Working with Soft Goods 197 Cotton and linen scrim are open-weave fabrics made of finely woven cotton or linen. Linen scrim, also called theatrical gauze, was the standard for scrim effects until the appearance of sharkstooth scrim. A great advantage of sharkstooth over linen scrim is its availability in wide widths. Linen scrim drops always had obvious seams, which had to be overlooked. The natural light drab color of linen scrim may be either a drawback or an asset depending on the desired appearance of the paint treatment. Cotton scrim is not as transparent as linen scrim when backlit. Floorcloth Construction Floorcloths are like drops but they are made for the demanding wear and tear of foot traffic. Canvas floorcloths should be measured to size and sewn in much the same way as drops, without webbing and pipe pockets, of course. Their seams are less noticeable if sewn parallel to the audience (or a majority of the audience). Because canvas stretches so tightly, the floor cloth should be assembled with an extra foot of cloth on all sides to account for shrinkage, especially if it is large. The edges of the groundcloth may be reinforced with webbing because the canvas will pull on the staples very hard when stretching. Always use pneumatic staples to hold a floorcloth when stretching it. The Openings or contours sometimes need to be reinforced because they receive extra stress. For this, leave about 2 inches of turnback. After the openings and turnbacks have been cut out, turn the drop on its face and fold and press the turnback. Then brush a diluted flexible fabric glue into the fold and press the two sides of the fabric together. Staple every few feet and at corners so that the turnback does not shrink. If the turnback needs more reinforcement, set a length of 1/8-inch sash cord set into the inside edge of the fold with the glue. This method works well around windows and door openings cut into a drop that receives a lot of contact with actors and shifting scenery. Using Netting to Reinforce a Cut Drop The point of netting a drop is to give nearly invisible support to the negative areas of a cut drop that are not self-supporting. These areas may include reinforced openings that may be inclined to sag with repeated use or contours that defy the laws of gravity. Netting is either glued across the entire opening of the drop or only those areas that need to be reinforced. Netting the drop happens after painting. In some companies, it is the responsibility of the construction department; in others, it is the responsibility