:o Can you believe this fabric find?! I just wandered into JoAnn after a dentist appt this morning, and look what flung itself at me:
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/4707019/386446757.jpg)
It's a 50-50 linen/rayon blend (poly embroidery). I'm sorry I didn't think to do a scale image of the embroidery, but that's a 4-yard bundle, if that gives you any idea. It's on sale right now for $7.50/yard... and my store had two bolts of the stuff. I immediately thought of you guys when I rushed it up to the cutting counter!
Here's a closer shot of the embroidery:
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/4707019/386446758.jpg)
You're not going to fool anyone that it's real, hand-worked blackwork, but I think from the "how it looks from 10 feet away" test, you can't beat this. Particularly b/c of the linen content. (ETA: see my post on page 2 after a laundry test.)
So. What can we do with this luscious stuff? I already have a couple of ideas, but I'd love to hear brainstorming! (It's pretty substantial, so I think it could *easily* work as a corset.)
I'm thinking coif/caul for sure:
(http://needleprayse.webcon.net.au/broidery/images/caul.jpg) (from Jane Stockton's site)
...And probably sleeves:
(http://needleprayse.webcon.net.au/research/images/unknown_lady_hans_eworth_1557.jpg) (Also, oddly enough, from Stockton's site.)
SQUEE!!
OMG! Ultra mega super squee! Awesome find, Gem! Thank you for sharing this. I actually have to go to JoAnn's tonight anyway and I will SO be looking for this fabric. Caul and sleeves, yes and yes! Can't wait to see what you do with it. If I manage to find any for myself I'm thinking corset...
Thanks again for the heads up.
Oh nice find.
Beautiful,
sleeves was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw that.
It's only stocked at one of the three Joann's in my area. Four yards of it came home with me though!
Which one had it? The one in Independence is closest to me.
OOOOH!!! I will have to get some for another Chemise for cooler days being that there is Rayon in it.
A Noblewoman can NEVER have too many Chemises.
WOW that's nice stuff! :o
I was in a Joann ETC last Sat. and I didn't see anything like that. I would really like some. I was thinking sleeves, as well. Do you have the SKU?
Sweet find!
For a floor length chemise, how much would you need? I wear 12-14. I have an idea in mind, and this might work great.
Thanks!
Wow...I love that material! I wish I had a JoAnn's closer to me. I think that it would make a beautiful pair of bloomers!!
Big important NOTE here:
This is a HEAVY weight linen blend. Not only would I not use the linen/rayon for a chemise (pure linen or cotton is good) but it's WAY too heavy for one. It's almost upholstery weight to give you some idea. I bought a bunch of it a few weeks and it's great for a winter outfit but not for summer. So, yes, it is pretty. It does look like Elizabethan blackwork but use it for a skirt and a stomacher -not for a chemise or a coif. You want much lighter weight things for that.
its too heavy for normal season or inside wear...but for cold weather parades or fair days..I say go for it. I was never so glad for my poly. gown as last thanksgiving day parade... Its horrible in the summer but a real blessing that day!
I would describe it as "mid-weight" (and that's mid-weight for *linen*) not heavy. It's not as heavy as the 6.5 oz linen I made my corset from (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/4707019/375723655.jpg), and it's certainly much lighter than a true mid-weight fabric like twill, corduroy, or velveteen. The embroidery adds some stiffness, true, so it won't drape like linen usually does, but I suspect after a washing it will soften up (the care instructions say hand wash/line dry--because the embroidery will not shrink like the linen/rayon base fabric--but I'm going to do a test swatch anyway, to see how it handles).
I would say it's no heavier than my flaming orange chemise (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/8281948/110825768.jpg), or the linen shirt I made Milord (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/4707019/374639827.jpg) last fall.
Rayon has wicking properties similar to linen, and you see a lot of linen/rayon blends in mundane wear (since rayon cuts down on linen's wrinkle-prone-ness, without adding weight or heat to the fabric).
HTH!
*eta* Renee, you should be able to make a full-length chemise from ~3 yards of 45" wide fabric, but check your pattern. This is 53".
That is lovely fabric. I can see it being incorporated into 'dane wear' in some way too. Give yourself a bit of faire flair in the dane world. :)
I think the linen would be very suitable for an Elizabethan/Jacobean jacket, like these:
http://www.uncommongatherings.com/RB&Ljacobean_jacket.htm
Oh, Anea, that's brilliant! It's a really good weight for that. There's a jacket pattern in TUDOR TAILOR that could probably work... and I think a blackwork jacket would probably look *smashing* with my pink damask corset (http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/22511199/375914178.jpg).
