Tailor's Shop: Woollen Cloth

This 100% wool fabric has been specially commissioned by The Tudor Tailor from a Yorkshire mill and is currently available in six colours. The weave is a 2/2 twill which has a good stretch across the bias, making it an excellent choice for bias cut hose. It also has a lovely drape and makes up beautifully for petticoats, kirtles, coats and gowns.

The range of colours is based on the mass of documentary evidence so far extracted from wills and inventories which will be published in our forth-coming book The Typical Tudor. Our findings make it clear that there were strong conventions in choices of colour for certain garments depending on one's gender and social status.

*The drop down menus on this page contain one yard and half yard options. To order the exact amount required simply select one (or both) of these options and alter the amounts in the Paypal shopping cart. For example if three and a half yards is required select one yard and then change the 1 to 3 in the 'quantity' box in the shopping basket. Press the 'update cart' button. Press the 'continue shopping' button to go back and add the half yard to the cart.

Sheep's colour £24.00 per yard (91.5cm)

Currently out of stock

'Sheep's colour' is a 16th century term and referred to the fact that the wool was undyed and was simply the natural colour of the sheep's wool, in this case white! Undyed white wool was typical wear for men's hose and working women's petticoats. It was also commonly bequeathed for gowns for the poor (men and women) by testators in wills of the early to mid sixteenth century.

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Woad blue £28.00 per yard (91.5cm)

Currently out of stock

This colour is strongly associated with working men and used most commonly for coats and jackets.

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Madder red £28.00 per yard (91.5cm)

The 'must-have' colour for women's petticoats. In our study of 10,000 wills from Essex made between 1558-1603 the most startling fact to emerge was that 87% of women's petticoats specified by colour were red. Our latest research reveals that this was also usual in other counties in England, and in the earlier part of the century.

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Tawny £28.00 per yard (91.5cm)

Tawny was the livery colour for the early Henrician court (see The King's Servants). Also popular for ordinary men's coats and gowns as well as women's kirtles and gowns.

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Violet £28.00 per yard (91.5cm)

Violet was an option for the gowns of middle-class men and women. It was acheived either by over-dying madder and woad or by using a native lichen called orchil. It was not the same as purple which was heavily restricted by sumptuary law and required an expensive imported dyestuff called kermes or 'grain'.

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Poor black £28.00 per yard (91.5cm)

Currently out of stock

Black was highly fashionable and worn by men and women throughout the century, especially for outer layers such as coats and gowns. A 'true black' or 'good black' was the ideal but it was expensive as it required a great deal of over-dyeing. 'Poor black' was the result of a quicker and cheaper dying process and was more like a dark chocolate brown. It is perfect for gowns and coats.

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Customs and Import Duties Information
Your order may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once your parcel reaches your country. The Tudor Tailor does not collect duties and taxes and cannot predict what your particular charges may be. If you do incur these additional charges, they must be paid for your package to clear customs. For more information regarding your country's custom policies, please contact your local customs office.