In the last quarter of the 19th century, American upper-class women began shifting their focus from home-centered activities to sports and outdoor recreation. With the rise of archery, tennis, and cycling—thanks to the invention of the Safety Bicycle in 1885—a new emphasis on sportswear emerged. These fashion trends quickly spread to the middle class, marking a shift toward more functional yet stylish attire.

 

One key element of this transformation was the shirting fabric. Blouses (or “waists” as they were called in the 1890s) often featured delightful object prints, such as anchors, riding crops, stars, flags, tools, playing cards, and insects. Many of these conversational prints were also used in menswear and children’s clothing, with serviceable dark blue or red backgrounds for extra durability. Thanks to advancements in textile production—especially finely etched copper rollers—these intricate and playful designs became widely available.

 

 

Shirtings are not just a thing of the past—they remain a staple in reproduction quilting and historical clothing. Their small-scale prints and light backgrounds make them excellent choices for quilt blocks, blending beautifully with other fabrics while adding historical authenticity. At Reproduction Fabrics, we offer a variety of shirtings in our 1865 and Turn-of-the-Century (1900) categories—perfect for those who love working with historically inspired fabrics!

Explore our shirtings and bring a piece of textile history into your next project! Check out our Pint Sized Neutrals and Foundations lines.

 

We offer several wonderful shirtings lines by the yard (Pint Sized Neutrals and Late 19th Century) and but also just created 2 new shirtings bundles.  Now is the perfect time to stock up on these quilting essentials with our St. Patricks Day FREE SHIPPING promotion this week!  

 

Turn of 20th Century Shirtings

Late 19th Century Novelty Shirtings

 

Thanks and Happy Sewing, 

Margo and the Reproduction Fabrics Team