Twill vs plain weave?

[Pleater]

Twill woven wears better, and looks better for longer than a plain weave, even one where there are pairs of threads.

I don't know why, exactly, but there might be something in the mechanics of the construction which keeps the twill fabric from getting scuffed and scraped in wear to the same extent as the tabby, or perhaps it is the construction which resists the twisting and distortion in wear.

Anne the Pleater

[Luke MacGillie]

As an aside, Tabby does show up in Johnson's 1755 Dictionary, but in relation to a type of silk.

http://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/?p=2756

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/tabby

So Ive learned a thing or two myself, and need to banish that word from my vocab given its use and meaning in the period Im most interested in.

[figheadair]

Do you have any info on the size and composition of that brooch?

Going off topic but from memory it's about 2" wide and looks to be made from roughly cast iron.

[Barb T]

In terms of kiltmaking, I think that the twill weave actually shapes better than tabby/plain weave. Because it's an over two/under two weave, rather than an over one/under weave, there's more opportunity for individual threads to slide a bit laterally. Then you can steam the new shape in place, and it stays beautifully.