muslin shirts GOAP ???

[count de monet]

kinda stupid question here, but i can't readily find the answer here or anywhere else.

is muslin ok to use for goap ???

wife and i kinda have a bet riding on this one..... i say go with linen, she says the muslin she picked up cheap will do..

tia

[Capt. Sterling]

Montgomery states that

Muslin, a fine cotton textile first made in India. Tavernier, a 17th century merchant and traveler, wrote of the "calicuts [muslins sold in Calcutta] made so fine you can hardly feel them in your hand, and the thread, when spun, is scarce discernible." About 1670 muslins imported by the East India Company displaced "Cambrics, Silesia lawns, and such kind of flaxen lines of Flanders and Germany" (BECK). Mortimer listed twenty-five "species" of East India muslins imported from the time of William and Mary at 15 percent duty.

Not until the invention of the mule-jenny in 1779 were fine cotton yarns suitable for successful muslin weaving spun in England and Scotland.

A particularyly interesting American reference is the one in Margrita van Varicks's 1695/96 inventory to "a sett of white floward muslin curtains."

Remember India Calicos or cotton cloth was prohibited for a number of years in England at least... and before that it seems to be something, according to a quote again in Montgomery to be much worn by women and children. Pamphlets of the times, in attempts by the English weavers to downplay the product, claim that the material was far more worse for wear than English goods such as Perpetuana or Shalloon. Considering they were prohibited twice, one wonders how much the first prohibition was adhered to.

From Montgomery, :Linen.."England is served with fine linnen from Holland, and countries adjacent to it, and with cambrics, and other sorts of linnen from Holland and France. England and the British Plantations are served with great quantities of middling and low-priced linnens of divers sorts, from Silesia, and other parts in the upper and lower circle of Saxony.

Textiles in America 1650-1870, by Florence M. Montgomery

Also the ASC call for shirts made of blue and white chequer'd linnen.

Most items listed in Montgomery made out of cottons/muslins, seem to be shifts, children's items, linings of garments and furniture type items such as bed curtains...

For what it is worth, if portraying a common sailor/pirate go with linens for shirts and shifts.

[lady constance]

Cap'n sterling...

i do then have a question.... considering that you can see the thread count and weave and it is very coarse, unbleached muslin and one can see the warp and weft of the threads, it so closely resembles linen--a very coarse linen, you donot reccomend its use?--- i have washed and dried this so that it resembles linen.....

and i wonder what my wager was to my count de monet? was i drinking and forgot the wager?? CRAP! what do i owe the man???

and perhaps i can get out of this wager-- i shall just turn on my feminine wiles and make him forget whatever bet i agreed to{ ahhh the power of this body he craves!!}, as i am making chemises and NOT the frocks and waist coats..........those i have stashed linen from buying huge tent dresses,skirts and shirts from the thrift store.....

perhaps if you help me win the wager, cap'n sterling, i should serve you the finest grog and vittels while in paradise???

hows about you see a pic and then decide??? { of the clothing, not the vittels}

pax,

lady constance

[Capt. Sterling]

Dear Lady, it all truly depends on what your crew's standards are for clothing. There truly is not a one of us that takes the field in 100% authentic kit, although there are a few that may come damn close.

If your folks are willing to substitute what looks like linen as some are willing to have machine sewn inner seams, then by all means m'dear, feel free to use it. As it is being used for shifts and will hardly been seen at all, I personally would not have a problem working with you at an event, just keep your eye out for the Customs man, as he may be looking to impose a fine on you ...

[lady constance]

Cap'n Sterling,

i think we are so honored to be aboard this fine enterprise, that we think we must at least do our best to keep to period clothing....

can't say it is causing trouble between me and the count.. although i bet he was wishing he would have listened better when i speak about fabrics and weights and warps and wefts.....

he did go alooking for old linen garments in the good wills around here and came back all wild eyed and mystified adding that it was good thing that i know my fabric by sight and touch, cause he simply was NOT willing to touch everything and had no clue what linen looks like at all!

{ kind of justifies all my time shopping for the past 20 years -- --or so i would like to think........ }

although he is willing to sacrifice one of my old bedspreads that is a cotton jackard.... now he doubts that it is not made of linen for technical authenticity....{ ok i won THAT bet, if in thought alone!!}

i tease him that he "counts de monet" i spend for fabric as it goes... ---

( and i say this with total love in my voice as he is out making double time monet today and tomorrow!}

PAX,

lady constance

[Capt. Sterling]

I know linen costs can be quite high in regular shops about town but when looking for proper fabrics you may wish to order from

http://www.fabrics-store.com/