.” Without noticing fiber content of the original fabric, how large or small the dots were, the proper spacing for period polka dots, etc. Sometimes different time periods do the same design in a different way in an attempt to modernize it or “do something different” but unfortunately, that then makes that fabric inappropriate to use in a historical context.

Helpful videos
Hoop Mania:    • Hoop Mania: 1860s Crinolines || Random Res...  

Helpful links
Fabric website we looked at: https://www.twobeesfabric.com
Reproduction Fabrics: https://www.reproductionfabrics.com
Dharma Trading PimaTex Cotton: https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/...

Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
3:28 Review of Period Fibers
10:06 Undergarments
22:29 Dresses
50:40 Evaluating Modern Fabrics for Use
1:11:40 Accessories, Headwear, and Outerwear
1:22:00 Wrapping It Up


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