opinions on fabric

[Ser Niall]

Purchased this fabric on ebay to use for the doublet and slops that I'm currently constructing.  I wanted to use it as the main fabric for the doublet, and for the panes on the slops.  For whatever reason, I thought that the black in the fabric was going to be satiny and more in the background, while the gold would be shiny.  However, once I received the fabric, both the black and gold parts are metallic and shiny.  I was thinking that black isn't metallic, why would it be shiny?  Silly me... Just wondering if this would still be fine to use on this costume?  I didn't want it to be this shiny, but if it's still period appropriate I can live with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380288047449?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1416

The ebay pictures isn't really that great, I can post some of my own pictures later if I get a chance.

[Orphena]

Gorgeous!

Being that it is fabric, you don't need to worry about the black being shiney - even though it is not mettalic. I think it will be stunning!

[Ser Niall]

Gorgeous!

Being that it is fabric, you don't need to worry about the black being shiney - even though it is not mettalic. I think it will be stunning!

Thanks    It actually looks a lot different depending on the light.  In natural light the blacks come out more, under the fluorescents in my sewing room, the golds take over.

[Rowan MacD]

  I was looking at that a week or so ago.  Yummy!
 There is so much you can use it for.  Excellent choice.  

[Ser Niall]

Thanks, makes me feel a bit better about using it.  My usual clothing style is a bit subdued, so it's difficult for me to put together flashy noble garb because it goes against everything I usually wear 

For those following my sewing saga, I managed to get the slops base and underlay cut and sewn up last night.  Ran into a few snags (had to look up how to gather fabric on the 'net), but once I got started it went together relatively quickly.  They look good already, the underlay is a nice black silk/cotton blend that I got a good deal on.  Should look really nice once the panes are attached, which I hope to get done soon.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

The Fabric you have chosen is GORGEOUS!!!

I would like to suggest using that fabric for the Doublet and Detachable Sleeves.

For the Panes for the Slops, I nwould like to  suggest a Black Jacquard or Brocade. With an Upholstery Braided trim also in Black. That way, the Focus is on the Doublet. The Underlining for the slops, a tarnished Gold upioni Silk from www.silkbaron.com called Aztec Gold. Scrumpuous Silks, very reasonable in price per yard.

Hopes this helps.

[Ser Niall]

Thanks for the suggestions, and for that silk website.  I'll have to think about the color scheme a little bit now.  I have the underlay constructed with black silk right now, since I was going to use the same brocade above for the panes.  A lot of the pictures I've seen have the panes matching the doublet fabric.  The black underlay makes the gold in the brocade stand out.  But now I like your idea about trimming out the panes instead of using the doublet fabric.  Decisions, decisions...

I've thought and studies so much on the construction techniques that I didn't really think the color schemes through, other than the fact that I wanted black and gold.

The Fabric you have chosen is GORGEOUS!!!

I would like to suggest using that fabric for the Doublet and Detachable Sleeves.

For the Panes for the Slops, I nwould like to  suggest a Black Jacquard or Brocade. With an Upholstery Braided trim also in Black. That way, the Focus is on the Doublet. The Underlining for the slops, a tarnished Gold upioni Silk from www.silkbaron.com called Aztec Gold. Scrumpuous Silks, very reasonable in price per yard.

Hopes this helps.

[Rowan MacD]

 While I was over at the ebay site (again), I found this-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAGE-GREEN-RENAISSANCE-VINE-BROCADE-FABRIC/380176323393?ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1&ih=025&category=943&cmd=ViewItem

   Just purchased 15 yds of this in moss green background/gold pattern from Joann's for $8.00 yd (on sale)-55" wide -regular 16.98 yd.  I had to special order it since they only had 2 yds on hand, but having laid hands and eyes on the actual fabric, I figured I would describe it.
  This is a nice light weight home dec fabric with a small vine like print, excellent drape, has a usable reverse side pattern (squee) in gold with moss green. 

[Wickedvox]

Ser Niall it looks like you're on track! I can't wait to see your finished product! And your ebay links are helping me find brocade for my friend's garb (my first commision yikes). Keep up the hard work--it'll be worth it when you can wear your creation with pride!

