Is burlap and acceptable overskirt material?

[Shadowslayer]

Hello i'm new to making garb...actually, this is my first time wearing any at all to a festival and i want to look..i guess it would be called 'historically accurate' with at least the materials i use, and i was wondering if burlap is okay for overskirt material for a peasant or lower middle class woman.

thank you

[Hausfrau Monica]

I would second that question in a way.  I have some small burlap bags that I wonder if they would make acceptable pouches.

[Lady von Groper]

Greetings Shadowslayer:

Yes, burlap would be OK for an overskirt for a peasant (maybe not a lower middle class, however), but it needs to be mentioned:

Since the weave on burlap is so loose, it ravels HORRIBLY.  If you are going for the peasant look, having some of the burlap raveled may be desireable, but you will need to figure out how to keep it from raveling any more than you want.  I haven't tried it yet, but I would think that either zigzagging the edges or using fray check may keep it from completely falling apart. 

As far as using burlap for lower middle class, I wouldn't.  The lower middle class has got a little more money than a peasant, and they can afford a little nicer clothing. 

I hope that I've been someone helpful.

[Shadowslayer]

thank you for the advice, it is much appreciated. i'll keep the unravelling thing in mind 

[gem]

People have different standards of historical accuracy, of course (and mine are pretty low! LOL), but I think I would stick with something like linen, if you want a more "homespun" look while still being H/A.  Renaissance-era peasants were surprisingly well-dressed, compared to our modern conception.

Here are some great images of period peasantry:
Splendor Solis
an English peasant
woman shearing sheep
Italian peasants
French? farm workers

One of the problems I see with burlap is that while it's strong for things like sacks of grain, it's not that *sturdy,* and peasants' clothes take a lot of abuse, so fabrics needed to be hard-wearing.  It looks like even in India, where jute (the fiber burlap is made from) was cultivated first, it wasn't really used (much/at all?) for clothing.

Linen is still a fabulous garb choice--it's not terribly expensive, it comes in any color you could want, it's sturdy and hard-wearing, and it's fantastically easy to work with.  Did I mention it was also impossibly comfortable?

Another option would be a "homespun"-looking cotton.  I know our Joann's and  Hobby Lobby sell fabric like this in their quilting sections.

Have fun!  What pattern/s were you thinking of using?

[amy]

The only time I would suggest use of burlap as a garment is if you were portraying some kind of character with whom you would associate it... Would be cute  as a spoof for the "Miller's wife" but don't get it near your skin... would absolutely itch you to death!

[Genievea Brookstone]

That's what I was thinking, it would be terribly itchy!

[Shadowslayer]

well, i am using Simplicity's 5582 pattern, but i think i'll stick with burlap this year and i will definately use linen...i didn't know that i could get linen!...i still have a lot to learn about this kind of thing. thank you all for your advice!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I would concur with gem regarding Linen for lower class and peasant wear for outer garments.