Fabric question: Wool Shetland?

[gem]

I've been looking for charcoal grey wool for a fitted English gown for *ages* now. I was mostly looking for flannel, but today stumbled across something calling itself "Wool Shetland," in exactly the right color, for an unbeatable price ($10/yard on sale!). Someone on PR recommended it as a cloak fabric.  I'm not familiar with "Shetland" as a fabric, though; I know it as a high-quality fiber (mostly in the form of yarn) from Scotland, and have sweaters &c made from it.

Here's the description:

100% Shetland Wool Heathered Charcoal
This light medium weight can be used for capes, coats, jackets, vests, blazers and skirts.

What does everyone think? At that price I could afford to experiment, but I'd rather not have 4 yards of the wrong grey wool in my stash if I can avoid it.

Thanks!

[Adriana Rose]

I would say that the wool is from Shetland sheep so hence the name.

unless someone figured out how to shear ponies

[CenturiesSewing]

Hmmm the term heathered means it isn't going to be a solid grey tone, it will read as grey but with more texture to it.

"Heather refers to interwoven yarns of mixed colors producing muted greyish shades with flecks of color"

Not sure how far back that goes without doing some digging, part of my brain is muttering about sheep's color.

It might just be a question of "Does this look like something they could have had, or does it look like I might have a matching modern coat?"

[CenturiesSewing]

Recalled this passage from The Tudor Tailor "...This produced flecked fabrics known as mingle, medley or motley.. A shoemakers left a greenish mingle-coloured cloak in his will of 1600."

[captmarga]

Brookes Bros has a Wool Shetland houndstooth jacket on their website.  Shrinkage, shrinkage, shrinkage.

Shetland is a very fine wool, and I would be inclined to get at least 1/3 more than I thought I might need.

Good luck!

Marga

[gem]

Thanks, everyone! I bought it!  I don't know why it took me two days to talk myself into it; I've been looking for this fabric since 2009. And as a new customer, I got 20% off. The only bummer was I couldn't find anything else I wanted, too. (End of Fair season sewing fatigue, obviously.)

Jenn, I knew the color was period; medleys have been around as long as wool's been around (probably from the days we were plucking sheep instead of shearing them). But even so, it's very subtle:



I heard back from the woman who recommended it; apparently it's warm and fluffy but lightweight with a nice drape. I'm still not convinced there is such a fabric as "wool shetland," however! That's like saying Italian Silk. 

[gem]

My wool arrived today! It's a warmer grey and a bit lighter in color than I was looking for, with a very distinct medley/heather look to it, lots of dark/light tones and variation. . Not *exactly* what I had in mind, but pretty close and I think it will work fine.

Fabric wise, it has an obvious twill weave to it, is identical front/back, and is roughly the same "fuzziness" of flannel, although it's rougher and not as soft. The weave feels looser, but the fabric itself--while not being particularly *thick*--is quite heavy.