Plaid blanket

[Spinster]

Re: Plaid blanket

Special runs of civilian blankets can be commissioned with Family Heirloom weavers. What is seen on their website is their modern decorator line, with a cotton warp and acrilyic weft, making them washable when used in modern household use


Special runs of Family Heirloom Weavers coverlets can be commissioned. The problem is volume. If going with a current pattern run already threaded on the looms, that helps, but still a large number of the same color must be run.

Getting fellers to monetarily committ beforehand is nearly impossible. The last feller who did buy a run of wool ones to resell ended up eating them.


For a civilian blanket, bought new on the current market, the South Union Mills effort on Shaker Blankets is the best available.


Realize too that folks in this market are spoiled as to the price point. A hundred dollars is not a lot to pay for small run custom commissioned pieces. Yet fellers choke on that price point like it a was a dose of cod liver oil.

Good textiles cost---they are as exacting in research and reproduction as a well dine weapon. Absolutely the best blanket I own, an 18th century repro, was purchased severRal years ago at $400. As I've made blanketing myself on home looms, I know the time involved in unique pattern runs. I sure would not do one to sell at that price. I'd have too much time in it.

[RNMCSA]

Re: Plaid blanket

Thank you Mrs Lawson that at least helps clear up the FHW question I had. I feel you are rite about a good blanket being as important as a good musket. Maybe its just me, but now I realy would like to know what people are doing. My point is its fine for U.S. troops to have all U.S. blankets, but that pig just dont shine for southern troops even with battlefield pick ups. Now granted there are some civilian blankets available, then I keep hearing what would be common to your unit in a place in time. So there must be some variation out there. I dont mind spending the $100 or so when I do decide on one, Im just trying to figure what context folks are using when they say would it be proper for your impression. I have read and searched and the referances I have found to blankets seems to lend to a huge varity of blankets in use on both sides throughout the war. So would it not be PEC to use any blanket of proper construction and materials? Maybe Im over thinking this detail of my kit but I want to get it rite. Not acceptible to some conceved standard of what is approved for use.

[Mutt]

Re: Plaid blanket

For what it's worth, a link to an interesting image showing a soldier and a "knitted stole". Pretty cool. http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource...37040/?co=lilj

[4VADRUMMER]

Re: Plaid blanket

Roy, if you use this phrase in mind throughout life it will pay dividends.... My dad actually taught it to me and it can be a hard lesson learned but in the end you ALWAYS pay for what you get, so here you go....


"The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot ... it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better."
John Ruskin, Author, 1819-1900

Think about it!

So Roy, save your money an buy a good blanket from one of the approved vendors. I don't think any research supports the use of the blanket you have. It is what it is pard. You can't get blood from a turnip! I think we've all been there a time or two wanting something to fit where it shouldn't. Just my .2 cents.

[Mutt]

Re: Plaid blanket

Welp, for what it's worth again, Eric, it's a fella named Ryan's blanket in question - IE he who started this thread. Haven't seen him reply in a while. Just sayin ;)

Confusion abounds

[RNMCSA]

Re: Plaid blanket

Eric,
I agree which is why after first finding this forum and getting a quick education by some of you about a Kepi I have; I dove into the research articles on here, bought a lot of books and began educating myself. As Mutt pointed out it is not my blanket in question (I do not own one yet). My point was that it seems to me that the blanket issue is an area where we could improve. (IMHO) There are only a few vendors that offer correct blankets. Mrs Lawson explained that mystery to me. I figured blanket making was not easy but did not truly understand what all was involved or the cost. Long story short, I thought since this is the AC then there must be some good sources out there others may know about to get a quality period correct blanket. My reasoning being that it just would not be very authentic for everyone to have to have the same three or four styles of blanket. I appreciate all the advice I recieve on here and take it to heart, which is why I have bought all my gear from approved vendors or independants that are making quality gear that I learnt about through recommendations. My blanket research has lead me to the belief that ones used by the soldier were varied in form and desighn (especially by southern trrops). I hope this clears up some my intent in replying to and continuing this post.

