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    contact me at:

    Linda Learn
    Class Act Fabrics
    PO Box 307
    Tunkhannock,PA
     18657-0307
    (570) 836-2318
  email me at
Linda (at) classactfabrics (dot) com

Here's a neat color site.
I think the colors are
truest of all the color
lists out there:
www.ibdguy.com/colors.shtml
 

 


        Class Act Fabrics   ...Silks...
Fabricmonger to the Crowns of the West Kingdom, SCA

     One thing we know from archeologist's digs: the silks valued enough to be used in burial, and even the scraps found in 10th century London middens, were smooth surfaced silks with only an occasional slub.
    I'm sorry to say that I haven't found_yet_ reference to deliberately irregular threads until an 1807 reference to pongee. I've found shantung mentioned in ready-to-wear ads in 1909 and in the May 1904 "The Delineator" magazine. Tussah was listed in a 1954 sewing book but not in a 1949....douppione was listed in 1972 but not 1969.
     Doesn't mean it wasn't there. It may not have been commonly used, or used for a different purpose. I'd love to have more research sources and time to use them. If you have sources to fill out history a bit more, please let me know!

    Someone mentioned that they had information that the uneven thread type silk was made in India in the middle ages but I don't have the documentation so I can't recommend it. I have seen documentation that fine silk was imported wrapped in 'raw silk' cloth and the wrappings were sold really cheaply (18th c). I highly doubt this was used as a 'fashion' fabric.

    As to which fabric is "period" for what__you really must go by your own research. (They're all beautiful and would make great "modern" clothing ;)  Some of  the dark jewels and black would be spectacular in "Goth". The taffetas work nicely for all times from medieval through French & Indian, and to Civil War era.

I have fiddled and fussed with the colors on these swatches, trying to match the original fabrics as close as possible. I think that the brain must make up some colors that don't exist in reality. sigh.  Email me with questions.
                                               All fabrics are 100% silk unless otherwise labeled.


click on fabric to see larger with details


#001
36"   3.5mm habotai

called gauze but it is a tabby weave... good for veils, partlets, fluttery stuff
White
$3.35/yd

MEDIEVAL: 1515 called 'poste'. Probably used in Europe as early as the 1200s and continued with different names through today.

Untitled002.GIF (1210228 bytes)
#002
36"   5mm habotai

excellent for veils, some use this for chemises
White
 

temporarily out of stock



#0100
44" silk chiffon
floaty, see-through.
like fondling a cloud
black

$9.25/yd


 


#085
45" silk charmeuse
12.5mm, natural white
$11.90/yd


#037
45" 20% silk, 80% rayon
medallion brocade

lovely fabric! This should be drycleaned to keep the texture and definition but I've washed it and pressed it...the medallions flatten out but it still looks great! The brocade weave allows it some "give".
This has been used several times for wedding outfits.
cream
$14.95/yd


#0160
60" 50%silk, 50%linen
twill suiting
I saw this and HAD to get it. The colors remind me of opalescent dragons' eyes. Yeah, yeah... I know but I'm a big fan of Anne McCaffery and have always loved dragons and opals.
The base color is a golden tan and those thin lines of window panes are 'blush pink' and light sky blue. It is lovely! And it feels good too! It's the perfect weight for a light jacket or good suit coat. 
golden Tan/ blush pink & sky blue window panes
$12.00/yd

Untitled005.GIF (1085340 bytes)
#005
60" silk taffeta
changeable "pewter"
(lt. yellow weft/gray warp)
$19.95/yd
about 4 yards left

#0168
36 1/2" heavy taffeta
Now this is an unusual one. I'm not quite sure what to call it. The thread is a tightly twisted reeled silk. It is very tightly and evenly woven. This would make a fabulous interlining or boxy structured suit!
Natural
$8.20/yd

#0185
55" silk taffeta
crisp and light, perfect for gowns
dark spice
$16.00/yd

#0186
56" silk taffeta
crisp and light, changeable silk perfect for gowns
unusual color:
pale blue warp,
pink weft
"frosted lavender"
$16.00/yd

 


#089
45" Panne velvet
18% silk, 82% rayon
luscious flat pile with subtle gleams on the draping
gold
$13.45/yd

#061
45" 18% silk, 82% rayon with gold lurex pinstripe
An interesting velvet with the texture of soft plush velvet pile and glittering thin gold stripe.
White with gold pinstripe
$18.50/yd
 

#088
45" Panne velvet
18% silk, 82% rayon
luscious flat pile velvet with subtle gleams on the draping.
pure Black
$13.45/yd
 

#062
45" 18% silk, 82% rayon with silver lurex pinstripe
An interesting velvet with the texture of soft plush velvet pile and glittering thin silver stripe.
Black with silver pinstripe
$18.50/yd


