Antique French Weaving Mill Samples – Violet & Indigo Study Collection

This beautifully coordinated collection highlights one of the most striking color stories found among our antique French weaving samples. Woven on soft ecru backgrounds, the fabrics feature elegant stripes in shades of blue and violet, creating a timeless palette that feels both refined and contemporary.

These samples were likely produced as professional weaving references for a French textile mill, allowing designers to compare stripe arrangements, weave structures, and color combinations before production. Most are woven from fine wool, with many incorporating lustrous silk threads that add depth and dimension to the finished cloth.

The repeated patterns make this collection especially appealing for makers. Rather than maximizing variety, the Indigo & Violet Edition provides multiple examples of the same beautiful weaves, making it easier to incorporate them into patchwork, visible mending, textile collage, book arts, and small quilts while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.

Like Japanese shima-chō sample books, these historic weaving references celebrate the artistry of cloth itself and offer endless inspiration for today's textile artists.

Features

• Antique French weaving mill samples

• Coordinated blue and violet woven stripe palette

• Ecru background fabrics only

• Minimum of 18 individual samples

• Minimum of 5 woven patterns with multiple repeats of each

• Fine wool fabrics with many samples incorporating lustrous silk threads

• Ideal for patchwork, textile collage, visible mending, journals, framing, and slow stitching

Contents

At least 18 antique woven fabric samples representing a minimum of 5 woven stripe patterns.

Fiber Content

Primarily fine wool with many samples incorporating silk accent threads (fiber content not guaranteed).

Anomalies

As shown in the last photo, some have discoloration and a couple pieces have tiny insect holes. A couple have writing in pencil on them. A few green pieces have thread sewn through them. Oh the life these pieces have lived! 

Dimensions

Individual strips measure approximately ¾"–1¼" wide × 3½"–7" long (1.9–3.2 × 8.9–17.8 cm).

Made in: France