RE: [Mid] Authentic Cotton

Yes, cotton is period. I don't have my documentation with me right now, but
you should be able to find it n almost any costume book. I wear several
layers of cotton because it breathes and I embroidery on broadcloth with is
also period. They might have had a coarser weave than we do now, depending
on the spinners and weavers.

Mistress Bunny

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sca-middle@scotland.midrealm.org
[mailto:owner-sca-middle@scotland.midrealm.org]On Behalf Of Ross & Deb
Kerr
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2002 10:46 AM
To: Middlebridge
Subject: [Mid] Authentic Cotton

   I realise this would not qualify as "documentation," but perhaps it will
make some gentles feel better about their cotton garb. Unless all these
websites I googled in about ten minutes are giving our incorrect
information, cotton was indeed available to people in Europe during the
Middle Ages. It may have been difficult to acquire or expensive, but
nothing in these websites addresses those issues, so I do not know. But,
logically, would you think it would have been as available and pricey as
silk?
   The one thing I do know, I see a lot of cotton worn as garb, and it has
never offended me. I buy linen and silk when I can afford to and cotton
when I see a piece in a color I like, and do my best to turn it in to garb
that is as close to period as my slowly improving sewing skills permit. One
thought that comforts me: the women who lived in the Middle Ages had sewing
teachers. I don't have one and learn as I go, but I'm sure would-be
seamstresses of any period figured out creative ways to hide their foibles
and goofs to keep from having to throw away yards of fabric, the same way I
do. Some of my methods may not be "period", but I would challenge someone
to prove that they're not. The wool I could wear might be period, as
would be the rash and stuffy nose it would probably give me, but I think
I'll pass on that, thanks
   If necessity was the mother of invention, then creativity was its child.
We best keep in mind there are more things about the Middle Ages that
documentation doesn't exist for than the opposite. If we are only going to
utilise that which can be documented, we are going to have a narrow scope on
what life was like in the Middle Ages. Creativity can fill in the gaps now,
much as it had to have done then.
   Research is an excellent pastime, and keeps one out of the pool halls.
Some folks have more time and resources than others, as we know. I applaud
all who make the effort, whether they have their volumes of documentation
pinned to the front of their pearled Elizabethan gown, or whether they are
wearing a pickle barrel covered by what was once their blankie. We all
evolve, and I thank you all for showing up on the weekend and sharing the
good time I'm having.

http://www.ecottonindia.com/history.htm

http://www.kings.k12.ca.us/central/cuesd.a/tq/ag/history.html

http://www.fabriclink.com/History.html

http://www.curlbros.com/cottinfo.htm

http://my-scarf.com/Info/The%20Yarns/Cotton/Cotton%20History.htm

I'm sure there are plenty more, but these satisfied me.

Medb

        Lady Medb ni Ciaran MacMurchadha
                     The Smiled Upon
                 Widow by Trade, Ret'd.
And Wielder of the Dreaded Longspoon of Doom

       "Quanti Canicula In Fenestra?"

From: "Connie Marie Carroll" <Connie.Bunny@worldnet.att.net>
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Received on Sun Jan 13 11:06:13 2002