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What exactly is Fresco?

Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:57 pm
by rip
I have a very rough idea, but have yet to find any good pix of fresco cloth. I was surprised that Holland & Sherry's fabric guide doesn't even list fresco. I have a Burberry suit that I think is made from fresco; it's similar to crepe, but not as loosely woven.

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:40 pm
by Leonard Logsdail
Fresco fabric is a high twist yarn with an open weave. the high twist helps gie the yarn some bounce to reduce creases and the open construction allows this to happen.

leonard

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 4:41 pm
by DD MacDonald
rip, here is an image of a fresco that I recently used.

DDM

Image

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:37 pm
by rip
DD MacDonald wrote:rip, here is an image of a fresco that I recently used.

DDM
That's it, and almost the same color. Now, how does this differ from crepe?

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:25 pm
by manton
I believe crepe is distinguished more by its surface and finishing. It has a rusticated, matte finish (not at all smooth or shiney), has a softer hand, and is generally woven in lighter weights. It is not really that wrinkle resistant, certainly not when compared to most worsteds.

Fresco, on the other hand, tends to be woven in heavier weights and is quite wrinkle resistant. Its cooling properties are derived more from the openess of the weave than any lightness of weight.

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:32 pm
by iammatt
Would Fresco be considered relatively year round fabric in climates that do not have extreme temperatures?

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:29 pm
by manicturncoat
I would be very careful with fresco, even in mild climates, particularly where it is windy. With the fresco fabrics that I have used you can see through the fabric when you hold it up to the light. They breathe wonderfully when it it is hot but as soon as it gets a little crisp and windy, you feel it immediately.

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:56 pm
by ThomasG
manicturncoat wrote: With the fresco fabrics that I have used you can see through the fabric when you hold it up to the light. They breathe wonderfully when it it is hot but as soon as it gets a little crisp and windy, you feel it immediately.
Fresco is like an illusion of cloth.

Image

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:08 am
by rjman
Does anyone know which fabric merchant refers to its fresco as "Twister"?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:26 pm
by Richard3
Is Zegna`s "High performance" a fresco fabric?

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:53 pm
by Nexus
Prego, rip:

Image
Image

That's as good as I can get it on camera ;)

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:02 am
by Mr JRM
are the Lesser lightweights (7 1/2oz / 8oz) in the Golden Bale books frescos's?
i describe the weave as up/down and side to side ie. like a cross hatch.

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:43 pm
by Chris Rimby
Would 13 oz fresco cloth possess the same durability as a standard 13 oz worsted?

Re: What exactly is Fresco?

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:11 pm
by Will
rip wrote:I have a very rough idea, but have yet to find any good pix of fresco cloth. I was surprised that Holland & Sherry's fabric guide doesn't even list fresco. I have a Burberry suit that I think is made from fresco; it's similar to crepe, but not as loosely woven.
The H&S frescos are in the CrispAire book.

Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:40 pm
by manton
Mr JRM wrote:are the Lesser lightweights (7 1/2oz / 8oz) in the Golden Bale books frescos's?
i describe the weave as up/down and side to side ie. like a cross hatch.
I don't think so. It's been a while since I looked at that book, but I recall those cloths as being more or less standard plain weaves and hence denser than fresco.

The Lesser Tropical book is sort of fresco-esque, but not really a fresco either.