Italian Cotton Muslin, WCN 111

100% Cotton, 45″ Wide

This fine Italian cotton is perfect for ruffled and gathered caps and fine ruffles on shirts! Today this fabric is called organdy, but historically was a type of muslin often referred to as book muslin. Italian book muslin is a medium grade and one step up from that listed as just book muslin. This fine stiff cotton was used to make shirt and shift ruffles, women’s caps, aprons, and handkerchiefs starting in about the 1760s and continuing to the present. Book muslin has a crisp look and holds its shape well. In The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London of 1784, one woman “was indicted for feloniously stealing . . .  one book muslin half handkerchief, value 6 d.” For hand sewing use 60/2 linen thread or fine silk thread.