Help me decide whether to buy a bolt of fabric

[Wickedvox]

I have an opportunity to buy a bolt of home dec fabric in yellow/champagne for $20. It's kind of a jacquard type fabric--it's perfect for a royal gown, and I would definitely have enough as it's the entire bolt. The color is not period though. Can I dye this type of fabric? Maybe a *darker* yellow so it has a better chance of taking? What would *you* do?

[gem]

1.) Yes. Always buy the bolt of fabric for $20. I don't care what it is. (Well, maybe not fleece, but almost anything else.) At the very least, it will be perfect for gown mockups. And if you find you have too much of it, you may be able to, you know, share it. 

2.) What is it made of? I might not want a whole gown out of something *entirely* synthetic, but my purple kirtle is a poly/cotton damask, and I haven't had issues with it feeling uncomfortable in the heat or having that "synthetic shine." However, one of my own early bargain purchases was several yards of cream brocade from Hobby Lobby that looked good in the store, but once I got it outside, all that poly just sparkled horribly. It's been in the stash ever since. (It's too stiff to use for mockups, but I'm still hoping to do something with it someday!)

3.) If it's all synthetic, it might not take dye. But just this week I was combing the bins at Tuesday morning looking for damasks just so I could dye them. Alas, I could not find any with a suitable pattern (somehow pumpkins didn't seem workable...).

4.) Yes, you should buy it. A bolt of fabric doesn't take up that much space. (It's the 25 other bolts that become an issue....) And when you bring it home, snap some photos and post them in Cilean's Fabriologist thread!

[Wickedvox]

The seller isn't quite sure, but it looks like a cotton blend to me. I think I *will* go buy it--it's an hour away, but well worth the drive I think. Once again you've backed up my play Gem! What would I do with out you?! Let's not find out! I'll post it in fabriologist on sunday--Grammercy my friend!!

[raevyncait]

I second always buy the bolt for$20, but I would say even if it's fleece... that can always be used to make tie blankets and such. The local IWG chapter here in TX has a tie blanket stitch-n-belch every December to make them for Bryan's House, the local facility for children living with AIDS.

[Rennigirl]

Why is this even a question?!?!?!   

[Wickedvox]

Why is this even a question?!?!?!   

*smacks self on forehead* I don't know what I was thinking! lol! Hell, if nothing else, maybe I'll make a bedspread out of it. It actually is the perfect color/print to make a replica Sound of Music curtain dress lol!

[Once Debauched]

Why is this even a question?!?!?!   

I was wondering the same thing!

[gem]

OK, now it's my turn. 

I just discovered that the gorgeous cotton-blend damask tablecloths I made my purple kirtle out of have been discontinued. All that's left is green (and I can't tell if it's a sagey green or a forest green from the info online). Two 120" oblong tablecloths were more than enough for a gown and sleeves for me, and I could grab a couple more, for what amounts to about $6.50/yard. Not a tremendous bargain, and I really don't "need" any green damask--but it's *such* lovely fabric, it's the same design as my kirtle and the leftovers, and I know how it is to work with, wash, and wear.

Hmmm. I may have just talked myself into something.    And I guess, in a pinch, our kitchen accent color is green....

[Wickedvox]

The price isn't spectacular, but you never know when you'll randomly enter the MA Iron Dress competition--fill up that stash! (I'm paying you back for enabling *me!*)
P.S. It must be nice to be petite  I could *maybe* get a skirt out of that for my 5'8" 160lb frame!
P.P.S I'm going to make a mock-up of an underbust corset from a piece of my super-buy--I've never had one and thought, "what the heck? I have *16* yards!" Ha!

[gem]

Dude. It's almost 7 yards of fabric. And you're only 4" taller than I am and maybe 10 lbs heavier. You could probably wear any of my gowns, with a nice wide guard at the bottom--'cause I know how much I lop off my skirts when I hem them! (Enough for a set of sleeves. And an extra bodice, if I piece the front.) Basically what I'm saying is, I could totally loan you garb. Or my MIL could (she's tall). Oh--well, the newer ones might pinch in the shoulders. I guess I'm a little petite *there.*

Margo's skirt pattern uses A LOT of fabric, IIRC--way more than you need. My coral linen Italian dress has 3ish yards of fabric in the skirt--whatever was left of 4 yards after I cut the bodice. Here's a pic showing how swishy the skirt is (because I don't wear a petticoat under it, it falls kind of straight when I stand still, so the fullness is deceiving).

