Question, Does anyone have (for lack of a better term) a "recipe" for setting pleats in linen with vinegar? I know it can be done..I know the Ancient Egyptians did it to crystal pleat their shear linen, and I know the Turks seemed to have it down in the 16th c to do their shirts but i have no idea what the proportions might be the the general concept of breaking down the cellulose ,to then set what ever it was you were setting and then rinse it out, is a sound chemical concept. Oh and anyone have sources for sheer linen? Bambi
Sharon Collier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I put thin fishing line in the outside edge of the ruffle of my new chemise. Went through the wash just fine, just needed a little finger tweaking, dripped dry. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Melanie Schuessler Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 1:41 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: [h-cost] linen vs. cotton; was: Just a test Ooh. I'm not much of a camper, but I've already got plans for next time to make things a bit better. I'll add that to the list. On a costume note, I would like to once again put in a vote for linen over cotton as being the coolest thing around when it's ghastly hot. I could definitely tell the difference between my old cotton chemises and my new linen ones! And my new kirtles are all linen as well, thank goodness. Also, though I haven't put it through the wash a bunch of times yet, I have hopes for my new linen shirt, which has a ruffle at the top of the collar. My old cotton one turns into a bunch of tiny crinkles every time I wash it, and I have to iron it out and spray-starch it to get it to behave nicely. Note that these are not starched ruffs in the formal figure eights, just small ruffles. The new linen one is cut with the long edge of the ruffle on the long grain of the fabric (parallel to the selvedge), which is what Arnold noted in her study of existing 17th-century ruffs. Even in the horrifying heat and humidity--I think I got wet in the rain, too--that ruffle stayed nice and sproingy (that's a technical term). Even though it will soften with repeated washings, I think the relative stiffness of the linen and the strength of the grain will help hold it out better than the cotton one. Melanie Schuessler On Aug 13, 2007, at 12:54 PM, otsisto wrote: > Small note for the future. Coleman makes battery operated tent ceiling > fans. > :) > > -----Original Message----- > Definitely too much rain. When not raining, too much heat and > humidity! But I had a great time all the same. > > Melanie Schuessler > > > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > h-costume@mail.indra.com > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume --------------------------------- Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume