1850's fabric

wyo_rose · 03-13-2008, 11:16 AM

Anyone out there familiar with what some 1850's-type fabric might look like?

I'm making 2 drop sleeve shirts for someone going on an 1850's wagon train trip.

I was thinking of making one out of solid cotton and one out of calico.

Any hints?

**Eagle Plumes** · 03-13-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyo_rose

Anyone out there familiar with what some 1850's-type fabric might look like?

I'm making 2 drop sleeve shirts for someone going on an 1850's wagon train trip.

I was thinking of making one out of solid cotton and one out of calico.

Any hints?

are we talking pioneer wise? If so my son has been studing the Oregon Trail and his he was writing about the clothing last nite. They made cloths from flour sacks, I and I want to say muslin, im going to go back threw his refernce books, but if im way off leem know and ill shut up lol

wyo_rose · 03-13-2008, 12:21 PM

Yeah, like pioneer wagon train stuff!

Thanks! I'll look for some muslin. I have some Bluebird flour sacks, but I'm not parting with those.

**Eagle Plumes** · 03-13-2008, 12:24 PM

We have been eating and sleeping Oregon Trail stuffs, lemme go back and do some more reading and see what I come up with, I take it its a mans shirt? rite off i remember soething about cotton & muslin not sure if uts the smae thing lol but as I said I will go back and read a bit and get back to you.

Wyldwolf52 · 03-13-2008, 12:29 PM

Cotton and calico are good so is ( how I sspell this right ) gigham. A good rule of thumb is to look for simple cloth patterns.

**Eagle Plumes** · 03-13-2008, 12:30 PM

OK I just read in the 1850's the men wore eaither bleacd or unbleached muslin and also wore small checked shirts. Calico was also used but muslin was said to be more available because thats what flour came in and they reused the sacks for clothing. Thats where im thinking the checks cam in because it was on the flour sacks. i also lookd up 1850's clothing and it showed me mens woman and childrens cloting

**Eagle Plumes** · 03-13-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyldwolf52

Cotton and calico are good so is ( how I sspell this right ) gigham. A good rule of thumb is to look for simple cloth patterns.

My 4th grader is sooo into this rite now Im going to tkae in some quills and quilld items for the class to look at my son wrote about porkupines s/p lol so I thought it would be neet for them to see some of that. He has been nominated to take his essay to be judged im very proud of him specially since last yr he loathed writng not hes sitting at teh table everynite writing.

wyo_rose · 03-13-2008, 03:19 PM

Sounds cool. Any kind of history is so interesting!

I think I'll look for small checks or flour sack looking stuff...and get some unbleached muslin.

BeadMan · 03-13-2008, 03:27 PM

The most amazing fabric shop in the entire world is in Bozeman, MT. Margo runs the Reproduction Fabris Store

There are lots of images online. You can get actual repro cloth from the time period you want. The web site is cool, but you really have to see the store in person to get a sense of it's awesomeness.

Cheshire Cat · 03-13-2008, 04:05 PM

Definetly go to the shop Beadman gave a site for.....as todays CALICO IS NOT the same or the pattern the same as back then. Calico basically means printed material or on cotton. I deal in old historical clothing and the terms and definitions have changed greatly in over 150 years.

Look at this store patterns and colors...they are very well researched.

wyo_rose · 03-13-2008, 06:02 PM

Cool thanks!!

Czechy · 03-13-2008, 06:34 PM

I think I have an article on that very subject. I'll dig it out. It was put out by the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, NE.

Czechy · 03-15-2008, 11:40 AM

I found my article. It describes the calicoes made for the Indian trade which was probably slightly different from what was available to the settlers. Anyhow, the patterns on the stuff sold to the native people was 2 -3 colors since the fewer colors, the less work and expense involved in manufacture which net more profit for the seller. So patterns were simple, like dots, stripes, vines and some figures but nothing elaborate or in a million colors. Colorwise, it seems that the medium hues were common, like red, purple, blue or green. Solid colors certainly, were also used.

LeannB · 03-16-2008, 07:56 PM

We do reenactments.....and a simple woven check or stripe (go to JoAnn's Fabrics and look for "homespuns") are always correct. Work for everything from Rev war to Civil War and beyond!

