Here's a question for the Fabriologists! Milord's favorite shirts are ones we bought off the rack, made of heavy textured cotton that's nothing like anything I've seen in fabric shops or out at Fair.
Main question: Does anyone have ideas for good heavyweight fabrics for shirts? Something with a little weight and texture, maybe? I've spent the morning poking around, and I'm pretty sure one of his shirts is something called Calcutta Gauze or Hero Cotton, but it doesn't seem to be widely available (I found various shades of natural; Milord really wants green). Someone at Pattern Review suggested Homespun--but the homespuns I've seen locally are much lighter weight, like muslin, and/or prints (mostly plaid).
Secondary question: Has anyone used the heavyweight linen from Fabrics-store.com? I've used their medium (5.3 oz) for gads and gads of stuff, but Milord is looking for something even heavier--but still soft enough to make a shirt from.
Here's what I'm trying to replicate/approximate:
This is the Calcutta/Hero:
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/24167320/403847270.jpg)
And this is the one that might be Homespun. It actually reminds me of the sort of shirts you find in natural clothing or hemp shops.
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/24167320/403847271.jpg)
Has anyone seen anything similar? Right now I'm kind of considering ordering the Calcutta that I found at ebay, and trying my first dye project!
Gramercy!!
Our local wholesaler, Golden D'Or, has Irish Linen remnants for $6 a yard. These pieces are usually 2-10 yard cuts. I have gotten both heavy and lightweight from the bin. The lightest I have made my gypsy chemises from, the heaviest I've used on my skirts.
Wide variety of colors, too!
Marga
Dharma has something similar but might be too light weight and is currently out of stock :-\ , http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3447693-AA.shtml?lnav=fabric_cotton.html (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3447693-AA.shtml?lnav=fabric_cotton.html)
I've gotten similar textures when washing silk blends and mystery cottons from the walmart table.
I was wracking my brain for the term, it is "Osnaburg" fabric it is a cotton and it was used by The Dyeshop for bodices and such!
Cilean ;D