The sign of the unicorn. A fabric shop for 18th century reenactors and historians.

Wool Broadcloth

Broadcloth in the 18th century was a 100% wool, plain weave fabric made from the best carded wool and used to make men's breeches, waistcoats, jackets, coats and greatcoats and women's cloaks. We always keep a selection of broadcloths in stock because of the demand for them. In addition to our permanent stock, we keep a large rotating selection of fabrics. For amounts over 10 yards please ask us for availability. We have 100% linen and silk thread to match most colors in different weights. Much of the information on these pages is gathered from Swatches: A Guide to Choosing 21st Century Fabrics for 18th Century Clothing which has swatches you can feel and for a wider view of fabrics imported to the Americas try Textiles in America 1650-1870.

Broadcloth | Worsted Fabric | Flannel | Bay

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Wool broadcloth for 14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, and 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Navy Blue, 24 oz., 60" wide, $33.95/yd.
WWB 750

This wool was intended for the New York City police department which has very strict quality standards. Every yard of this fabric has been stamped with chalk once inspected but it will easily brush out. Navy Blue was a very common color for wool throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. For example in The Virginia Gazette of 1774, "Run away . . .  an Irish Servant Man . . .  wears . . .  a blue Broadcloth Coat". For hand sewing, navy blue 35/2 linen thread would work very well. For sewing button holes try navy blue silk button hole twist or quilter's thread.

Add Navy Blue Broadcloth WWB 750 to Cart

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Wool broadcloth for 14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, and 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Navy Blue, ~15 oz., 60" wide, $32.95/yd.
WWB 850

This fabric is slightly lighter in weight and color than WWB 750. Navy blue was a very common color for wool throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. For example in The Virginia Gazette of 1774, "Run away . . .  an Irish Servant Man . . .  wears . . .  a blue Broadcloth Coat". For hand sewing, navy blue 35/2 linen thread would work very well. For sewing button holes try navy blue silk button hole twist or quilter's thread.

Add Navy Blue Broadcloth WWB 850 to Cart

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Broadcloth, 70% wool, 20% nylon, 10% cashmere Mazarine Blue, 60" wide, ~15 oz., $26.50/yd.
WWV 656

Mazerine broadcloth was advertised in 18th century newspapers. It is a bright or what many modern people might call royal blue. Blue was a very common color for wool throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. This wool coating could be used to make a man's coat, greatcoat, waistcoat, breeches or jacket. It could also be used for a woman's cloak. For example from personal communication with Mike Barbieri in the 1777 Connecticut Journal an ad included, "RUN away . . .  an apprentice Boy . . .  had with him, one blue broad cloth Coat, newly turn’d, trim’d with blue Lining and white buttons". None of our threads really match this shade of blue so you could sew with unbleached linen thread or use medium blue linen thread realizing it wont match well. For hand sewing button holes the best bet may not to match at all by using natural quilter's thread or buttonhole twist.

Add Mazarine Blue Broadcloth WWV 583 to Cart

Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.
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Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Mixed Blue, 60" wide, ~17 oz., $31.95/yd.
WWB 810

Mixed blue is the color of some modern cadet's coats but was sometimes used in the 18th century for working class garments. As advertised in The Virginia Gazette of 1775 "RUN away . . .  two indented SERVANTS, one a Scotchman . . .  by Trade a Gardener . . .  had on, and took with him . . .  a mixed blue Cloth Coat and Jacket, lined and trimmed with black". Medium blue 50/3 linen thread is a bit lighter than this wool but is the best match.

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Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Natural White, 61" wide, 24 oz., $32.50/yd.
WWD 127

This white wool has a fair nap on both sides. White broadcloth was used in many military regiments for facings, small clothes, coats and jackets but was often used for civilian men's coats, greatcoats, waistcoats, breeches and jackets. The United States Chronicle, of 1787 "The Person who is supposed to have committed the above Theft . . .  a Cordwainer by Trade . . .  Had on . . .  a white short Broadcloth Coat". Off white linen thread for hand sewing matches this fabric. For sewing button holes try white silk button hole twist or quilter's thread.

