Brown Hemp Cotton Stripe, WHP 108

55% Hemp-45% Cotton, 8.5oz, 58″ wode

Brown and white stripe linen fabric slightly less common than blue stripes for working class garments both in Europe and the New World. This hemp blend is tightly woven, prewashed and being 8.5 oz. has a lot more body than many other stripe linens. It may be used for women’s petticoats, gowns and jackets and for men waistcoats, jackets, trousers, breeches, shirts, work aprons, workmen’s caps, and outer breeches (commonly known as slops although this term actually refers to all unfitted clothing). Stripe linen is an excellent choice for children’s clothing too. For example in The Pennsylvania Evening Post in 1779 “Ran away . . .  an apprentice girl . . .  had on, and took with her, two short gowns, one of white linen, the other striped brown and white”. Linen thread for hand sewing in 35/2 off white and one inch cotton twill tape natural matches this fabric well. Tape of matching color is often used as binding on women’s petticoats and gowns.