100% cotton, 44" wide
Purple on white prints were among the most common printed fabrics in the 18th century. They are repeatedly described in runaway descriptions and are the most numerable prints in the Foundling Museum's Billet Books. Printed cottons were often used to make women's gowns or jackets. The gown or jacket may have a matching petticoat of the same fabric but petticoats were usually not made of printed fabrics unless the upper garment is also of the print. Men's banyans were also made of printed fabrics. In The Pennsylvania Gazette of 1774, "Run away . . . a servant girl . . . had on, and took with her . . . a callicoe gown, striped with a little purple flower, a good deal wore" as cited in Wenches, Wives and Servant Girls. Off white 60/2 linen thread will work well for hand sewing this fabric.
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This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 29 November, 2011.