Add White Broadcloth WWD 127 to Cart

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Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Mixt Grey, 60" wide, ~17 oz., $30.95/yd.
WWB 807

Mixt gray broadcloth was used for hundreds of years by farmers, sailors and other laboring people up to and including the 19th century. This wool was used to make English civil war army coats, some Continental regimentals such as the 3rd New York Reg't of 1775, late War of 1812 US Rifle Regiment Coatees and War of 1812 British Army enlisted trousers. The use of this cloth continued in both armys well into the 1830s. For example advertised in The Virginia Gazette of 1775 "RUN away . . .  two Irish Servant Men . . .  [one] had on, when he went away, a gray Mixture Broadcloth Coat trimmed with black". Unbleached linen thread 35/2 for hand sewing matches this fabric best and for sewing button holes you might try gray silk button hole twist.

Add Mixt Grey Broadcloth WWB 807 to Cart

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Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 90% wool, 5% cashmere, 5% nylon, Dark Mixt Black, 60" wide, ~18 oz., $26.50/yd.
WWV 616

This fabric is almost black but is mixed with very dark grey making it a dark charcoal color. Shared from personal communication with Mike Barbieri The Boston News-Letter of 1776 "RAN-away . . .  a young Fellow . . .  He carried away . . .  one grey Coat and Jacket with Brass-Buttons". Black 35/2 linen thread for hand sewing matches this fabric best and for hand sewing button holes try black silk quilter's thread or button hole twist.

Add Dark Mixt Black Broadcloth WWV 616 to Cart

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Wool broadcloth for 14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, and 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Black, 60" wide, 15-18 oz., $28.50/yd.
WWB 849

Black broadcloth was nice to wear before modern laundry since it does not show the dirt. This black coating has a full nap on both sides, is thick and still fairly tightly woven. An example from London's Proceedings of the Old Bailey in 1732 includes "the Prosecutor came in, dress'd in a black Coat, a white Waistcoat, and black Breeches". Black linen thread 35/2 for hand sewing matches this fabric best. For sewing button holes try black silk button hole twist or quilter's thread. The black worsted wool tape is very close in color to this fabric. Matching tape is sometimes what is seen for ties of women's cloaks.

Add Black Broadcloth WWB 849 to Cart

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Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Mix'd Olive, 60" wide, 15-18 oz., $31.95/yd.
WWB 836

The easiest green to dye are shades of olive. This would make a very nice man's coat, waistcoats, breeches, jacket or woman's cloak. For example in a London trial of two house theives recorded in The Proceedings of the Old Bailey of 1731 one of the theives was described as wearing a number of items but "sometimes an olive-colour'd Suit." Unbleached 35/2 linen thread will blend with the mixed color for hand sewing.

Add Mix'd Olive Broadcloth WWB 836 to Cart

Broadcloth, 70% wool, 10% cashmere, 20% nylon, Light Brown, 59" wide, ~15 oz., $28.50/yd.
WWV 658

new New!

This is a very light colored woolen with a good nap on one side. Brown broadcloths are very commonly described in the 18th and early 19th centuries. In The Connecticut Journal in 1777, "Deserted . . .  from New Haven . . .  two soldiers, inlisted for the Continental Army . . .  [one of them] had on when he went away, a brown surtout, a pair of brown broadcloth breeches" shared with permission of Mike Barbieri. Unbleached 35/2 linen thread will be blend well for hand sewing. For hand sewing button holes try the buff quilter's thread or drab buttonhole twist.

Add Light Brown Broadcloth WWV 658 to Cart

Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.
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Wool fabric for colonial costume

Broadcloth, 100% wool, Brown, 60" wide, ~15 oz., $31.00/yd.
WWB 880

This is a thinly woven, firm dark chocolate colored woolen with a goog nap on both sides. This might be called a superfine although it is not as tight and firm. Brown broadcloths are very commonly described in the 18th and early 19th centuries. In The Providence Gazette in 1772 Rhode Island, "RAN away . . .  a bound Servant . . .  had on, and took with him . . .  a dark brown Broadcloth double-brested short Jacket . . .  He can work at Farming Business, has worked in a Forge, and is given to Gaming, mostly Hustlecap." cited in Taylor, Runaways, Deserters, and Notorious Villains From Rhode Island Newspapers Volume 1, 2001. Black linen thread 50/3 will be the best match for hand sewing. For hand sewing button holes try the brown quilter's thread or dark brown buttonhole twist.

