Blanket + Time = Bushshirt?

[hootchi]

Hello all. :wink:

Having been totally inspired by Mark's moccasins I was wondering if I could make a crude bushshirt, kinda like the swanndri ! :?:

I was thinking about using an army surplus blanket. Are they made of pure wool and how thick are they? Thick enough?

I doubt very much that the quality will be anything like a Swanndri especially with my sewing skills, but it would be a rustle free, spark proof and hopefully warm garment that I would not care about ruining. The problem with me is that I am a bit thin so I need a large size for the length but not that wide. I could custom make this one so it's just pukka.

Is this idea out of the question and i'm just being stupid? :?: :rolmao:

Cheers

Hootch :wink:

[Pict]

The mountain men in the forests of North America used to make jackets out of thick Hudsons Bay blankets. They even sell patterns for re-enactors to reproduce them. They actually looked pretty good and were quite functional. Wool is good stuff. Mac

[jamesdevine]

Some thing like this might be what you have in mind. It's somthing I have been considering and is a little simpler then a Capote.

James

[Stuart]

Is this idea out of the question and i'm just being stupid?

absolutely not, Go for it you'll end up with a garment you'll treasure much more than any off the shelf product.

[leon-1]

I was thinking about using an army surplus blanket. Are they made of pure wool and how thick are they? Thick enough?

I doubt very much that the quality will be anything like a Swanndri especially with my sewing skills, but it would be a rustle free, spark proof and hopefully warm garment that I would not care about ruining. The problem with me is that I am a bit thin so I need a large size for the length but not that wide. I could custom make this one so it's just pukka.

Is this idea out of the question and i'm just being stupid? :?: :rolmao:

Cheers

Hootch :wink:

hootchi, the surplus blankets are wool, they are warm, but the material is not as thick as that used on a Swanndri, if you can, before you buy one for a project like this try and get to handle it as some of the surplus ones can be a bit thin and moth eaten.

You may also wish to double up on high wear areas like the shoulders and put the blanket through a hot wash before you start making the shirt (this way you can pre shrink it so that it is denser).

After it is made wash it through with a good proofing and this should give it some resistance to showers. Not a bad idea :-)

[Furface]

Hootchi, this sounds like a cracking idea and I'm tempted to have a go myself. Anyone know where we could find suitable patterns?

[leon-1]

Hootchi, this sounds like a cracking idea and I'm tempted to have a go myself. Anyone know where we could find suitable patterns?

Don't know for sure, but you may want to get a catalogue from PointNorth

[JakeR]

Kimboko made quite an impressive overcoat that he brought to Ashdown, PM him and ask for the pattern.
Are Swanni's waterproof?

[leon-1]

Kimboko made quite an impressive overcoat that he brought to Ashdown, PM him and ask for the pattern.
Are Swanni's waterproof?

Not waterproof, but due to the density and thickness of them they will keep showers at bay, but don't think they will hold of a downpour, even a short one :-)

[JakeR]

Cheers Leon, i reckon im gonna do a bit of searching!

[leon-1]

Jake this is what they have to say about Swanndri on thier site in "THE HISTORY OF SWANNDRI" :wink:

[bambodoggy]

There's a pattern for a good blanket coat in Wildwood Wisdom by Ellsworth Jaeger and it's a cracking book for other Bushcrafty ideas for things to make...from clothing to canoes...sleds to camp furniture...

Available, as always, from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...346564-5079800

You can get grade one Ex-Army blankets quite cheap and as mentioned below it may be worth doubling them up in places...or even everywhere. All the Army blankets I've ever seen where also White (if a little off white) but I think you can get them in grey too..... could always dye the white ones with nettle dye...that would look the bizz!

Good luck Mate.... when you're done will you pop a few pics up so we can all see?

[leon-1]

All the Army blankets I've ever seen where also White (if a little off white) but I think you can get them in grey too..... could always dye the white ones with nettle dye...that would look the bizz!

Good luck Mate.... when you're done will you pop a few pics up so we can all see?

There are three major colours, white, grey and brown and most of them have a stripe or three running down the center whcih can be red or black (on some of the white ones I had been issued with over the years it was more of a dark blue).

Yep and Wildwood Wisdom is one of my favourites :biggthump

[JakeR]

Cheers Leon :biggthump

[Ranger Bob]

I was considering making a shirt from blanket too! I'm currently finishing a Blanket coat (Capote) and have managed to get it out of just one blanket!.I was a bit concerned about the thickness, but once it was all stitched up, it really feels like a solid garment.
I got brand new army blankets from here: http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/is...opscr1475.html
However these are only 50% wool.
Pure wool blankets are availible here: http://www.the-outdoor.co.uk/ishop/853/shopscr179.html
...cheaper too! Hope this helps!

