The Sewing Place

When did fabrics get wider?

Tamnymore

When did fabrics get wider?
« on: November 09, 2017, 11:27:28 AM »
More specifically, out of interest does anyone know when Liberty tana lawn went up from 90cm/36" wide to its present day 137cm wide? I've just taken delivery of little bargain lot of vintage tana lawn at 90cm width (I'm not complaining - it was a real bargain  0_0 ) and it made me wonder. I have one or two vintage fabrics which are 90cm wide and a bit of googling suggests the change over, in general, took place in the 1960s but I'm sure this fabric is nothing like as old as that - maybe 1980s or 90s.
'One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.' Oscar Wilde

BrendaP

Re: When did fabrics get wider?
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2017, 12:30:15 PM »
Not sure about Tana Liberty lawn, but 36" (90cm) dress fabrics were still quite common in the early-mid 1970s when I was making dresses for DD1.  45" (114cm) was commoner when the twins were little, late 1970s, but 60" (150cm) was still quite rare.
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Tamnymore

Re: When did fabrics get wider?
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2017, 12:52:13 PM »
Thanks, Brenda. I agree that 150cm wide fabrics came in  quite a bit later. I suspect Liberty went on with 90cm wide lawn for a while though as my little haul does not look all that old.
'One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.' Oscar Wilde