tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post7522243320692905474..comments2023-10-20T11:17:47.246-04:00Comments on Two Nerdy History Girls: A Beautiful (and Romantic) 18th c. Man's Shirt from "The Diligent Needle" ExhibitionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-81888939280605285512014-10-29T00:09:30.886-04:002014-10-29T00:09:30.886-04:00I've been sewing ever since I can remember but...I've been sewing ever since I can remember but never used linen until I joined the Society for Creative Anachronism. I am sure the linen most of us use is nowhere near as sturdy or as fine as this cloth, but it is still quite a pleasure to wear. The reason it's cooler when wet than cotton is that cotton yarn swells when it's dampened - so it doesn't breathe near as well as linen. Now, in sailcloth that's a good thing, linen or hemp sails sag and get baggy, cotton don't so your sailing ship is faster.Elena Jardinizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18335079548380273268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-62549100671320737002014-10-28T19:03:59.628-04:002014-10-28T19:03:59.628-04:00I love these old shirts and have mid 19thc French ...I love these old shirts and have mid 19thc French linen examples, with monograms, pleating and plackets. The chanvre/linen can be very stiff and tough and so cotton collars and cuffs were added - or, a farmer might get his workers to 'wear them in' for comfort! I love the way the shirts often have darned repairs, and usually so neat and perfectly done that they add enormously to the piece. A lost art I think. Vintage Maisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929038050028476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-63082601713495498562014-10-28T17:14:11.845-04:002014-10-28T17:14:11.845-04:00This is indeed beautiful handiwork! This is indeed beautiful handiwork! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-81185064921698561162014-10-28T15:18:39.667-04:002014-10-28T15:18:39.667-04:00My husband was a member of both American Revolutio...My husband was a member of both American Revolution and Civil War re-actor groups. I made a shirt quite similar to this one. I enjoy sewing but the sleeves and collar on this shirt were a challenge. I made a muslin shirt for the Civil War and a linen shirt for the American Revolution.Jackie Fryenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022318990784415929.post-2316681711913072942014-10-28T12:10:59.746-04:002014-10-28T12:10:59.746-04:00Such meticulous stiching! I know how hard it is to...Such meticulous stiching! I know how hard it is to produce those full but neat gathers. My grandmother could sew like that. Not I, alas.Lillian Marekhttp://lilmarek.indiemade.comnoreply@blogger.com