I was recently able to visit a wholesale quilt fabric company to purchase historic dress fabrics for an upcoming mid-19th century performance on behalf of me and other members in my vintage dance troupe. It was such a treat! The majority of the fabrics we found were Marcus Brothers fabrics, but RJR also had a smaller number of really lovely fabrics.
There were so many lovely things, but the best part was the prices! All of the fabrics were between $2.50-$3.75 a yard! You had to buy a bolt, which varied between 7 1/2 and 15 yds, but at those prices it’s still outstanding! We came away with fabric for the 1850s/60s dresses and bit more besides… There were some things that were just so fantastic they couldn’t be left behind!
Don’t worry, there will be upcoming posts with more on the 1850s day dress I’ll be making as well as the other much farther in the future projects. And I’m sure I’ll also have great pictures from the mid-19th century performance as well.
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 
I love seeing your fabrics and your finished garments!! Just found you about 6 wks ago and I’ve learned so much from you. My interest is mainly CW and 1890-1910, but will also be making an outfit or 2 for the 1870’s and 1880’s. I host at an historic house built about 1870 by a CW Leut. Col. and wear costume for that. And as the Col.’s dau owned it til 1948, I can wear the later styles, too. I made about…a dozen? outfits so far, most CW, but 2 1890s. It’s really helped to see the fabric prints as I wasn’t sure what would ‘fly’ of today’s prints. Great job and happy sewing!
Donna K. aka NonnaRee from SW WI
Thanks, Donna! I’m glad you enjoy my blog. It’s lovely to be able to share fabrics and sewing with others. I’m pleased that you’re reading and commenting!
Aawwww Quinn, that sounds like a perfect shopping spree!!!
The fabrics are beautiful and somehow I speculate for quite a while, that there MUST be some strange kind of drugs added to the cardboard insinde of the fabric bolts or some magnets, to whom women react in the only possible way: purchase! 😉
The same thing has to be in the cardboard of book covers/jackets…lol…
Amazing finds! I’m very much looking forward to following your projects!
I think you might have had the right idea, Sabine! Fabric and books are quite irresistible, especially when they are a good price, special and unusual or hard to obtain, like these cottons.
Oh…mygosh!!! I was searching for “red stripe 1840s reproduction fabric” on google and a picture of yellow floral stripe fabrelic came up that looks like my green floral stripe fabric and low and behold it’s yours!!! Laaaaaa!!! How totally fun is that? Well, now we have to make our dresses and meet somewhere and have our picture taken!! Too funny!
Ooooh and I LOVE the pinkish stripe one too….very fun!
Blessings!
Gina
Haha, yes, it explains why I like yours so much. 🙂 This fabric is still on the bolt waiting for me to tackle all the underpinnings to go with it (and make time for all those things plus making a dress…). Someday!
Oh I totally get that! I need to make a 40s corset and 40s corded petticoat….and probably another plain petti….but it will get done!