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Voluminous Velvet
I'll admit it: before I began looking into velvet, I had no idea it was so complex or so expensive.
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Lace Yourselves: We’re Bobbin
1 – Lace yourself, darlings. It’s about to get drafty in here. Welcome to my #ThreadTalk. What began on the collars of Catholic clergy & adorned the pages of Frederick’s of Hollywood centuries later? That’s right. Lace. And #ThreadTalks go, lace is relatively modern. 2 – The word itself comes from a Vulgar Latin derivation, from the word “laceum" (a noose or a snare). And lace has ensnared many since it came upon the scene in the late 15th C. Flemish lace, in particular, was prized for its purity, softness, & quality of the linen grown. 3 – Lace is not a fabric, per se, but what’s called a “decorate…
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Damask-erade!
Damask, that most mysterious weave. But what is it beyond a hallmark of Victorian design? A look back.
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Jacquard, Brocade, and Computers
You may have heard the terms "jacquard" or "brocade" -- but what do they have to do with computers?
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The Lure of Timeless Taffeta
A look at the shimmering, sumptuous silk that has its own sound and has donned everything from the most ornate gowns to hot air balloons.
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All About Chintz
1 – So! Chintz. You’ve probably heard the term “chintzy” and you’re thinking 1980s upholstery or prom dresses with puffy sleeves. And you’re right. Sort of. We have George Eliot to thank for the term, it turns out. But this fabric is far from European: it’s from India. 2 – The name comes from the Hindi word “chint” — which means “spotted” & is a kind of calico. It was produced on cotton & printed with wood blocks or sometimes painted by hand. Some early chintz even had a glaze on it to stiffen the material (ideal for upholstery). 3 – Some say that chinz rose to popularity in India…