trying to stay warm

[VaScout]

I'm very new to all of this... I just attended my first 'voo about 2 weeks ago, and fortunately they had a "modern camping area" and period clothing was optional (although highly encouraged)... While I was there, I was able to purchase and trade for some stuff, and basically outfitted myself from the waist up. I plan to make some moccasins out of one of my old leather welding aprons, and due to my lack of tailoring skills, I will probably have to purchase some pants.

I know I can get away with canvas or linen modern pants since my shirt will cover the pockets and fly, but I only plan to use them until I can afford some proper ones.

I have also made myself a tent, chair, big wooden box to carry stuff in and hide my cooler, as well as some other stuff that I made in my forge (fire set, rifle rest, some S hooks for the fireset and for my candle lantern) I bought the candle lantern at goodwill for $2.50... I made all of the wooden stuff out of some scrap pallets that I had, and all of the forged stuff was made with scrounged scrap steel and iron.  I have plenty of cast iron cookware at home that I can take along.

What I don't have is a coat or blankets.  I have been looking and they are really expensive.  I am a father of 4 and I don't make very much money, so I can't afford the hudson's bay blankets, and even those italian ones are out of my budget until after the first of the year.

I was curious if anybody had made a capote out of the red harbor freight blankets.  I could swing a couple of them if they would work.  I also have a bunch of stuff from my forge that I would like to sell, so I'll need one to lay out as a trade blanket.  I'm getting pretty desperate, 'cause if I don't find something to make a coat out of, I'll probably have to wait 'till spring to go to another event, and I'll miss alot of fun this winter.

Thanks in advance for any advice and information any of you could give me.

Ed

[VaScout]

sorry... another question:

Would it be appropriate for a free trapper in the rocky mountains (1820 or so) to wear a blanket like a match coat with a blanket pin?

I have made some blanket pins for my friends, and I was curious if this would be appropriate as an alternative to a capote for me.

Ed

[William]

Ed, you can find authentic Hudson Bay blankets as well as similar styles on e-bay or Goodwill's auction sight, but always check the shipping cost first.  I am at odds with the Goodwill store in S. Carolina because they not only have a mandatory handling fee but charged me for a more expensive shipping rate but actually sent it by the slowest and least costly way.  However, I have bought some really nice 100% virgin wool blankets on e-bay that Bulldog Lady has made into capote for my father's upcoming birthday.  If you are going to go the e-bay route then keep in mind that some of the authentic Hudson Bay or Early Witney blankets sell for hundreds of dollars so you may have to bid on numerous blankets and hope that they don't go up past what you can afford.  In that respect I have been lucky, or maybe just persistant in that I've been able to but them for under $30 in some cases.  I would not recommend making anything out of the Harbor Freight blankets as they use reprocessed wool as opposed to virgin wool, so they are very scratchy and don't hold up very well.  Check out the posts on making capote and the links showing plans and materials here on TMC.

[VaScout]

I've been watching ebay, and going to my local thrift stores every couple of days. No luck on anything I can afford yet.

I was assuming that the harbor freight blankets would be low quality, but was just wondering if I could make something passable to help me get through this winter.  I don't mind scratchy (I've always been fine with scratchy wool LOL) but I don't want to make something that won't fit in at the events.

Do you think I could make something temporary out of the harbor freight blankets that would just fit in and allow me to attend some events over the winter.  Next year, I'll have the money in the budget for a nicer blanket and capote, but if I did it this year, my kids would have to get coal for christmas LOL... and that's only 'cause I have coal for my forge already hehe.

I just need to be warm and somewhat fit in (like any pilgrim fits in 

Ed

[old salt]

Ed

My first Capote was made from an old Navy medical blanket, that I wore for a few years. You can also wear long underware, as they would not be seen.
I would check with folks putting on the events to see what is acceptable with them. You will find that most of the events will let you get by with not having all things PC, especially if they know that you are just getting started and are trying to become PC.
There have been times that I have pulled things out of the closet and loaned to, sold to or even given a new person.
You will find that most buckshiners will be gad to help you become PC
Old Salt

[VaScout]

well... now I feel like an idiot!

I never even thought about long johns.  I could definitely wear some of them.

I have read the rules for the events that I've found for this winter... they all seem fairly strict.  The club that hosted the event that I went to a couple of weeks ago was very "beginner friendly".  They aren't having another event 'till February, but I'll certainly be there.  I really liked that club, and everybody I met was great and very helpful.

As for sleeping, I can close the door on my homemade tent to hide my sleeping bag, but I'm still gonna need a blanket to trade on.