[rowen]

This may be of use to you, the page tells you how to make a Hudson Bay Capote in three to five hours -

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/winter/gear/capote.htm

Good luck

[george]

hootchi

I made several pairs of mitts from an old woolen blanket a couple of years ago. I hot washed the blanket and tumbled it dry 2 or 3 times first to try to get the wool to felt up. Worked very well and the wool felt a lot denser and warmer once I'd done it.

I'd suggest that you do that to your blanket too before turning it in to a shirt.

george

[Toddy]

Hi,
I started writing out the following instructions for folks to cut out their own, but it's becoming a geometry lesson, soooo.... if you measure up as below, send me the numbers in an e-mail, I'll work out the cutting sizes and photo it with my digital camera and send the instructions for you to print off. (Well, I'll get one of my 'technical reference manuals, to do it for me :wink: )

I'm *not* offering to sew for anyone....I've already got 79 garments to make and there's no way I need any more work. Besides, a lot of it's in the barter system or the 'good things network'.

If you make an underkirtle of linen too, you will have the ideal layer system.

Toddy (who's frantically sewing a pair of bodies to wear at Stirling Castle tomorrow and who desperately wishes she could just go for a walk in the woods this afternoon instead)



Making your own swanni style shirt is no problem, basic sewing skills will be fine, finishing edges and strengthening wear points is simply practical. The pattern is basically blocks, and trims and pockets are optional. The ideal stuff is the wool melton that school blazers (the sort of 'felty' ones) are made from. (Fabric discounters sell this for between £3 and £5 per metre) If you wash it cold, it won't shrink, and if you use lots of fabric conditioner you can greatly improve the shower proofing too. The other fabric that's used a lot here is Harris Tweed, which can be bought for £7 a metre in Lewis.
The basic pattern is as for a Viking or medieval kirtle without flared gores but with underarm gussets. 2 metres or one wool blanket is usually ample fabric.
I've made about 50 of these things and once they're on, they've just about to crawl off to get the guys to change out of them. Everyone from the Galgael boat crew to the local poachers wear them.


Toddy






Measurements......write out the following list :-)

Around head at widest part:-
Across shoulders:-
Back neck:-
Around neck:-
Shoulder to neck:-
Chest:-
Waist:-
Hips:-
Back neck to hem:-
Underarm to hem:-
Shoulder to wrist:-
Wrist:-
Fist:-
Elbow:-
Upper arm:-
Arm hole:-
Dip from back neck to front:-


Measuring Instructions

*Across back shoulders, from point to point, *usually* between 18 and 21", but I have made one at 29" (the re-enactor had a 79" waist, *big* man)
this gives the width that must be cut out for the back and front panels. I generally add on 1" for seams, sooo, if you measure 19" cut out at 20".
The seams allowance is 1/2".

*Measure around your head (you have to get the shirt on!) and a comfortable back neck from where the shoulder line will lie on one side to the other, usually between 7" and 8 +1/2".

*Shoulder to neck, measure from the side neck point to the outside edge of your shoulder. This gives the slope of the cut to make the shoulders fit properly.

*Measure from the same point on your neck to where you want the hem to be, add on 1/2 " for shoulder seam and 2" for hem.
This will give you a measurement for back and front pieces, something like 20" x 43".

*Chest, waist and hips....pick the biggest one and go with this as the measurement that all the body pieces fitted together have to cover comfortably. Most men wear their belts low, so measure around your belted trousers for your waist, not the skinny bit just below your ribs :-)

*Shoulder to wrist, this ought to be to just on the line of the first of the bones that define 'thumb' at the base of your wrist, remember wool will crease to comfort fit with wear, and sleeves may ride up a little bit in firmer fabrics. It's also a damn sight easier to cut off too much than add on extra.

*Wrist, not as tight as your watch strap, but the comfortable, movement allowing width, that won't flap about. The fist measurement matters because this is the widest your hand is likely to ever be, trying to get into the cuff. If you want an openable cuff this is the widest measurement that it needs to spread, if you like to roll-up your cuffs you will need to adjust the split that you leave at the wrist.

