10-04-2010, 07:35 AM
Quote:Probably either one would be about the right weight for a tunic. If it's "jacket weight", it's generally good enough. You still ought to get with whomever you plan to associate and make sure they agree on the fabric color. You'll notice the diagonal "stripes" in the gabardine selection. That's a function of the way the fabric is woven, basically the same weave as denim blue jeans. They were able to weave cloth that way in the early years. I am not totally sure exactly when the 4 heddle loom came into use (needful for herringbone, gabardine and other twills), but if your chosen era is anywhere near the first century, you're good with it.
Flannel, on the other hand, is softer, but tends to thicken up on first washing and become much less "drapey". That is, it is much stiffer, and will not make the nice curved wrinkles you see in the sculptures. It is pretty dense and warm, (outside of your group's veto) so better for cooler weather. Flannel is woven, but has some of the characteristics of felt. It would make a better sagum/paenula than a tunic if it's very thick. Chances are it will not be a first choice for a first tunic.
Flannel sounds as if it would be great for the North Carolinian late winter/early spring, but once summer came around it would be terrible, heh.
As for herringbone, the main examples of 100% wool herringbone I have found on that site is this and this. No idea if either of them are suitable for tunics. There are a few other colors, but they all seem similar to either of those two otherwise.
About checking with a group, the main thing is I am only 16 and do not have a huge amount of free time, so I most likely would not be able to join a group for a couple of years, and it seems like perhaps by then I could end up choosing a group completely different from what I might look at now. Plus by then I would most likely have grown and would have to make new tunics anyway, so I would be able to choose the "group approved" colors at that point.
I could easily be wrong about that so I could use some advice.
Dylan
I chose the name Phoenician because I have a large interest in Phoenician and Carthaginian history. I am interested in many other areas as well, however.
I chose the name Phoenician because I have a large interest in Phoenician and Carthaginian history. I am interested in many other areas as well, however.
