Stuff (cloth) facts for kids

"Stuff" is a word that can mean many things, but in the world of materials, it often refers to any material that has been made or manufactured. Think of it as the raw material or fabric used to create something else.

This idea of "stuff" as a manufactured material isn't new. A famous writer named Sir Francis Bacon used the word this way way back in 1658. He wrote about "Stuffes made by them," referring to things like "Papers, Linnen, Silks, Tissues," and other beautiful creations.

In the old city of Coventry, England, young people who finished a seven-year training period with "stuff merchants" (people who traded in these materials) could become "freemen of the city." This was a special title that gave them certain rights and freedoms.

What is "Stuff" Cloth?

One common type of "stuff" was a kind of thick, rough cloth that was woven. It was made in many places, including a town called Kidderminster in England.

How "Stuff" Cloth Was Made

Originally, this "stuff" cloth was probably made entirely from wool. Wool comes from sheep and is known for being warm and durable.

Later, a different kind of "stuff" cloth became popular. It was called "linsey-woolsey" or "woolsey-linsey." This fabric was a mix! It had a warp (the threads that run lengthwise on a loom) made of linen yarn, and a weft (the threads woven across the warp) made of worsted wool. Linen comes from the flax plant, and worsted wool is a type of wool yarn that is smooth and strong.

"Stuff" in Legal Gowns

Even today, the long robes worn by most English lawyers are called "stuff gowns." This name comes from a time when these gowns were actually made from "stuff" cloth.

This is different from the gowns worn by very senior lawyers, who are called King's Counsel. Their gowns are made of silk, which is a much finer and more expensive material. Because of this, their gowns are often called "silks." So, in this legal world, "stuff" means any fabric that isn't silk or a silk-like material. People in the upper classes in England were still using "stuff" in this way even in the 1960s!

"Stuff" in Victorian Fashion

During the Victorian era (from about 1837 to 1901), when people talked about dressmaking, the word "stuff" was used as a general term for any woven fabric.

However, the word "cloth" was usually kept for fabrics made specifically from woollen fibers (like fuzzy wool), as opposed to worsted fibers (which are smoother wools). So, if you were making a dress, you might ask for "stuff" and then specify if you wanted a woollen "cloth" or another type of "stuff."