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Historical Patterns


Matty Bottles

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While perusing my mothers collection of "old" fabrics (bolts of wool she has kept from the fifties, and, with the help of mothballs, kept hole-free) I noticed some wonderful herring-bone wool just dying to be made into a frock coat. But I have no idea if herring-bone, as a pattern, existed in the early 1700's. It is amazing to think of how modern some 'old" things are to us. So. Does anyone have any notion of when some now-common patterns or weaves appeared? I'm thinking of herring-bone, houndstooth, and that sort of 'classic' style, but really, any number of things could be discussed. Thinking of hand-painted slops, any sort of printed pattern is up for question, too.

"The time was when ships passing one another at sea backed their topsails and had a 'gam,' and on parting fired guns; but those good old days have gone. People have hardly time nowadays to speak even on the broad ocean, where news is news, and as for a salute of guns, they cannot afford the powder. There are no poetry-enshrined freighters on the sea now; it is a prosy life when we have no time to bid one another good morning."

- Capt. Joshua Slocum

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Ahoy Bloody Jack,

Herringbone patterns appear in Europe by the 13th century at least (See the Museum of London 'finds' Series book on textiles for in depth information), and I have personally handled a mid 15th century Italian brigandine fragment (from Chalsis) covered in a herringbone patterned hemp cloth.

Wool cloth undoubtedly was woven in a herringbone pattern in Northern Europe and used during the 17th and 18th centuries - as to how fashionable it was during any particular decade, I really do not know.

P.S.

Edited to add "in a herringbone pattern" - obviously wool was plentifully woven in Europe, being the predominate cloth used for clothing in the region throughout history. :huh:

'Post in haste, repent at liesure'

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