This is one of my favorite posts at Renaissance Tailor--she details how she made a gown from 3.5 yards of fabric. (And I just realized the cutting diagram she shows is essentially how I cut my gowns. Where she shows the extra for piecing the skirt--that's usually just scrap for me, or I could get sleeves out of it. You have a lot of fiddle room with the bodice pieces, too, depending on where you have it lace.)

***
So, wait--should I buy the tablecloths or not?! (I called Milord--because he *always* calls to ask me silly things like this, but he was on the line with his mum, and I didn't want to say, "I'm calling about fabric."  )

[Orphena]

Buy Them! You never know a project will come up that you KNOW will work for them...... you will regret NOT buying them!

[Wickedvox]

7 yds is quite a bit! I'm with Orphena! Yeah, without guards, I'd look like a hobbit in your skirts  And where *do* you find these delightful resources?? my favorites file is getting *stuffed* with links you put up lol! (But what is IIRC? I meant to ask in one of your other posts and forgot )

[Koshiba]

*de-lurks* IIRC means 'if I recall correctly'.

That purple fabric is gorgeous, I can only imagine in green, which is my favorite color. Mmm.

[Wickedvox]

*de-lurks* IIRC means 'if I recall correctly'.

That purple fabric is gorgeous, I can only imagine in green, which is my favorite color. Mmm.

Thanks Koshiba *lassos her with golden lasso* there'll be no more lurking missy! Doesn't Gem just do the most beautiful kirtles? She and Centuries Sewing are my kirtle role models. I'm *GREEN* with jealousy over Gem's purplr kirtle and think she needs make a green version

[Koshiba]

She does! I'm quite envious of her skills. I've only been sewing in a veeery casual way for a couple of years. I hope to someday be anywhere near some of the talented folks on these boards.

That kirtle in green would be divine. Do eeeeet.

[CenturiesSewing]

Gem get the green! You can make the kirtle from Tam Lin.  I plan to one day once I decide on fabric.

Janet has kilted her green kirtle
A little aboon her knee,
And she has broded her yellow hair
A little aboon her bree...

[Kate XXXXXX]

If you don't want the purple fabric, buy it anyway and donate it to me!  Do I count as a Good Cause?   

[gem]

Doesn't Gem just do the most beautiful kirtles? She and Centuries Sewing are my kirtle role models. I'm *GREEN* with jealousy over Gem's purplr kirtle and think she needs make a green version

Ohmigosh, you guys, you're making me blush! Centuries is MY role model--she's amazing. I've only managed to make one kirtle successfully, and really, it was a long time coming. I declared 2011 the year of the kirtle and vowed to retire my sewing machine if I couldn't finally manage to make one. Glad I didn't have to keep that vow!

***
The fabric is on its way! Huzzah! When I remembered that I could get free shipping for $50, and the fabric was $42, that made it even easier. I won't be repeating the purple kirtle--sorry, all!--but it will be going into the stash... possibly for the dreamed-of-but-still-amorphous Greensleeves Gown, or for good fabric to have on hand for a new ensemble for Milord or his Mum or my forthcoming twin nieces-or-nephews or... 

[LordPaulet]

What color is it that makes it "not period"  I think we REALLY downplay the ability of those renaissance dyers sometimes...

[Wickedvox]

What color is it that makes it "not period"  I think we REALLY downplay the ability of those renaissance dyers sometimes...

Well, I suppose *someone* at *some* point may have used butter yellow, who am I to say 

[gem]

I got the green tablecloths today, and they're lovely! Sort of a soft, medium ivy green. A very nice addition to my stash! Will upload photos (to the fabriologist thread) when I have a chance.

(Which is now cast about everywhere in my office, as I was pulling scraps for a friend's granddaughter's birthday.)

[Wickedvox]

Gem I'm starting to appreciate "the stash," that underbust corset I'm making is *all* stash fabric lol! BTW that yellow fabric I got frays and sheds like my dog when it's stressed out!!! Arrrgh!!

[LadyFae]

Hey Wicked- look at my avitar pic, I'm in butter yellow and from the closeup you posted before, my material is VERY similar to YOUR material.  Rock the butter yellow, girl!

[Wickedvox]

Hey Wicked- look at my avitar pic, I'm in butter yellow and from the closeup you posted before, my material is VERY similar to YOUR material.  Rock the butter yellow, girl!

Lady Fae, I'm gonna hot rock that butter yellow till it melts and I can poor it over lobstuh!! lol! I'm going to make a pair of under sleeve covers, a forepart, and a stunning h/a bodice, mayhaps some pirate pants, a dress for the dog, slops for the husband (oh yes, he *will* wear slops if it *kills* one or both of us!), or emergency lenders....