Maybe I can ask a question: It comes in Tan. If I bleach this, will this take color out of the wool fibers alone, and can I then dye it (with any given color) to look period (early medieval)? It's Acrylic/Polyester/Wool, 30/30/30% BTW.

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Originally posted by Buran:
There's a brand of woven wool blend called Roma Wool. It is fairly lightweight, and of good qualities otherwise, for medieval costuming. I sought a particular shade in the fabric shops, when the word came down that it is no longer manufactured. What you see in stock is what you get! You may find it on clearance.

Maybe I can ask a question: It comes in Tan. If I bleach this, will this take color out of the wool fibers alone, and can I then dye it (with any given color) to look period (early medieval)? It's Acrylic/Polyester/Wool, 30/30/30% BTW.

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only 30% real wool? that seems like its mostly polyester to me....that means it wont felt like wool, and wont be water resistant like wool (a VERY big deal up here in SoggyLand )

most acrylics wont bleach and wont take a dye for anything. Something about them being plastic and the color embedded in the polymer itself, as opposed to soaking into a natural fiber. Wool doesnt really like bleach either...the high base pH will eat it away something fierce. The same properties that let wool and plastics shed dirt will keep the dye from coloring your fabric, I'm afraid.

You can buy color remover dyes I hear, but I've never used them so cant recommend it.

I would suggest taking a small piece and attempting an over-dye. The tan plus blue might make a nice green, assuming all that plastic will even take the dye. read the box of dye and see...

If you test run on a small bit, you'll know if you like it and if it works before potentially ruining your whole hunk.

just my suggestions...Gwen is really your local fabric expert. I just wear the stuff .

Seriously, if you're doing Historical Reenactment (see the name of this Forum), why would you concously seek this material when 100% wool is available?

We happen to be fortunate enough to live near Lowell MA. A major Textile city of old. Which won't do you any good if you live on the left coast. The textile shop we go to doesn't have a website and probably doesn't do mail order.

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Originally posted by Buran:
Maybe you have a good source?
The woven wool I see seems made for suits, too felted, grayish. I'm not making my tunic w/ pinstripes, no. I know that fabric from my period was woven with a herringbone pattern at times.

Any suggestions???

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indeed yes, fabric was woven with a herringbone pattern. Check out the museum of london book on Textiles for photos of real medieval scraps.

For me, the main problem with the blends isnt so much the weave as the way it drapes and the way it performs in real outdoor type conditions. For this reason, I've never been really happy with anything that contains acrylic or polyester.

for an online source of nice wool in varying weights for a reasonable price, check out www.fabrics-store.com. They ahve a funky navigator bar on the left side of the home page, but once you figure it out...they also have nice linen for cheap.

on the west coast, I go to Canada for my wool...no wool tariffs! its actually cheaper than cotton up there. woo hoo!

Roma wool sucks for anything but SCA costumes that are supposed to approximate medieval clothing. Roma melts quite spectacularly when exposed to flame, and I recommend it highly to anyone who wants to experience 3rd degree burns at an event.

Due to the high poly/acrylic content, you can't shrink it, dye it, felt it or fade it with any degreee of success. I know this from personal experience.

It has a lovely polyester/acrylic shine in sunlight.

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Originally posted by Fire Stryker:
Gwen here- I'm at Bob and Jenn's place so now I'm using their computer.....

Roma wool sucks for anything but SCA costumes that are supposed to approximate medieval clothing. Roma melts quite spectacularly when exposed to flame, and I recommend it highly to anyone who wants to experience 3rd degree burns at an event.

Due to the high poly/acrylic content, you can't shrink it, dye it, felt it or fade it with any degreee of success. I know this from personal experience.

It has a lovely polyester/acrylic shine in sunlight.

Any decent fabric store carries real wool. Stonemountain and Daughter is online and also has a store in the SF area, as is Timeless Textiles. Both carry wool- Timeless carries a WIDE selection of reproduction military uniform wools. Not cheap, but as with most things, you get what you pay for.
Gwen

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You referenced Stonemountain and Daughter were online, as well as Timeless Textiles. You wouldn't happen to have the URL around, would you? It'd be nice to have a wool Templar habit

Robert Coleman, Jr.

Stonemarche & Daughter is:
http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/

Timeless Textiles is:
http://www.timelesstextiles.com

100% wool for as low as $15
$15 is way high. I've looked at wool all over the country, and you shouldn't have to pay more than $8-$10 for decent stuff, especially with the proiliferation of e-stores.

Call either of the companies I recommended and ask them what wool they have for under $10. Most companies usually have discount fabric around that may not be advertised on the site. They will probably also provide swatches on these short-run fabrics.

All of this is based on the assumption that you will be purchasing a reasonable quantity of fabric, say 8-12 yards. Understand that even the most accomodating company won't be very helpful if you tie up their sales and customer service staff for a purchase of 2 yards.

I just went and checked out the Timeless Textile website. At Pennsic I purchased short pieces of the military wools for about 25% of their listed price, because they were short/odd ends.

Again, remember that I purchased about 600 yards of fabric from them at Pennsic so I get a good price. The more you buy, the better the price, just like at Costco.