Need fabric advice

[gem]

I'm tentatively looking for some solid red fabric for a noble's gown (English, c. ~1560s). I want something kind of crisp and flat (so NOT velvet/velveteen/etc), but dressier than linen. So what am I left with--silk or worsted wool? Anyone have ideas?  Links to swatches would be fantastic.

Gramercy!!

[CenturiesSewing]

Gem you didn't say what shade of red,  so these links are a bit all over in the color spectrum.
I have not ordered from any of these folks but have heard good things about them,

Here is a few to start you off!

Silk Taffeta

Rust   http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?id=462

Rose   http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/cgi-bin/showAll.cgi?id=522



Blood Red   http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=20

Bright Rust   http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=672

Winter Cherry  http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1230

Rich Burgundy   http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1249

Bright Red   http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1260

True Red   http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1637

Shot Wine/Black but very pretty  http://www.puresilks.biz/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=748


Wool

Cranberry  http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=085e7815-bf42-4940-ae92-1870fd257a1d

Bright Red   http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=070ca148-c10a-417f-94f2-f6c6e7c18ef0

[gem]

Thanks, Centuries!! Those are great. I was actually thinking red red, maybe hinting *slightly* toward pink or cranberry, but definitely a true red.

I've never worked with silk taffeta; I'm not sure I've ever even owned silk taffeta, so I'm not sure what to expect from it. Is it a nice heavy fabric like a synthetic taffeta (not that I'd ever use a synthetic taffeta in a Ren gown! But for comparison's sake!)?

[PrincessSara]

You'd probably want to go with silk satin, taffeta seems to have been used more for undergarments and linings than for gowns for the nobles.  The only place I know of that sells affordable silk satin is Silk Connection, and it only comes in white so you'd have to dye it.

[isabelladangelo]

I've used silk taffeta and love it for my gowns.   Since you are doing a noble gown, I'd stay away from wools and stick with silks.   

[operafantomet]

I'm tentatively looking for some solid red fabric for a noble's gown (English, c. ~1560s). I want something kind of crisp and flat (so NOT velvet/velveteen/etc), but dressier than linen. So what am I left with--silk or worsted wool? Anyone have ideas?  Links to swatches would be fantastic.

Gramercy!!

What immediately came to my mind was silk dupioni. It's crisp and flat - but maybe too crisp for your use? I love working with it, at least, because it's so easy to shape (pleat, drape etc). You can get it both with noticeable slubs and much finer slubs, and it usually comes in all kinds of colours. In my experience (but it might just be here in Norway) it also tends to be cheaper than silk tafetta.

[isabelladangelo]

I know you want solid but Joanns has a lovely jacquard pattern linen/cotton that is perfect for a noble outfit.   It's medium weight and it's in the Bayou fashion section on sale right now. 

[gem]

Oooh, excellent!  I'll have to check that out.

I'm still trying to educate myself about the silks. I know dupioni fairly well; what about something like faille or silk twill?

ETA: I just found a beautiful silk/linen blend shantung that looks good. It's slubbier than I'd like, but the price is fantastic.  IIRC from years of reading mundane clothing catalogues, shantung is a dress-weight fabric, right?

[isabelladangelo]

Yes, shantung is a step up, I guess you could say, from dupioni.  They are so closely related, that many people mistake one for the other.  The big difference is that it's not as slubby as dupioni.