Itchy wool advice?

[Steve Ashton]

I think there may be some misconceptions about the age of sophisticated fabrics.

Weaving has been around for centuries. Some amazingly fine, soft, and sophisticate fabrics have been woven since before the middle ages. We just didn't have powered machines that did the work. People did the work with muscle power, water, wind etc.

The date we use for the Industrial Revolution kicking off is 1760 but that should not be seen as the same time as the ability to create sophisticated, fine and/or soft fabrics. It just means that they could spin more yarn, weave more fabric and transport it further than before.

We sometimes need to step back from the idea that Scotland was somehow a backwater of the world just as we sometimes need to put all of this into its proper place in the timeline of the rest of history.

[Barb T]

I recently got some wool tartan from houseoftartan.com for a belted plaid. it's a beautiful piece of wool but it's a little itchy. I have a military wool blanket that I soaked in a water and hair conditioner mixture to make less itchy. If I do the same to the tartan will it make the colors bleed or will it come out alright? Thanks!

But back to your original question, will the colors bleed? They shouldn't. If you decide to do this, put it into the bathtub in cold water and just press the fabric a bit but don't squeeze or rub. Drain the water and press down on the fabric to get as much water out as possible while it's in the tub. Lay the fabric between a couple towels, and roll it to get more water out, and lay the tartan flat to dry. You can press it when it's slightly damp, but put an old pillow case over the tartan so that the iron doesn't ride directly on the fabric.

[Luke MacGillie]

I think there may be some misconceptions about the age of sophisticated fabrics.

Weaving has been around for centuries. Some amazingly fine, soft, and sophisticate fabrics have been woven since before the middle ages. We just didn't have powered machines that did the work. People did the work with muscle power, water, wind etc.

The date we use for the Industrial Revolution kicking off is 1760 but that should not be seen as the same time as the ability to create sophisticated, fine and/or soft fabrics. It just means that they could spin more yarn, weave more fabric and transport it further than before.

We sometimes need to step back from the idea that Scotland was somehow a backwater of the world just as we sometimes need to put all of this into its proper place in the timeline of the rest of history.

Very much indeed! And even if in fact a backwater, that does not mean that Scotland, or Kentucky (another of my research areas) was not connected to the global economy of the time. Trade happens, people, outside of modern reenactors do not want shoddy material possessions. Sometimes you have to suffer, but suffering for sufferings sake is something that only those rich in something, faith, leisure time etc do.