Red Hemp Cotton Stripe, WHP 109 (Copy)

55% Hemp 45% Organic Cotton, 8.5 oz, 59″ Wide

Red & white stripe linen was not as common as other colors but it does show up occasionally. This hemp linen is tightly woven, prewashed & being 8.5 oz. has more body than many other stripe linens. It has numerous uses. For women: petticoats, gowns and jackets. For men: waistcoats, jackets, trousers, breeches &  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 Virginia Gazette of 1773, “RUN away . . .  two convict servant men . . .  [one of them] by trade a cooper, born in Ireland, and has a good deal of the brougue . . .  Had on, and carried with him . . .  a red and white striped cotton and linen jacket, with sleeves, double breasted, and the stripes across”. Try 35/2 off white linen thread for hand sewing & 1″ cotton twill tape natural matches this fabric well. Tape of matching color is sometimes what is used as binding on women’s petticoats & gowns.