Kersey Mixed Grey Wool WWK 100

100% wool, 26 oz., 54" wide

This is museum quality reproduction wool used to make English civil war army coats, early 18th century Royal navy sailor's jackets and breeches (1710 to 1730 British slop contracts call for kersey). The 1812 U.S. Army roundabout jacket by Past Patterns should be made of kersey. Mixed gray kersey was used for hundreds of years by farmers, sailors and other laboring people up to and including the 19th century. For example advertised in The Virginia Gazette of 1772 "RUN away . . .  an Irish servant man . . .  had on when he went away a grey kersey jacket lined with plaid, and breeches of the same". Unbleached linen thread 35/2 for hand sewing matches this fabric best and for sewing button holes you might try gray silk button hole twist.

Both the kersey and broadcloth look and feel identical. Kersey is a twill weave whereas broadcloth is a plain weave. As the nap wears off the outside of the fabric the weave will be revealed.

Thanks to the hard work of James Kochan and Sean Phillips this kersey is museum quality woven in England today to specific standards and has the same appearance, drape, weave, milling, finish and hard hand as broadcloth made in the late 18th century. This broadcloth holds a raw edge better than any other broadcloth available.

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