Yvarg
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Formerly greeneel22
Posts: 198
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fabrics
May 27, 2005 23:42:44 GMT -5
Post by Yvarg on May 27, 2005 23:42:44 GMT -5
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AJBryant
New Member
甲冑師 katchuu-shi
Posts: 1,972
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fabrics
May 28, 2005 9:55:42 GMT -5
Post by AJBryant on May 28, 2005 9:55:42 GMT -5
It's not "too Chinese." It's not really Chinese at all. It's just kitsch.
Avoid that kind of thing like the plague. It's the equivalent of a fabric with random English words on it. We don't have that kind of thing. They don't, either.
The "burgundy with fans" and "sage with gold fans" are reasonably historical Japanese patterns -- but it's thin cotton. When it mentions quilting, you can imagine how thin and soft that fabric is.
You're better off using a solid color with a heavier, more sturdy and appropriate fabric (and, perhaps, printing a design on it).
Effingham
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fabrics
May 29, 2005 11:38:07 GMT -5
Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on May 29, 2005 11:38:07 GMT -5
I second the notion that you might need a heavier fabric. Go to Walmart and look at their 'decorator remnants.' These are heavy fabrics that run about $5.00/yd. Even if you don't like any particular design, it will give a good idea of the weight you need.
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fabrics
May 31, 2005 10:35:18 GMT -5
Post by fujiwara on May 31, 2005 10:35:18 GMT -5
I may get burned at the stake for this, but I would recommend the brocades that Joann's sells. They are the right weight, come in the "reasonably historic patterns" Eff mentions, and aren't too expensive. The downside is they are a bear to work with, being *ugh* polyester (VERY slippery)
- Fujiwara
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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fabrics
May 31, 2005 19:18:19 GMT -5
Post by Saionji Shonagon on May 31, 2005 19:18:19 GMT -5
I may get burned at the stake for this, but I would recommend the brocades that Joann's sells. If you are referring to the rayon based Asian brocades I've seen at my local JoAnn, I'm going to have to disagree with you, Cousin. (Immolation will not be necessary.) I recently spent an evening trying to mend a jacket for a friend who feared that the blown sleeve seam meant she'd have to throw away a very expensive jacket. It was made of exactly the sort of fabric you describe. This stuff frays like a sonofabitch and snags on the least little thing. You have to be scrupulous about finishing edges to prevent fraying and woe to you if you put any stress on a seam because the stuff will come apart around the stitch line and fray itself into fringe. If Linda's jacket couldn't survive normal office wear without catastrophic damage, I would NOT recommend it for armor. Otagiri's suggestion is a good one. Go look at drapery and upholstery remnants. You can sometimes find some sturdy cotton/poly stuff with tone-on-tone geometric patterns that would probably work very well. (Go surf www.fabric.com in their Home Decor section - the sort of thing I'm talking about is often referred to as damask or jacquard.) M.
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AJBryant
New Member
甲冑師 katchuu-shi
Posts: 1,972
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fabrics
May 31, 2005 21:18:22 GMT -5
Post by AJBryant on May 31, 2005 21:18:22 GMT -5
Agreed. I once saw a kickarse fabric that was burgundy with an all-over woven pattern of orangey-yellow dragonflies. By the time I decided to get it and use it (the next frikkin day!!! ) and got to the store, it was gone. Sigh. Effingham
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Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
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fabrics
May 31, 2005 22:37:09 GMT -5
Post by Saionji Shonagon on May 31, 2005 22:37:09 GMT -5
Isn't that always the way? You snooze, you lose. M.
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fabrics
Jun 17, 2005 15:56:40 GMT -5
Post by Nobuhide on Jun 17, 2005 15:56:40 GMT -5
i must say i am partial to agree for a combat armor. having been victim of the horrible fraying aspect of this beautiful brocade i purchased (it lost probably a half inch over night) i would DEFINATLY recommend it for dress armors if you want something where the fabrics imported from the chinese mainland(the story behind my armor) but as makiwara said it will not stand to combat. after one fight youll need to throw it out.
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