03-13-2008, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
wyo_rose Teenah's Too Cool Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Washakie Posts: 8,034 Blog Entries: 2	1850's fabric Anyone out there familiar with what some 1850's-type fabric might look like? I'm making 2 drop sleeve shirts for someone going on an 1850's wagon train trip. I was thinking of making one out of solid cotton and one out of calico. Any hints? __________________ Don't take life so seriously! It's not permanent.

03-13-2008, 12:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
wyo_rose Teenah's Too Cool Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Washakie Posts: 8,034 Blog Entries: 2	Yeah, like pioneer wagon train stuff! Thanks! I'll look for some muslin. I have some Bluebird flour sacks, but I'm not parting with those. __________________ Don't take life so seriously! It's not permanent.

03-13-2008, 03:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
wyo_rose Teenah's Too Cool Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Washakie Posts: 8,034 Blog Entries: 2	Sounds cool. Any kind of history is so interesting! I think I'll look for small checks or flour sack looking stuff...and get some unbleached muslin. __________________ Don't take life so seriously! It's not permanent.

03-13-2008, 03:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
BeadMan Beadworker Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Northeast Iowa Posts: 410	The most amazing fabric shop in the entire world is in Bozeman, MT. Margo runs the Reproduction Fabris Store There are lots of images online. You can get actual repro cloth from the time period you want. The web site is cool, but you really have to see the store in person to get a sense of it's awesomeness. Last edited by BeadMan; 03-13-2008 at 03:33 PM.

03-13-2008, 06:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
wyo_rose Teenah's Too Cool Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Washakie Posts: 8,034 Blog Entries: 2	Cool thanks!! __________________ Don't take life so seriously! It's not permanent.

03-13-2008, 12:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Eagle Plumes Just Bead it! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MId-West Posts: 11,491	We have been eating and sleeping Oregon Trail stuffs, lemme go back and do some more reading and see what I come up with, I take it its a mans shirt? rite off i remember soething about cotton & muslin not sure if uts the smae thing lol but as I said I will go back and read a bit and get back to you.

03-13-2008, 12:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wyldwolf52 Springdeer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 57	Cotton and calico are good so is ( how I sspell this right ) gigham. A good rule of thumb is to look for simple cloth patterns.

03-13-2008, 12:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Eagle Plumes Just Bead it! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MId-West Posts: 11,491	OK I just read in the 1850's the men wore eaither bleacd or unbleached muslin and also wore small checked shirts. Calico was also used but muslin was said to be more available because thats what flour came in and they reused the sacks for clothing. Thats where im thinking the checks cam in because it was on the flour sacks. i also lookd up 1850's clothing and it showed me mens woman and childrens cloting

03-13-2008, 04:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Cheshire Cat Banned Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 141	Definetly go to the shop Beadman gave a site for.....as todays CALICO IS NOT the same or the pattern the same as back then. Calico basically means printed material or on cotton. I deal in old historical clothing and the terms and definitions have changed greatly in over 150 years. Look at this store patterns and colors...they are very well researched.

03-13-2008, 06:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
Czechy wrapped in ribbonwork! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Here....for now Posts: 784	I think I have an article on that very subject. I'll dig it out. It was put out by the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, NE.

03-15-2008, 11:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
Czechy wrapped in ribbonwork! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Here....for now Posts: 784	I found my article. It describes the calicoes made for the Indian trade which was probably slightly different from what was available to the settlers. Anyhow, the patterns on the stuff sold to the native people was 2 -3 colors since the fewer colors, the less work and expense involved in manufacture which net more profit for the seller. So patterns were simple, like dots, stripes, vines and some figures but nothing elaborate or in a million colors. Colorwise, it seems that the medium hues were common, like red, purple, blue or green. Solid colors certainly, were also used.

03-16-2008, 07:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
LeannB LeannB Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Central Indiana Posts: 99	We do reenactments.....and a simple woven check or stripe (go to JoAnn's Fabrics and look for "homespuns") are always correct. Work for everything from Rev war to Civil War and beyond! __________________ "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

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