I've pretty much decided what I'm going to use mine for. But... it's a surprise. I want to actually get started on it before I go bragging it up! LOL
Or, oh heck, maybe I'll go Anea's jacket route. I'd better go back and get more. ;D
***
ETA: So after looking a little more at the Jacobean jackets, I'm wondering how this would look with the more severe cut of a doublet bodice. I don't think I've ever seen a blackwork doublet, but I'm intrigued by the "timeline-bending" idea.
A quick update:
Although the fabric care instructions were "hand wash cold/line dry," I of course wanted to test that. So I cut a 6x6" swatch and ran it through the washer/dryer. My initial plan was hot wash/hot dry... but then I decided that I'd see how it handled more ordinary laundry conditions, so I ended up warm/med-high. I was expecting some differential shrinkage between the fabric and the embroidery, and that the fabric would end up all warped and wrinkly... but it DIDN'T! It shrank some in the lengthwise grain (parallel to the selvage) and not really at all in the cross wise (perpendicular to the selvage). My 6x6" swatch shrank to 5.5x6".
It wrinkled no more than you'd expect any linen to wrinkle in the wash, and perhaps even less... and better still: ironed BEAUTIFULLY.
***
So... now I'm wondering how it would take some *real* abuse in the wash, so I'm getting ready to send the swatch through according to my original plan (hot/hot). I'm also thinking of cutting a full yard and washing that to see. Will the rayon stabilize the progressive-shrinkage of the linen, or will it continue to shrink? Unfortunately, I have to wait for an appropriate load of laundry to come up, since I've already washed all my whites! LOL
That fabric is sooooo beautiful!
If someone who has this fabric could weigh it and give an ounces per yard, maybe that would help the rest of us figure out how heavy it is.
I wish we had JoAnns in Canada, it's really lovely stuff!
Went to our crummy Joanne's after work, and of course, they don't have this fabric. The woman told me they are a "medium-sized" Joannes and they don't carry everything. In reality, they are a pathetic excuse for Joannes. I guess the optimist in me thought they would have this fabric. I really shouldn't be surprised. They had a total of 15 different trims. What kind of choice is that? Oh well, it's not meant to be. Especially since I don't know how to sew anyway!
Wow, Lady Renee, I can FEEL the disappointment dripping from your comment! I'm sorry for your bad luck.
DO NOT buy a Powerball ticket tonight! HA!
I sincerely hope the optimist in you is reassured tomorrow!
My JoAnn's actually had a couple bolts so I was able to score 2yds! I also think this fabric would make a great partlet, but Anea's suggestion of the Jacobean jackets really has my wheels spinning right now... Lady Renee, I'd be more than happy to pop back in and grab some of the fabric for you, just let me know!
Thanks again Gem, for sharing your find AND for being the Guinea pig with the pre-washing!
As I was ironing my 4-yard cut of this fabric this afternoon, I realized I never came and gave a final update! I machine washed and dried the fabric three times on hot wash/medium-high dry, and it behaved beautifully--minimal shrinkage, no worse wrinkling than any other linen, no puckering around the embroidery. I formally declare this fabric absolutely WASHABLE! (Not that my word means much, but still. LOL)
Quote from: NicoleBridget on May 04, 2010, 08:56:14 AM
My JoAnn's actually had a couple bolts so I was able to score 2yds! I also think this fabric would make a great partlet, but Anea's suggestion of the Jacobean jackets really has my wheels spinning right now... Lady Renee, I'd be more than happy to pop back in and grab some of the fabric for you, just let me know!
Thanks again Gem, for sharing your find AND for being the Guinea pig with the pre-washing!
Thanks for your kind offer. But since I don't know how to sew and have enough material for 3 people, I decided it would be silly of me to buy more. One day, though........ ;D
I saw 1.5 yds of it at my Joanns today, and for 50% off, but I can't really figure out what I would do with that amount of it, so I saved my money...
I took the scissors to mine tonight (gasp!). I have one more piece to cut out, but I'm taking a break. Want to get it done tonight, lest I forget what I'm doing in the morning!
I broke down and bought it today, when I was there for some chemise fabric. It should hopefully be just enough for a set of sleeves, though I wish I had enough for a partlet, too!
I happened to be in the JoAnns by closest to me today, and they had this stuff in stock! 60% off to boot! So, I got 3 1/2 yds at 5.99/yd. Not sure what to do with it all, but glad to have it!
I saw this fabric at our Jo-Ann's, but it was a bluish purple color, with the black embroidery. When moved it shone different hues of blue and purple. It is very lovely.
I didn't buy any, as I just didn't know what to do with it.
Look, love, the rule is 'If you love it, buy at least six yards. That way you can make almost anything...' It's called SEX: Stash Enhancement eXperience.
;D ;D ;D
LMAO @ KateXXXXXX. that's a good one.
Ahhhhhhh, so when my friend asks me why more fabric?
I can say.....
"It's called SEX: Stash Enhancement eXperience!"
;D
Yup. Quilters know the value of regular SEX therapy... ;) ;)