Thistle Hill Weavers at the Movies

Read about us in Smithsonian Magazine! When Hollywood Needs a Historically Accurate Outfit That Looks Just Right, It Turns to Rabbit Goody

Rabbit Goody's Thistle Hill Weavers has created textiles for the movies for almost 20 years. Set and wardrobe designers know they can rely on us for historical accuracy. We've built our reputation on completely custom fabrics, trims, and carpet; an ability to reproduce samples from almost any era; our willingness to weave short runs of custom fabric and a very fast turnaround time (sometimes as little as 5 days for the film industry).

Working for the movies is an exciting, creative, fast-paced experience. Typically, the process begins with a phone call or an email: a set designer is working on a biopic about John Adams and needs guidance about how to dress an 18th-century bed and how to make an actress look convincingly like she's weaving on an 18th-century loom. A costume designer wants authentic clothing for English children fleeing the London bombing at the start of World War II. A props manager needs blankets that might have been carried on a wagon train across the U.S.

Sometimes designers call with a vague idea about the feel of fabrics they want to use. Make it "meaty, organic and shiny" were the instructions from Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe as we began working on fabrics for the centaurs in Aslan's army, fantasy creatures in the great battle for C. S. Lewis' Narnia. Rabbit wove several dozen hand samples and shipped them off to New Zealand, where Disney was shooting the film. After additional consultations between Rabbit and the costume designers, we took the handwoven designs and "translated" them to the power loom.

Working with the movies is always a process. It often happens very quickly — a designer may want to move from an idea to an actual fabric in as little as a week — but there are many phone calls, emails, and sometimes visits back and forth as adjustments are made to each fabric to get it exactly right. During the process, we try to remember that Oscars are awarded for costume and set design!

We wove these blankets originally for the HBO series Turn ( Washington’s Spies) and now they are available through OutLaw Franky and Thistle Hill Weavers We are also doing them in a beautiful dark blue (photo by Sam Meredith)

We wove these blankets originally for the HBO series Turn ( Washington’s Spies) and now they are available through OutLaw Franky and Thistle Hill Weavers We are also doing them in a beautiful dark blue

This image doesn’t do Greg LaVoi and his work justice but wow great to see on TV!

This is exciting! The fabric that we wove for Greg LaVoi for his fall collection was used in a Season 6 episode of Castle. I happen to watch the episode on Netflix and was pretty sure I saw it on a woman – Dr. Greg confirmed it. Its a fantastic suit and very recognizable!

Here’s a soldier on a figured Venetian carpet. Hard to find good references!

Working on a few interesting projects. Maybe a new film on King Arthur and getting ready for our Open House which starts in less than one month! If you have been watching the HBO series “Turn” about Washington’s spies in the revolution you’ll see some of Thistle Hill’s fabrics. We may also be doing a remake of the Lincoln shawl, now there’s a story!

Working with the best! Donna Zakowska, costume designer for “Turn” (also known as “Washington’s Spies”) HBO filming in Richmond VA. Second season.

This is an Oneida Indian Blanket in mixed red wools and a black and white band at each end. We made extra this time! The design is from the portrait. Pretty cool to be able to do good reproductions without compromise!. Thanks Donna for your support!