Milkwood Dash 21 10 13 Chambray

Yet another Dash with the prompt being “Chambray”.  I knew it was a fabric, which prompted the idea of making something out of fabric. Since I only do this in the context of SCA garb, that gave me some context for the making of something, but before I did, I looked it up and realised thatr Chambray was too modern a term for SCA. Cambric, however was just about period. From there, it was a natural jump to Scarborough Fair and two pedants arguing…

 

Jerry riffled through the piles of assorted fabric, bundles of thread, and various tufts of wool as yet un-spun. He pulled out a nice-looking piece of fabric, running his fingers over it, in an appreciative way. “Hmm, this is nice. I think I’ll make me a shirt from this.”

His friend Tom looked over, peering over some bolts of linen. “From what?” he asked, unrolling the end of one of the bolts and poking at the weave with his nail.

“This piece of Chambray,” said Jerry, holding it up for inspection. “Looks very comfortable.”

“Nah,” said Tom, dismissively. “You can’t make a shirt out of Chambray, not if you want it period.”

Jerry gave him a puzzled look. “What the fuck are you on about?” he asked.

“Chambray,” replied Tom, grinning evilly, “it’s an Americanism from early 19^th century, a variation on Cambric. Bloody Americans never get things right.”

Jerry gave an exasperated sigh. “Alright then, I’ll make it out of Cambric then, if that meets with your holier-than-thouness’ approval. Same bloody difference. I’ll make me a Cambric shirt.” He stretched out a length of fabric, trying to work out which was the good side.

Tom started humming. “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,” he sang, softly. “Good one?”

Jerry shot him another glare. “Now what the fuck are you on about?”

Tom restarted and sang the verse. “Tell her to make me a cambric shirt, Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme; Without a seam or needlework, Then she shall be a true lover of mine.” He stopped singing to explain. “The song, Scarborough Fair, by Simon and Garfunkel.”

Jerry grimaced for a moment, and then grinned. Payback could be a bitch, he thought. “Traditional, actually,” he said with a slightly evil smile.

“Simon and Garfunkel, I’m telling you,” replied Tom.

“Traditional,” said Jerry, pressing his point. “Simon & Garfunkel learned it from Martin Carthy, and he got pissed at them when they didn’t credit it as ‘Traditional’ on the album. Bet you ten quid.”

Tom growled at him. “OK, OK, if you insist. But I’d like to see you try and achieve their Cambric shirt.”

“I can make a shirt,” grumbled Jerry, “I’ve made dozens.”

“Without a seam or needlework?” asked Tom, triumphantly.

Jerry picked up a skein of wool and threw it at his friend. “Oh, just fuck off, will you,” he said, wearily, “and pass me those scissors.”