opinions on fabric

[Ser Niall]

I'm not going for huge historical accuracy, I mainly want to look nice without breaking the bank.  The vertical lines in the corduroy I bought are small enough that it kind of looks like a velvet unless you look at it closely.  Joann's had a nice selection of colors and it was pretty reasonably priced.

I've actually read in a book that they might have had a fabric similar to modern coduroy in Elizabethan times.  They took thick plied velvet and scraped the lines into it, giving it a similar look.

[DonaCatalina]

Pile on pile velvet, the precursor to modern corduroy, has been documented as far back as the twelfth century.
The end effect is the same, the technique has changed.
http://www.anarchisma.net/costume3.htm

[Ser Niall]

Here's a pic from my Joann's haul.  I saw the brocade, which was looked great and was a good price, and just built up a color scheme around it.  The brocade and taupe corduroy will be the doublet, the green corduroy the breeches.  The trim is a nice muted gold, with an emerald green cord going through it.  Sorry for the picture quality, camera phone and poor light.

[Wickedvox]

I think you made some good matches! I like them a lot!

[LadyShadow]

Lovely combination. Cant wait to see in progress and finished photos.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Well done!!!

Can't wait to see the finished product.

[Ser Niall]

I need some more help from the experts here.  Originally I was just going to make a simple pair of venetians using the emerald green fabric above.  However, after putting that fabric next to the doublet (in progress pics here: http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=3590.msg386349#msg386349)  the colors don't look quite right together.  I have a bunch of fabric left over from the taupe corduroy and green brocade from the doublet, and I've always like the look of the paned slops more, so that leaves me with two options:

1) Have the corduroy fabric as the underlay, and use the green floral brocade for contrast panes.  I would be using cotton broadcloth as the lining, which is lighter weight than the corduroy.  So I'm wondering if this will effect the "poofiness" of the slops?  Since the cord is heavier, will this force the poofs inward as opposed to out and away from my leg?

2) Reverse of #1, use the green floral brocade as the underlay, and use the taupe corduroy for panes, applying the gold braided trim down the middle for some pizzazz.  This might eliminate the poofiness issue from option 1 (if it is an issue) since the brocade is silkier and has more movement than the corduroy.

[gem]

When in doubt, go for pizazz. 

(Also, when I'm debating colors, I find it helpful to trace out a couple line drawings of what I'm making, and then just color them in!)

[Ser Niall]

Definitely going with plenty of pizzazz, and I think either color combo will look nice.  I'm just worried that the heavier weight corduroy won't poof out like I want it to as opposed to a lighter weight fabric.

I'll break out the colored pencils when I get home 

[gem]

FWIW, I haven't made paned slops, but I've worked with corduroy a lot, and Milord has several different pairs of Fair pants, made in a variety of fabrics. His favorite are a pair of textured corduroy, and one of the reasons he likes them is that they do have a bit more body and "oomph" than lighter, drapier fabrics.

The corduroy has the benefit of having almost no drape--it's reasonably heavy and will crumple and stand out, instead of falling limply. Try grabbing a handful of it, kind of like a balloon, and seeing how it behaves. If it collapses all around your hand, you know it won't give you the look you want. If it sort of holds its shape, you're, well, in good shape! 

Also, you can always underline or use interfacing, to change the "hand" of the fabric so it behaves a little more like you want.

[stonebiscuit]

If you stuff it good and hard, it shouldn't be a problem. 

[DonaCatalina]

I use lots and lots of tulle. It will eventually have to be replaced; but it weighs less than other stuffings and has a good 'poof' factor. When a local joann's was going out of business I bought up almost all the white tulle they had left.