Cotton Twill

[Lady Rebecca]

Can anyone give me some quick non-Ren fabric advice? I'm planning to make an 18th c robe a l'anglaise polonaise at some point this summer, and I came across this fabric nearly 50% off at Joanns today. It's 100% cotton twill. I wasn't sure if it was quite right, so I put it on hold until tomorrow. Is this print at all reasonable for the 18th c? Is 7.75yds enough to make a polonaise out of (based on diagram XXII from Cut of Women's Clothes) for a 40" waist? And is ~$7.80/yd a reasonable price for this cotton twill (it's 30% off, and I have the 25% off your purchase coupon). Oh, and is it worth moving it 3000 miles next week? Or should I just wait and see if I find something better within the next couple months...

Thanks for any advice you might have! I still feel like one of my weakest points as a seamstress is differentiating between different types of fabric.

[isabelladangelo]

Answered on your blog.  Hope it helps!

For anyone interested in the 18th c, some (very) useful links!

http://damesalamode.tumblr.com/ <- period fashion plates
http://alltheprettydresses.tumblr.com/tagged/18th_Century <- extant clothing in private collections
http://www.larsdatter.com/18c/index.html <- everything you wanted to know about the 18th century

[gem]

I have to agree with Isabella on this one. It actually makes me think of these sheets my mom had when I was growing up. I *want* to like it (trying to picture it as a little jacket with lots of pleats &c), but it's not... quite... there. (Your uncertainty likewise makes me think it's not screaming BUY ME to you, either.)



It's surprisingly easy to find 18th C.-friendly fabrics, though (easier than Ren, IMO). Just keep your eyes open, and the right things will pop out!

[Lady Rebecca]

Okay, I think I'll pass on it then. That will save me about $50 (for now), a trip to Joanns, and trying to find some way to get it with me to CA...

[operafantomet]

Ikea has/had some lovely cotton prints sold by the yard and as bed linens. The patterns were taken from extant 18th century fabrics, and lots of people made Rococo dresses based on these. The main selection was available some years ago, but they had some versions there still when I visited in February. If you have an Ikea nearby, it's definitely worth checking out.

[isabelladangelo]

Oh yes!  Ikea has $5.99 a yard linen and $9.99 a yard cotton velvet.  They don't seem to have a lot of the 18th C prints anymore but they do have an awesome array of solids for a good price. 

[Wickedvox]

Oh yes!  Ikea has $5.99 a yard linen and $9.99 a yard cotton velvet.  They don't seem to have a lot of the 18th C prints anymore but they do have an awesome array of solids for a good price. 

Well, *expletive,* now I have to start going to Ikea! My husband will NOT be your new BFF if he finds out about this!

[Auryn]

well hot damn
my Ikea doesnt have any kind of velvet at all, and the fabric they did/do have has some atrocious ginormous flower prints on it

[isabelladangelo]

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70196942

That *should* take you to the solid velvet online.  Although you can't buy online you can check stock at nearby stores pretty easily. 

[ArielCallista]

IKEA SELLS FABRIC! I totally had no idea!

[Auryn]

thanks for the link isabella
and of course they don't sell the velvet (in any color) at my ikea, but they do in Orlando.
go figure 

[gem]

At least you HAVE Ikea. 

[Auryn]

true
and their chocolate cake and their almond cake are to die for.

[Butch]

Ah yes, gotta love Ikea!  They had them in Virginia when we lived there, and when we visited friends in Minneappolis, there was one there!

Good stuff!

[Lady Rebecca]

I've lived about 15 mins away from Ikea for the last year, but I've only been once. And that was as a mini cast field trip when I did Pippi Longstocking. Their food is so good! But I didn't remember seeing fabrics. And I'm not going to let myself check before I leave. But maybe I'll check the one in Palo Alto out when I get back to CA...

Enabler...