I think with some long johns and a blanket to wear like a match coat (if that's appropriate) I could weather any cold that my area could throw at me... I'm pretty good at beating the cold here, cause I've been teaching winter survival classes for quite a while.  I just want to do it in a way that doesn't look too out of place at the 'voos

Ed

[Rev]

I've been watching ebay, and going to my local thrift stores every couple of days. No luck on anything I can afford yet.

I was assuming that the harbor freight blankets would be low quality, but was just wondering if I could make something passable to help me get through this winter.  I don't mind scratchy (I've always been fine with scratchy wool LOL) but I don't want to make something that won't fit in at the events.

Do you think I could make something temporary out of the harbor freight blankets that would just fit in and allow me to attend some events over the winter.  Next year, I'll have the money in the budget for a nicer blanket and capote, but if I did it this year, my kids would have to get coal for christmas LOL... and that's only 'cause I have coal for my forge already hehe.

I just need to be warm and somewhat fit in (like any pilgrim fits in 

Ed

The Harbor Freight blankets would certainly do to sleep under & put out as a trade blanket, as well as cover anything non PC you might need covered...

[VaScout]

Ok... well I guess I'll order a couple of them.  Am I right to assume that the red ones may be more appropriate than the grey?  I think the red ones are slightly heavier than the grey ones that they sell.

Anybody have any idea about the matchcoat with a blanket pin?  I would love to have a capote, but a quality blanket just isn't in the budget right now.  I can't seem to find any references to wearing unaltered blankets during the rocky mountain fur trade.  Is it something that's done at rendezvous?

Ed

[Rev]

Ok... well I guess I'll order a couple of them.  Am I right to assume that the red ones may be more appropriate than the grey?  I think the red ones are slightly heavier than the grey ones that they sell.

Anybody have any idea about the matchcoat with a blanket pin?  I would love to have a capote, but a quality blanket just isn't in the budget right now.  I can't seem to find any references to wearing unaltered blankets during the rocky mountain fur trade.  Is it something that's done at rendezvous?

Ed

Might be even more correct. After all, you need a blanket. A capote is just one more thing to carry...

[William]

Ok... well I guess I'll order a couple of them.  Am I right to assume that the red ones may be more appropriate than the grey?  I think the red ones are slightly heavier than the grey ones that they sell.

Anybody have any idea about the matchcoat with a blanket pin?  I would love to have a capote, but a quality blanket just isn't in the budget right now.  I can't seem to find any references to wearing unaltered blankets during the rocky mountain fur trade.  Is it something that's done at rendezvous?

Ed

I think a match coat is acceptable, however, since I have been lucky enough to find wool blankets at reasonable prices and have what I need for making a capote for myself, I would be willing to send one to you on a payment plan for the amount I paid.  You will need to make sure that you are comfortable cutting up a blanket if sewing a capote though.  Please PM me if interested.

[beowulf]

check for foreign made military blankets , the british , and dutch blankets are pretty decent , thicker than american military blankets and contain more wool ! you can sometimes get them as low as $10 to $20 dollars ! I`ve made a couple of capotes and a great coat out of them ! stay away from us military blankets , they tend to be thin , itchy , and not exactly the warmest !

[Watauga]

I got a Gray wool German Surplus blanket from Crazy Crow.
Its a nice blanket except that on 1 side it has N V A in big letters stamped on it.
What is the N V A all about?
My buddy's tease me and say its for the  North Vietnam Army.
Did East Germany supply blankets to North Vietnam?

[old salt]

If you can find a military medical blanket, they are usually heaver and softer that the standard issue blanket and most that I have seen are off white to cream colored

[VaScout]

Ok... well I guess I'll order a couple of them.  Am I right to assume that the red ones may be more appropriate than the grey?  I think the red ones are slightly heavier than the grey ones that they sell.

Anybody have any idea about the matchcoat with a blanket pin?  I would love to have a capote, but a quality blanket just isn't in the budget right now.  I can't seem to find any references to wearing unaltered blankets during the rocky mountain fur trade.  Is it something that's done at rendezvous?

Ed

I think a match coat is acceptable, however, since I have been lucky enough to find wool blankets at reasonable prices and have what I need for making a capote for myself, I would be willing to send one to you on a payment plan for the amount I paid.  You will need to make sure that you are comfortable cutting up a blanket if sewing a capote though.  Please PM me if interested.

I replied to your pm... that's very generous of you!!!

Sorry it took so long, but I'm having some trouble with the forum tonight.

Ed

[VaScout]

what I plan to do is make a mock-up with an old bed sheet... then I'll have my wife help me with laying it out just right on the blanket before I cut... I'm not going to say that the idea doesn't make me a little nervous, but I think that if I do it with old bedsheets first, I'll be more comfortable with cutting the blanket.

Ed