Fabric Guide

[Fire Stryker]

Since fabrics come up quite frequently, I thought it might be a good idea to have people list fabric sources with a little summary on price, quality, type of fabric and uses.

To get the ball rolling:

M Perkins and Sons, LTD
Location: UK
Specialty: Damasks, Brocades, Brocatelles, and Tapestries in silk and blends.
Price: $$-$$$ Typically running from 86 US to well over 170 a meter.
Last I checked, they did not sell to individuals.

Watts of Westminster
Price: ?
They have affiliates in the US and Europe so you can use a location finder.

Historiska Rum (Historic Room)
Location: Sweden
Historic patterned wool and linen
Price: $$-$$$

Quartermasterie
The Chatelaine
Russetts, 7 Smallworth Common
Garboldisham, Norfolk, IP22 2QW
Tel: 01953 681441
email: thechatelaine(at)tesco.net
Haberdashery & silks, including damask and satin

[Fire Stryker]

Gwen recommended this book as a guide. I bought it a few years back on her recommendation and recommend that anyone interested in finding facsimiles of historic fabric should probably have this sitting on their shelf.


Historic Textile Patterns in Full Color by Friedrich Fischbach

[Catarina]

B. Black & Sons
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Specialty: Woolen Fabric - including flannels, gabardines, twills, etc.
Price: $12.95/yd (USD) and up
These are my go-to guys for good, reliable wool fabrics. Yes, you can find it cheaper elsewhere, but I know that I get a good quality fabric, excellent service, and I know what I'm getting.

Fabrics-Store.com
Location: Hollywood, CA
Specialty: Linen fabric - sheer to heavyweight linen canvas, and everything in between
Price: $5.50/yd and up
I like their IL019 (5.3 oz) for tunics, basic undergarments, and sturdy outer clothing. The linen is sturdy and wears well, but it is not as smooth as more expensive linens - in other words, you get what you pay for. But for basic wear, their price and selection really can't be beat.

[Fire Stryker]

Almerlin

Has a selection of lovely fabrics. The prices are similar to M. Perkins and Historic Room.

[Johan S. Moen]

www.handelsgillet.se and www.medeltidsmode.se both have a nice selection of fabrics, mostly plain coloured wool and linen.

From my Norwegian point of view (being used to high prices on everything), the prices at Medeltidsmode are low-mid, and Handelsgillet varies between mid and high, although I suspect both could be classified as somewhat expensive by US standards...

Johan Schubert Moen

[Charlotte J]

Burnley and Trowbridge

Based in Williamsburg, VA, they offer affordable wools and cater to reenactors. They also carry linen and silk, but I've never ordered those fabrics here.

[Bob H]

Burnley & Trowbridge's sample kit is worth buying if you aren't familiar with the materials, weights and colors.

I'd also add <a href="http://www.carolinacalicoes.com/">Carolina Calicoes</a>.

Good prices and service. They have tons of things that never make it to the web site, give them a call with a list of what you want and they'll tell you availability and prices. They even found me some linsey-woolsy made the proper way and at a very comfortable price.

Bear in mind that they're on the road a lot, selling at events, so they may be slow in returning calls and emails. They are not slow in filling orders, though.

[Hisselint]

Magnificent info assortment Thanks a lot

[Avitoria_vidua]

Denver fabrics http://www.denverfabrics.com
Wool $10 and up and linens $7 and up.
Various qualities, good prices. Sales happen often, quick delivery.
Also offers a nice description section for those unfamiliar with the various varieties of fabric.
WARNING!!! Color on screen may not be related to the color you receive. Always read the color description.

Fabric.com http://www.fabric.com
Linen and occasional wool.
Large assortment of colors for linen with a nice smooth weave.
Some colors are reorderable, but others sell out quickly.
Also available in some very wide widths on occasion.
Weights from hanky to medium. Swatches available.
Worth signing up for email coupons.
Free shipping on orders over $35.

[Robert of Canterbury]

Classic Textiles, London
+44 (0)208 743 3516
44 Goldhawk Road,
London
W12 8DH

A fabulous range of Linen and wool.

