Indigo Hemp Cotton Stripe, WHP 107

55% Hemp-45% Cotton, 8.5oz, 58″ wode

Blue and white stripe linen fabric was extremely common for working class garments both in Europe and the New World. Runaway descriptions repeatedly refer to blue and white stripe linen and several original garments are made of very similar fabric to that pictured here. This hemp blend is tightly woven, prewashed and being 8.5 oz. has a lot more body than many other stripe linens. It has numerous uses. For women: petticoats, gowns and jackets. 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 Gazette in 1777 “Ran away . . .  a Dutch servant girl . . .  She had on a blue and white striped linen short gown” as cited in Wives, Slaves, and Servant Girls. 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.