[isabelladangelo]

Purchased this fabric on ebay to use for the doublet and slops that I'm currently constructing.  I wanted to use it as the main fabric for the doublet, and for the panes on the slops.  For whatever reason, I thought that the black in the fabric was going to be satiny and more in the background, while the gold would be shiny.  However, once I received the fabric, both the black and gold parts are metallic and shiny.  I was thinking that black isn't metallic, why would it be shiny?  Silly me... Just wondering if this would still be fine to use on this costume?  I didn't want it to be this shiny, but if it's still period appropriate I can live with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380288047449?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1416

The ebay pictures isn't really that great, I can post some of my own pictures later if I get a chance.

Looking at the fabric, I'm going to say you will have issues from it.  It looks like the type that will fray like crazy and is almost impossible to work with.   It also looks very 1980's to my eyes.   If you aren't going with h/a, that's fine but you still need to worry about the fraying issue.  Stuff that frays is also the same stuff that rips and is impossible to patch - not the type of material you want to use for panes!  I'm going to say keep looking and stick with natural fabrics - they are far easier to work with for the most part.

[DonaCatalina]

It looks scrumptious; but acetates/ rayons can be difficult to work with. You weill need to stabilize the edges very strenously. There is also the issue that since it is a petroleum based fabric; it won't breathe very well and will be very warm to wear.

But for contrast you could use solid black like this cotton jacquard
http://www.denverfabrics.com/p/9130/Black-Floral-Jacquard-Pique

or this red co9tton jacquard
http://www.denverfabrics.com/p/TT869/Red-Floral-Jacquard

I am tempted on the black jacqurs myself at that price.

And then there is gold dupioni here
http://www.fabric.com/home-decor-fabric-silk-fabric-dupioni-silk-fabric-dupioni-silk-fabric-gold.aspx

There are also some cotton blen damask fabrics that work well for garb.
http://www.interiormall.com/cat/nsample.asp?ID=237520&t=117
http://www.interiormall.com/cat/ndisplaycoll.asp?c1=Fabric&book=117

[Ser Niall]

@Rowen, I saw that fabric at Joann's as well.  I put it on the short list because it was the most renaissance-looking fabric I saw there, inexpensive, and came in multiple colors.

Everyone else, thanks for the suggestions.  I didn't think about the fraying issue, and looking at the fabric it does look like it will be a problem.  In fact, it's left a bunch of threads on the table I had it on already.  Also didn't think about the issue of it being too warm to wear.  I will probably end up returning it or using it for something else if I can't.

@DonaCatalina, thanks for those sites.  I like that Onyx Eugene, I think I'll order a sample and see how I like it.

I thought the construction was the difficult part... picking out fabric that looks good and won't break the bank is hard 

[Ser Niall]

Spent some time looking through that interior mall site, found some interesting choices:

Thought this looked nice, and it's a good price.  I thought about this as a possibility for a slops underlay.  Not sure how it would look to have a pattern underneath the panes.  I would make the panes a little plainer, like plain black with some trim, so that it's not too busy.

http://www.interiormall.com/cat/nsample.asp?id=172017

I thought about this one too for the main fabric for the doublet and sleeves.  It looks like the pattern is black, while the background is grey.  I would trim it out in gold, to get that aspect into it.  I'm just not sure how it would look with the grey background.  Thoughts?

http://www.interiormall.com/cat/nsample.asp?id=218368

I'm also liking the Eugene Onyx damask Dona linked to above.

[isabelladangelo]

Although the cotton damask looks cool on the monitor, I'd shy away from it.  You want a woven pattern, not a printed one.  If you want a pattern at all!   I'd say go on ebay, get some 100% silk (ignore the color.  Anything can be dyed black) and also look at the sari trims.  The awesome thing about the sari trims is they often come in 5 yard lengths but are very inexpensive for how lovely they are.  Rather than going with a print/woven fabric, just create the panes out of a plain silk(or wool, or velvet, ect) and put the trim down the front/middle of the pane.  Also, look at trim placement on doublets in paintings.  Add the same trim to the doublet as well.  You can have a very elegant super shiny outfit without a print - which should make your search a lot easier.

[Ser Niall]

isabella, that's always a possibility.  I might go that route if I can't find what I'm looking for.

I found this on etsy, only a sample though.  This would be perfect for what I'm trying to go for if I could find something similar: http://www.etsy.com/listing/95871857/soft-black-stirated-gold-damask-tapestry?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=black+gold+damask+fabric&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_includes%5B%5D=materials&ga_search_type=all