Prices are usually around the following.
Linens, £4-8/mtr
Wools, £8-12/mtr

Wools in every weight too from fine suiting to blanket/cloak

[Mike Garrett (Orc)]

Enquired today about pricing etc from these people -

http://www.hainsworth.co.uk/

Some VERY nice looking fabrics. Still waiting to hear back, but I've got a nasty feeling that they are going to be mucho denarios!
(And they may not sell retail)

[PartsAndTechnical]

We posted these last year. Feel free to update/incorporate:

_____________________________________________________


WOOLS:

www.bsharpfabrics.com

http://www.renaissancefabrics.net

www.hertsfabrics.co.uk

www.fabricsonmillst.com

www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com

www.classactfabrics.com

www.bblackandsons.com (one of my favs)

www.denverfabrics.com

www.fashionfabricsclub.com

www.carolinacalicoes.com

www.woolrichfabrics.com

www.wood-n-woven.com

www.sirsfabric.com

www.fabric.com be careful, some nylon blends in the mix

http://wmboothdraper.com

www.reconstructinghistory.com

www.historicenterprises.com (sometimes Gwen has extra fabric for sale)

http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com



LINENS

www.bsharpfabrics.com

http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/

www.hertsfabrics.co.uk/

www.sirsfabric.com

www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com

http://wmboothdraper.com

www.fabric.com Relatively nubby free Irish linens!

www.fabric-store.com Tends to have nubbier linens but very cheap

www.reconstructinghistory.com

http://www.graylinelinen.com/category_s/35.htm


LINSEY-WOOLSEY

http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/

http://wmboothdraper.com




SILKS

www.bsharpfabrics.com

http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/

www.sirsfabric.com

www.dharmatrading.com

www.fabric.com

www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com

http://www.fabricguru.com


HEMPS

www.dharmatrading.com

www.fabric.com

http://wmboothdraper.com





HEMP LINEN:
www.dharmatrading.com



HEMP SILK:
www.dharmatrading.com



PERIOD "NOTIONS": (some attention has been paid to acquiring period threads, etc)


www.bsharpfabrics.com (nice assortment--silk threads too)

http://www.renaissancefabrics.net/

http://wmboothdraper.com

www.reconstructinghistory.com

www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com

[ladynicnicnic]

i searched all over the internet to find the best deals on linen and finally got it!
fabrics-store.com gives you the most amount of fabric for your money.
i ordered some of the free samples to make sure it was cheap quality linen, and was sooo happy with what i got!
i'm going to order some right now! AND i just found out they are having a sale on some of their linen.
i just had to spread the word because i'm so excited!
check it out for yourself. http://www.fabrics-store.com/first.php? ... &article=1

[Konstantin the Red]

Ever' now and again, they do that. The budget-minded wait around until it happens. Then, happy-time for everyone! Congrats and enjoy.

[BruceWayne]

Where can I find some patterned fabrics? Thank you...

[MJBlazek]

I'm lookign for a dark blue with either gold stars or stags on it, has anyone ever come across a fabric like this? Thanks!
MJ

[ladyilsebet]

Never seen such a pattern myself... you COULD probably block-print it pretty easily, though, with fabric paint and a stamp...

[FrauHirsch1]

http://www.wattsandco.com - church brocades in 100% silk - not for the faint of heart

Check out this Byzantine design:
http://www.wattsandco.com/textiles-trim ... urple.html

[FrauHirsch1]

has some interesting deals on a variety of fabrics:
http://www.fabricguru.com/

[Robert of Canterbury]

Staggeringly beautiful Silk brocades,

http://www.sartor.cz/index.php

[mitsuhide]

Keep meaning to post this http://www.ichiroya.com It is my source for Japanese silk. Different kinds and prices quick shipping from Japan, lots of modern motifs but mixed in are some more period patterns as well. Draw back is not usually enough for anything more than a kosode. Edited for word choice.

[Thorgar Wulfson]

I'll get the info from my wife but she was getting period style fabric from the Vatican, have this nice black with gold skulls on it that i want to make a vest from lol.

[Thorgar Wulfson]

sorry for the time its taking, between my finals and her grading kids near the end of the year i keep forgetting to ask, ill try for this weekend.

[Harry Marinakis]

Recently I had some good experiences with Pure Silks in India. The vestment silks are particularly nice for period garments.

Generally, their vestment silks are about 44 inches wide and cost about $19 - $26 per yard.

http://www.puresilks.us/

11138122_973568976020489_265444019631866d.jpg (86.25 KiB) Viewed 5299 times

[Harry Marinakis]

Here's another good merchant. They sell hand-woven wool fabric, some of which is from hand-spun thread. Their English is pretty good. Delivery time was 3 weeks from the Czech Republic (now known as Czechia).

Generally, their hand-woven wools are about 50 inches wide and sell for about $30 per yard

http://www.handwovenwool.com/

[Galileo]

http://www.sartor.cz

Wool, Silk - and a fabulous byzantine pattern -- http://www.sartor.cz/3211-byzantine-bro ... green.html

[Baron Conal]

Looking for some red ( darker could work as long as it is still RED ) worsted wool

Some of these links are from a few years ago... Are these still the places to go?

[Shrek]

https://www.wooltrade.cz/

They sell mostly wool but also some coloured linens. Some of the coloured linens are too richly dyed for historical fabrics but generally this is a good store. What I like the most about them is that you can buy swatches of their entire collection.