Coutil/Corseting
Coutil is a fabric that has been designed specifically for building
corsets. It is high in cotton content, tightly woven to inhibit
penetration of bones/stays and is not inclined to stretch. It
has a smooth finish and is comfortable when worn close to the
skin though the wearing of a chemise is always recommended.
Coutil comes in plain, satin or brocade and we stock primarily
black, white and flesh; the white is dyeable.
Coutil can be soft, stiff or medium and this characteristic
is determined by the "Finishing Process". This is
a starching porcess that the fabric goes through to change the
feel of the fabric. Unfinished coutil is soft and easily dyed,
the more starch the stiffer the coutil and the more likely it
is to change after washing and dye unevenly. Finishing processors
in the USA and in the UK are dwindling in numbers and the quality
of finishes available is also deteriorating. The fabric is still
the same quality of weave and
fiber, it's just the starched finish that is no longer what
it was. This situation leads to inconsistant finishes from bolt
to bolt of fabric we bring in. If the finish is inadequate we
send the good back but we can only do this so often and we have
had to try and be more flexible in our expectations inorder
to have stock available. It is important that the stiffness
of the coutil you order today may not be the same as a piece
you have from a year ago.
Please note that we believe our new 74-1142-90 is of superior
quality for it's stiff finish. It is identical fiber and weave
to 74-1141-90 but has had a heavier starched finish applied.
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74-1148-35