#064
45" 18% silk, 82% rayon velvet
A lovely color with a cloud soft, drapey and wispy light feel.
Henna
$13.65/yd


#074
45" silk changeable taffeta
very fine slubs make what I call  a "mild douppioni" but it also
has a crisp hand and is light enough to be called 'rustling'.
peacock blue weft/dk blue warp
$13.50/yd


#0164
27 1/2" 100% silk brocade
heavy uneven herringbone weave with the "herringbone" in the weft direction. Wonderful for vest fronts!
a black warp and yellow and gold weft makes this look
Bronze
$11.50/yd



a most luscious, subtle dragon! lovely wedding gown!
#058
45" natural white 100% silk
heavy georgette jacquard
DRAGONS
white
$18.95/yd


#059
29" red/gold brocade
22%silk/78%rayon
DRAGONS
Red/gold
$15.95/yd

#0165
27 1/2" 100% silk brocade
tiny rectangles woven diagonally in a heavy silk brocade.  Excellent for vests, patchwork, glorious jackets, etc. Striking color, and of course, reversible.
a black warp and emerald weft
Dark Green
$11.50/yd


#0142
54" changeable taffeta
Crisp hand,  The stripes run with the warp/grain and are satin gold and dark blue.
warp: taupe, gold, dk blue
weft: gold

I would LOVE to see this made up in a Civil War gown.
$12.45/yd

#0187
56" changeable taffeta
crisp hand, rich dark color
blue warp,
black weft
"midnight blue"
$16.00/yd
 


#0156
45" changeable douppioni
a mild douppioni, tightly woven with smaller slubs. The colors are really dark and rich... in fact, the picture shows more purple than the fabric 'in person'

black warp and dk purple weft
$10.45/yd


smaller dragons and phoenix
alternating on rich red satin

#022
29" red/gold brocade
22%silk/78%rayon
DRAGONS/phoenix
Red/gold
$18.00/yd

 



#0188
56" changeable silk
crisp hand, unusual color
white warp,
alternating red and green weft
"strawberry"
$16.00/yd


#0129
55" 100% silk
a heavy silk repp weave: a thick weft (filling) thread with fine warp threads makes a heavy rib.....looks like grosgrain.
a fine "old" weave!
black
$15.00/yd


#0130
55" 100% silk
a heavy silk repp weave: a thick weft (filling) thread with fine warp threads makes a heavy rib.....looks like grosgrain.  a fine 'old' weave!
The color isn't right....too pink. This is a soft red.
$15.00/yd
about 4 yards left


#0191
58" changeable taffeta
crisp hand, pretty light color
pale yellow warp,
pale blue weft
"mint"
$15.50/yd


#0131
54" silk chiffon
soft  and dreamy
dramatic and rich!
changeable black and red
$10.65/yd


#0113
54" velvet
35%silk, 65%rayon
a lovely light and drapey velvet.
This color is hard to describe.... it's kind of a dusty purple in some lights and angles but the more I look at it in the light, the more it looks like
burgundy.
$13.50/yd

  
a soft, rich "raw" look silk
 #009  
 44" matka
An even weave that is similar
 to, but nicer than, noil .
  cream
$10.00/yd

#0166
55" heavy silk taffeta with some small slubbing.
I couldn't resist. This is wonderful fabric but it came directly from the designer's cutting tables. That means there are pieces cut off the ends in strange ways. So I have small whole yardages with extra tailing along. This one is a beautiful smokey, silvery color that I think looks like it has a hint of periwinkle, but I see periwinkle in everything...
The 5 pieces I got are from 1.75 to 4.25 yards long.
Silvery Smoke
$10.00/yd


#0109
44" silk satin
a lovely drape
satin weave
fuchsia
$8.00/yd
only 1 yard 10 inches left
$6.00 the piece


#0192
44" silk charmeuse
slinky, soft, shiny and striking!
a bright
salmon
$8.50/yd


#0115P
44" silk shantung
a tabby/plain weave with an occasional tiny slub
mildly crisp hand
pale pink

$9.75/yd


#0138
42" douppioni silk
balanced stripes in a sophisticated color and texture blend.
black warp, black and cream weft
$12.90/yd

#0167
55" heavy silk taffeta with some small slubbing.
I couldn't resist. This is wonderful fabric but it came directly from the designer's cutting tables. That means there are pieces cut off the ends in strange ways. So I have small whole yardages with extra tailing along. This one is a beautiful dark, dark blue,
The 2 pieces I was able to get are 6.25 and 3.82 yards long.
Navy
$10.00/yd

#0161
44" 100% silk striped
This taffeta is the casual silk you think of for fun casual clothing with gorgeous colors in stripes across the width. It has a crisp hand and is a medium weight.
Warp: bright blue
Weft: dk red, dk blue, cream, gold

