Paisley, Plaid, & Purled: Mid-Nineteenth Century Shawls is the result of over a decade of in-depth research into one of the most ubiquitous—and often overlooked—accessories of the mid-1800s. This 120+ page resource is designed for historical costumers and museum interpreters who want a deeper understanding of shawl use and production during the antebellum and Civil War periods.
Whether you’re building a historically accurate wardrobe or interpreting daily life for the public, Paisley, Plaid, & Purled offers the tools to interpret shawls with accuracy and confidence.
What You’ll Find Inside:
Detailed Analysis of Shawl Types: Including imported and domestic examples, both commercially and home-produced.
Cultural and Social Context: Discover how shawls were more than mere fashion—they were meaningful objects tied to class, sentiment, and regional identity.
Visual Documentation: Over two dozen CDVs, photographs, and period illustrations showcase how shawls were worn in real life.
Practical Resources: Includes 30+ original period instructions for creating knit and sewn shawls—ideal for living historians and reenactors.
Research Tools: Glossary of textile terms, manufacturing statistics, tariff data, and museum exhibition examples.
Contents:
1. Introduction & Methodology
2. Shawl Culture
3. The Shawls
4. Domestically Made Shawls
5. Shawls for Living History
Bibliography & End Notes
Appendix Including a Glossary of Terms, Manufacturing, Production, and Tariff Statistics, and Exhibition Examples.
If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
OMG, I have this exact fabric – about six yards!
Are you sure it is fabric and not a shawl? This is an original shawl from the 1850s. Although, 6 yards would be extreamly long for a shawl.
Anna
It looks like the same fabric, except in lilac/purples. It’s 100% wool, 60″ wide. I bought it at a designer fabric outlet store.
I bought it to make a skirt and loose top or jacket. My idea was to follow the design and use it as the hems. I got extra just for that purpose.
No kidding. How great is that! Is there any chance you have the maker info? I would love to track it down.
The owner of the store bought manufacturers’ remnants to sell. I purchased it about seven years ago. I believe it was a Liz Claiborne piece, or it might have been Anne Klein.. I know it wasn’t Jones of NY or Dana Buchman.
When I find it I’ll send you a pic!
That will be great. Thank you!!
I thought you would enjoy this quote from a children’s book from the 1850s because it has to do with a “great shawl”. (I am enjoying your blog so much.)
Aunt Fanny’s Story Book, for Little Boys and Girls NEW-YORK:
D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY. 1853.
Gutenberg Project and Google Books
This book has Christmas stories. There is one about a Christmas Party-page 7. The children were dressed very nicely. The littlest girl gets a doll house and inside is a doll with a red sash. At the end of the story it talks about little Sarah being wrapped up, doll and all in a great shawl.
“It was now quite late, and little Sarah had fallen fast asleep on the sofa, with the young lady out of the baby-house clasped tight to her little bosom. So they wrapped her up, doll and all, in a great shawl, and the rest put on their nice warm coats and cloaks; and after a great deal of hugging and kissing, they got into the carriages with their parents, and went home happy and delighted.
Thus ended this joyful Christmas day.”
Love it! Thank you very much for sharing.
I am glad you are enjoying my blog.