*Armhole...the rule is, "Sword, shield, rifle, rope or oar" Make a loop in an inch tape about 28". Get someone to hold this at your shoulder with your armhole through it.
Now move your shoulder and arm as though to Wield a sword, Raise a shield, Fire a rifle, Heave a rope, Pull an oar. (I suppose I ought to add 'work a fire bow' for bushcrafters here!) If the loop girds or binds your arm movement anywhere during these movements, it's too tight, slacken off an inch and try again until the tape is the right length. This measurement, plus 1" (1/2" each side for seams) is the number you need for the armhole.
Women and very slender men usually have a smaller than 28" measurement, but it's a good starting point, either way.

*Dip from front to back....you need more room at the front neck than at the back, and the neckline sits lower here too. Usual dip is between 2 and 3+1/2"

*Upper arm and elbow measurements; these make sure that there's enough room in a tapered sleeve for movement, under clothes, and to trap warm air.



Cutting list,
Back panel
Front panel,
2 sleeves,
2 underarm gores,
4 side gores,
collar if desired,
pocket pieces,
Hem gores if you don't want a split side seam,


Sewing order for those not used to the pieces.
((If you are experienced I suggest that the sleeves are sewn to the side gores and the underarm gores fitted in. Then the completed sides are sewn onto the 'tabard' and the underarm completed.))

Shoulder seams

Sleeves to shoulders

Side gores

Wrist to underarm gore

Hem to underarm gore (split or gores allowed for)

Fit underarm gores

Neckline

Cuffs

Hems

Pockets

Tabs and straps, buttons ......


Cheers,

Toddy

[greg2935]

Just a suggestion: you could get an old oversize shirt from a charity shop, unpick the sewing and use that as a pattern.

Greg

[jamesdevine]

Tons of info there and a great offer cheers.

It would be good if anyone does make on they take a few pics of the process and do a quick tutorial. I'm to sort so melton and some sewing skills.

James

[bambodoggy]

This may be of use to you, the page tells you how to make a Hudson Bay Capote in three to five hours -

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/winter/gear/capote.htm

Good luck

Hey Rowen, fantastic link Mate....there's heaps to make on there. I'm really bad with sowing so I'm not planning to try any of that but I do fancy making a pair of snow shoes....

Nice one buddy!!!

[hootchi]

WOW Thanks Guys

I never expected all this help!! I need to take some time and digest it all. :super:

[Furface]

I'd just like to re-itterate Hootchi's sentiments. I've not long been on this forem and still a bit uncertain 'bout how thing work, but I can't get over what a great bunch of people are in this community.

You guys rock :super: :super: :super:

[jdlenton]

test

[hootchi]

I found a bit of info on using nettles to dye a light blanket. Apparantly it is a nice shade of green and doesn't need fixing. :super:

[Fenlander]

Hello all. :wink:

Having been totally inspired by Mark's moccasins I was wondering if I could make a crude bushshirt, kinda like the swanndri ! :?:

I was thinking about using an army surplus blanket. Are they made of pure wool and how thick are they? Thick enough?

I doubt very much that the quality will be anything like a Swanndri especially with my sewing skills, but it would be a rustle free, spark proof and hopefully warm garment that I would not care about ruining. The problem with me is that I am a bit thin so I need a large size for the length but not that wide. I could custom make this one so it's just pukka.

Is this idea out of the question and i'm just being stupid? :?: :rolmao:

Cheers

Hootch :wink:

The link below is for wool material at Pointnorth...£5.95per metre. They recommend it is used for clothing!

http://www.pointnorth.co.uk/shop_pro...?product_id=86

Hope this is useful?

[KIMBOKO]

My capote is still unfinished, I need to dye it but as it cost only £1 at a charity shop and so I don't want to spend £10 on bought dyes. I have experimented with natural dyes- turmeric nettle, walnut but havnt been able to gather enough material as it is winter. Then i want to waterproof it the Horace Kephart lanolin (wool fat) method.
Its was easy to make - basically squares and rectangles and blanket stitch it all together ----the hood is too embarrassing to wear in company --to much like kkk.

[hootchi]

Did you make it with a blanket Nick? I need to do some research into this blanket stitch!! Take it you use some thread a bit thicker that average?

Thanks for all the info guys:super:

[Abbe Osram]

----the hood is too embarrassing to wear in company --to much like kkk.

:rolmao: :rolmao: :rolmao:
you have to show a picture to us mate.

LOL
Abbe

[Gary]

One other thing to consider hootchi is a woollen poncho - simple to make and versatile.

For more Capote info check out the Mountain man web ring this has hundreds of sites, in paricular look up the blanket brigades site.

Good luck and happy sewing.

PS Nick your capotes spot on - I'd leave it white, at least we could see you in the dark!!