Cold Weather Garb

[insidiousraven]

Ok, Ladies...

I've decided to make a Fitted English Gown. What type of wool should I look for?  Should it be suiting or coating?  I'm clueless as to these  buzz words and what they mean for wool fabric. All I know is I want it to be warm while still being easy to sew and manipulate.

My kirtle is a Kelly Green linen, and I was imagining a black gown to go on top. Does this color seem appropriate?  Should I go with grey, blue or maroon instead?  I want to portray middle class.

Thanks a bunch!  Here is a picture of my kirtle:

[isabelladangelo]

Your green kirtle is fine.  Use pretty much whatever color you want for the wool.  Coating is a thick wool used for coats.  Suiting is a thinner wool used for suits.  Since you want an overdress, you want suiting wool.  If you want a cloak/Spanish surcote, you can use either but coating is more preferable for the colder months. 

[gem]

Raven, for my (as yet unsewn!) EFG, I bought some "Shetland Wool" from Fabric Mart: http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/wool-shetland/  I would describe it as a slightly thicker, slightly more loosely-woven woollen than wool flannel. The weight feels appropriate for chilly mornings at KCRF. At the moment they don't seem to have a lot of colors, though. (You might have a look at their gazillion other wools, though!)

I've also used a lot of the wool flannel from Renaissance Fabrics.

To me, suiting weight wools kind of feel less cozy, because they tend to be worsted (a prep process that makes the wool crisp and smooth, instead of warm and fluffy). YMMV, of course! A coating weight might be too thick for the EFG--but it would be warm!

[insidiousraven]

Thanks Gem!  Maybe we can sew ours together 

[gem]

Hee! I was actually thinking the same thing!

Looking at the FM website again, this looks lovely, and the dark blue would be smashing with your lime green kirtle:
http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/Heather-Micro-Chevron-Wool-Blend-Coating-60W.html  I can't tell the wool vs poly content, but the description of medium/heavy sounds promising.

[insidiousraven]

I like the idea of a dark blue, maybe with black trim! My sleeves are a golden yellow, so I think those colors would jive well.  Let me know when you get ready to sew yours! We can compare notes.

[Aderin]

neat ideas all 'round!