Clever Seamstressing
October 30, 2019 7:54 PM Subscribe
18th Century Dresses From Ikea Textiles. Apparently, Ikea has a history of reproducing 18th century textiles. And, since it can be difficult to find modern natural-fiber fabrics in prints that feel historically accurate, costumers use them to make dresses. American Duchess offers her advice on selecting your fabric from Ikea home furnishings here.
I think most printed cotton nowadays is used for quilting, not garment making, so more colorful fabric with denser patterns is preferred in mass-market shops.
It's not necessarily that reprints are hard to find, it's that they are expensive compared to Ikea. For the king-sized STENÖRT set, you get about 9 yds of fabric (40" wide) for $71, or about $8 per yard. These 18th century reproduction fabrics are $20 per yard.
posted by muddgirl at 9:15 PM on October 30, 2019
It's not necessarily that reprints are hard to find, it's that they are expensive compared to Ikea. For the king-sized STENÖRT set, you get about 9 yds of fabric (40" wide) for $71, or about $8 per yard. These 18th century reproduction fabrics are $20 per yard.
posted by muddgirl at 9:15 PM on October 30, 2019
Not IKEA, but yeah, Ive made and worn a ton of costumes from home fashions fabric.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:31 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:31 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
I am bewildered and delighted to learn this is a thing. Just what I like to see on Metafilter!
posted by Glier's Goetta at 3:04 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Glier's Goetta at 3:04 AM on October 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
How interesting! I had no idea some of the IKEA fabric was actually reproductions. Love posts like this
posted by Bornanerd at 5:23 AM on October 31, 2019
posted by Bornanerd at 5:23 AM on October 31, 2019
Maybe half a dozen years ago I was at an ikea looking at the window dressings and saw a woman in full gothic lolita measuring out fabrics. It was the most refreshing thing to see in what was effectively a dismal warehouse basement.
posted by ardgedee at 5:39 AM on October 31, 2019
posted by ardgedee at 5:39 AM on October 31, 2019
I mostly sew 20th century reproductions, so finding suitable fabrics is nowhere near as difficult. Right now I'm making this 1948 housecoat and I had a wealth of cotton flannels and chenilles to choose from. The biggest issue with the 40's was war in the early part (limiting color palettes and restricting trims) and a sudden burst of variety in color and pattern for fabrics for women's clothing--especially day dresses--in the later years. Evening and sport clothes remained mostly in solids, with mint or aqua being the most bold. Stick to natural fibers (including rayon) and you're fine.
posted by crush at 7:11 AM on October 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by crush at 7:11 AM on October 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
There are so many things that I have no idea exist. Many of them are not especially appealing to me (gaming, for example) but I am practically swooning over this post. I had no idea This Is a Thing. Not just the idea of using Ikea fabric for historical costumes but the idea that non-professional folks sew historically based costumes and then find opportunities to wear them.
Like, I have heard of cosplay. This seems somehow related but different. I may be totally wrong about that, of course. Courtesy of clew, I am having major fun exploring Fresh Frippery and the fabulous outfits modelled by "a fabric junkie interested in historical costuming and cosplay" who casually refers to her "local costume guild." There are costume guilds? Wow.
TL;DR: Thank you Crush, and thank you clew. So delighted to discover and explore this visually delicious activity and some of its fans. Apologies for gushing, will repress my newbie wonder now. It's just so cool.
posted by Bella Donna at 7:13 AM on October 31, 2019 [6 favorites]
Like, I have heard of cosplay. This seems somehow related but different. I may be totally wrong about that, of course. Courtesy of clew, I am having major fun exploring Fresh Frippery and the fabulous outfits modelled by "a fabric junkie interested in historical costuming and cosplay" who casually refers to her "local costume guild." There are costume guilds? Wow.
TL;DR: Thank you Crush, and thank you clew. So delighted to discover and explore this visually delicious activity and some of its fans. Apologies for gushing, will repress my newbie wonder now. It's just so cool.
posted by Bella Donna at 7:13 AM on October 31, 2019 [6 favorites]
Ikea actually sells fabric by the bolt. I think I figured out a few years ago that the number of sewing projects I have exceeds my remaining life span, ah well.
posted by Melismata at 7:29 AM on October 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 7:29 AM on October 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
I think I figured out a few years ago that the number of sewing projects I have exceeds my remaining life span, ah well.
In knitting, we call that SABLE - Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.
I have made a bit of garb for SCA events, and agree that it's hard to find suitable fabrics. (I have a few bolt ends of home-dec fabric in my stash.)
posted by corvikate at 7:57 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
In knitting, we call that SABLE - Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.
I have made a bit of garb for SCA events, and agree that it's hard to find suitable fabrics. (I have a few bolt ends of home-dec fabric in my stash.)
posted by corvikate at 7:57 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
For some strange reason, after seeing the fabrics, I want a white three piece suit made from them.
posted by njohnson23 at 8:54 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by njohnson23 at 8:54 AM on October 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
I think you mean "for some BRILLIANT reason, after seeing the fabrics, I want a white three piece suit made from them."
posted by crush at 11:43 AM on October 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by crush at 11:43 AM on October 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
Seconding that - tailored cotton prints are smashing past and present.
posted by clew at 12:21 PM on October 31, 2019
posted by clew at 12:21 PM on October 31, 2019
I dipped my toe in historical costuming with some circa-13th century Scandinavian garb last year. It's a really cool intersection of research and craft, the amount of design information they can discern from 2d carvings and scraps of preserved fabric is just astonishing.
posted by muddgirl at 10:58 PM on October 31, 2019
posted by muddgirl at 10:58 PM on October 31, 2019
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So odd that it’s so hard to find reasonable reprints.
posted by clew at 8:52 PM on October 30, 2019 [1 favorite]