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Add Brown Broadcloth WWB 880 to Cart

Broadcloth, 70% wool, 10% cashmere, 20% nylon, Dark Brown, 60" wide, ~14 oz., $28.50/yd.
WWV 657

new New!

This dark brown woolen has a full nap on one side but is far lighter than many coating weight wools. Brown broadcloths are very commonly described in the 18th and early 19th centuries. This wool coating could be used to make a man's coat, waistcoat, breeches or jacket. It could also be used for a woman's cloak. For example from personal communication with Mike Barbieri in the 1772 Boston Evening Post an ad included, "Ran away . . .  an indented Man Servant . . .  had when he went away . . .  one Suit of Brown Cloaths . . .  carried with him . . .  two old brown Jackets.". Brown linen threadwill be the best match for hand sewing. For hand sewing button holes try the brown quilter's thread or dark brown buttonhole twist.

Add Dark Brown Broadcloth WWV 657 to Cart

Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.
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Broadcloth, 80% wool, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, Crimson, 59" wide, $26.95/yd.
WWD 636

This wool has some problem with transfer of red dye to other surfaces. Wool with a soft full nap on one side is well suited to a man's coat, jacket or breeches or woman's cloak. For example in The New-London Gazette of 1773, "Ran away . . .  an Apprentice Boy . . .  had on . . .  crimson broadcloth Breeches" by personal communication with Mike Barbieri. Red 35/2 linen thread and both 1/2" and 7/8" worsted wool tape matches this fabric. For sewing button holes try scarlet silk button hole twist or quilter's thread.

Add Crimson Broadcloth WWD 636 to Cart

Wool broadcloth for 18th century, and early 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.
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Wool broadcloth for 14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, and 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 85% wool, 15% nylon, Red, 60" wide, ~21 oz., $32.95/yd.
WWV 622

This wool has a hard dense finish and may serve as a substitute for more expensive wools used for British mock scarlet. It's a good substitute for 18th century British army serjeants and a very close match to c.1800-1802 serjeant's jacket of a British volunteer corps, and a pattern dyed for a US Army War of 1812 contract. It would make a very nice man's coat, jacket, breeches or greatcoat or woman's cloak. For example in The Newport Mercury of 1765, "By a Letter from Guilford, in Connecticut . . .  we are informed, that on the 12th the Body of a Gentleman was found on Goose Island, and was buried the next Day: That he had on a . . .  red Broad-cloth Jacket" by personal communication with Mike Barbieri. Red 35/2 linen thread and both 1/2" and 7/8" worsted wool tape matches this fabric. For sewing button holes try scarlet silk button hole twist or quilter's thread.

Add Red Broadcloth WWV 622 to Cart

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Mixed red wool swatch for 14th century, 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, and 19th century reenactors, nautical historians and museum interpreters.

Broadcloth, 100% wool, mixed red, ~17 oz., 60" wide, $26.50/yd.
WWD 100

new New!

Mixed red is an interesting color sometimes used in the 18th century for working class garments. This twill wool lacks a nap and could be used as a warm lining as well as an outer layer. As advertised in The Boston News-Letter of 1769 "RAN-away . . .  a young Fellow . . .  He carried away with him, two mixt all-wool Coats, red and blue and white, and one Jacket of the same, one of the Coats lin’d with green Shalloon, trim’d with Brass Buttons" from personal communication with Mike Barbieri. Scarlet red 35/2 linen thread will work well when hand sewing this wool and for sewing button holes you might try scarlet silk button hole twist or quilter's thread.

Add Mixed Red Wool WWD 100 to Cart

Broadcloth | Worsted Fabric | Flannel | Bay | Jean Cloth/Virginia Cloth | Specialty Weaves

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