$10.75/yd
about 7 yards left


#0162
44" 100% silk striped
This is a taffeta with 'cords' in the weft weave making a striking effect. lovely rich colors and crisp hand. A medium weight.
Warp: red
Weft: black, white, red cord
$10.75/yd


#0194
44" silk twill
about 8mm weight
soft
creamy/tan or beige
$7.50/yd
 


#092
100% silk POPLIN
also called silk broadcloth in US
44" wide, quality like you find in
the best antique skirts and dresses
dark navy
 $9.00/yd
about 4 yards left

 

#0196
44" silk douppioni
a mild douppioni slub about
9-10mm weight
orchid
$8.00/yd        

 

#082
45" BATISTE
60% silk warp;40% cotton weft
lovely hand
natural white
$11.95.yd

   MEDIEVAL PERIOD: could be called mulham ca.1000 or plain rasetti 1570AD or cusacchi 1580 Venice. Other periods as well but I don't have the names. Makes excellent chemises and veils! The wind doesn't play havoc with it like the 8mm habotai.
 


 


#0157
60" basketweave silk suiting
lovely hand, NOT a noil. .This jpg is a shade too yellow.
a touch of gold and gloss to this pretty
tan
$11.45/yd
about 7 1/2 yards left

#0198
45" 100% silk
a shiny, slinky silk woven in a prominent twill weave.
Emerald Green

$12.50/yd





#0184
53" 100% silk, machine embroidered cross stitch.
This one is very hard to get the colors rendered accurately. I saw this at my jobber's and HAD to have it! Visions of late Elizabethan and Victorian eras danced through my head. And way cool modern jackets, pillow shams and accent pieces weren't far behind. You really should get a swatch to see the colors before you purchase. Extraordinarily good price!!!
Ivory douppioni ground, with copper, maize and khaki machine embroidery.
$12.00/yd

about 1 1/2 yards left

#0178
45" silk chiffon
gauzy silk chiffon ,,,, what can you use chiffon for? Hmmm. how about a tunic over a tank top? or harem pants? or dressy shawls? Or for re-enacting how about a veil? Or a belly dancing skirt of veils?
Deep Blue Violet
$6.00/yd

#0179
54" silk paper taffeta
an unusual changeable rustling taffeta
This taffeta has stripes of black and purple in the warp and a red weft. It makes a very unusual look. I could only get 12 1/2 yards of this so you really should get a swatch if you are thinking war between the states.
$13.95/yd
 

#0173
44" changeable silk
This is a 'mild' doupioni with small slubs. I'd say its almost a shantung but its finer than shantung usually is and its 'changeable'. Very different color than I've had before:
Emerald warp,
Periwinkle weft
$10.45/yd
1yard 30inches left


#0175
45" silk chiffon
gauzy silk chiffon ,,,, what can you use chiffon for? Hmmm. how about a tunic over a tank top? or harem pants? or dressy shawls? Or for re-enacting how about a veil? Or a belly dancing skirt of veils?
Winter white
$6.00/yd

#0176
45" silk chiffon
gauzy silk chiffon ,,,, what can you use chiffon for? Hmmm. how about a tunic over a tank top? or harem pants? or dressy shawls? Or for re-enacting how about a veil? Or a belly dancing skirt of veils?
Deep yellow
$6.00/yd


#0183
55" silk douppioni
medium weight changeable silk in a cool color!
'turquoise'
cornflower blue warp,
light green weft
$12.00/yd

#0169
54" heavy silk faille/grosgraine
wonderful for structured suits and gowns!
A beautiful color I call     dusky rose red
and I hope it warms up in the fabric room soon so I can take a picture!
$15.95/yd
 

#0170
54" heavy silk faille/grosgraine
wonderful for structured suits and gowns!
A beautiful color I call  
deep rose pink

$15.95/yd
 

#0171
54" heavy silk faille/grosgraine
wonderful for structured suits and gowns!
A beautiful color I call  
winter sky blue

$15.95/yd


#096
54" 100% silk repp
this is a tabby (plain) weave with a heavy weft thread so there are very big satiny ribs across the fabric.
White
$11.75/yd
about 3 yards left


#0118
45"  silk taffeta
12mm lovely light crisp silk
Ivory

$8.00/yd


#0128
 44"  "barred" silk suiting
tan, cream, brown
stripes (bars)
across the width.
quite spectacular
$9.00/yd

#0180
45" 100% silk
a shiny, slinky silk woven in a prominent twill weave.
electric blue
$12.50/yd

#0115L
44" silk spun taffeta
very pretty medium weight, a bit crisp hand
lavender
$9.75/yd

only about 3 yards left
 

#0115M
44" silk shantung
medium weight, a bit crisp hand
pretty
orange sherbet
$9.75/yd

about 5 yards left

page  updated 8/24/2010