[4VADRUMMER]

Re: Plaid blanket

Got it Mutt! I was replying to Roy in case you didn't read my entire post.... Just saying.....and I noticed it was Ryan who originally posted this thread, that has grown way too big, after I posted. Anyway, I was just giving some advise.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Plaid blanket

Long story short, I thought since this is the AC then there must be some good sources out there others may know about to get a quality period correct blanket. My reasoning being that it just would not be very authentic for everyone to have to have the same three or four styles of blanket.

Yes and no. In some scenarios, you really want guys to have one or two styles of blanket. In others, it is more appropriate to have a lot more variety.

There ARE more than three or four sources, but if you're looking to get a blanket "on the cheap", then I would recommend sticking with some of the known vendors, or scouring the used market.

One of the best, but most rarely-seen CS blankets in the hobby is ingrain carpet. So, if you want to "stand out", but be correct (depending upon the scenario for the event-in-question), make the inve$tment in a piece of carpet (http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com...web?pageid=513).

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Plaid blanket

Hallo!

And for the civilian hand-woven type blankets, look to the 18th century community- especially the more authentic so-called "longhunter" folks.

One of the finest was C. J. Wilde. My first blanket from her she wove from her black sheep named Zelda. My "winter blanket" from her was specially woven and quadrupled fulled so as to be functional in Minus Zero Great Lakes weather where the only shelter is a blanket.
Unfortunately, the weaving destroyed her hands and she had to quit.

Rob Stone blankets are said to be nearly as good, but I have never owned or used on.

They are "out there," especially as the longhunter/trekking community ages.

Curt

[Spinster]

Re: Plaid blanket

There's my point Curt.

The secondary used market in CJ Wilde handwoven 18th century household civilian blankets is still more than twice the price, going on three times of the hundred dollar blankies that are common in the CW market.

And fellers still choke at a hundred dollar blanket.

They'll choke even more if they price out reproduction ingrain carpeting.


One good choice for a bit of variety--the lined blanket, made of whatever big length of jean you can lay hands on, and some cotton drill. The directions pop up with the search engine.
After that it's just sewing. Still, it's not as versitile as a good Woodburn blanket.

[poilu1917]

Re: Plaid blanket

John,
I was actually considering getting a ingrain carpet from FHW for my confederate impression, but question is how many yards and how were they sewn together? Yeah, basic questions I know but if I am going to do it, I would prefere to do it right.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Plaid blanket

Hallo!

When I bought my Zelda era blanket from C.J. Wilde, IIRC, she wove at a charge of 3.5 cents a square inch. Later it was 4.5.

:)

Curt

[Spinster]

Re: Plaid blanket

Jon

The ingrain blankets during the period were made by pulling up panels from household floors. There are a number of appeals in newspapers for such. This means individuals are making out of carpeting at hand, with a good deal of variance.

At minimum, you want two panels, each at least 6 feet long. Having more would be nice, to tuck under your feet. A third panel would make it awfully heavy to march with.

You may or may not match the patterns at the seam line, it depends on what you have. But, lay the long selvedge edges side by side, butted together, not overlapped. Using a stout thread, waxed, and a carpet needle if you have one, stitch in a spiral, making sure the seam does not pucker. Hem the ends by turning under and then turning again so there is no raw edge. A steam iron is helpful at this stage.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Plaid blanket

...Colored blankets are best, and if lined with brown drilling the warmth and durability are doubled, while the protection against dampness from lying on the ground is almost complete.
Never lie or sit down on the grass or bare earth for a moment; rather use your hat — a handkerchief, even, is a great protection. The warmer you are the greater need for this protection, as a damp vapor is immediately generated, to be absorbed by the clothing, and to cool you off too rapidly.
....

Of course...it dependant on time/place/portrayal - it may also be appropriate to just dispense with the use of blankets altogether.

One might also consider searching the word "Comfort" within period texts...appears to be not dissimilar from the concept of our modern "Comforters"...

Paul B.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Plaid blanket

First, is it a natural or modern dye?

What does this matter? Seriously - what bearing does this have on whether it's appropriate or not? Folks continue to argue natural vs. modern dye, but fundamentally fail to understand that chemically compounded dyes had been in use on a commercial production level for some 20 yrs. I don't mean to say that small operations/ local production or domestic treatments didn't emplore the use of naturally derived dyes, but to ask whether the blanket uses natural vs. modern dyes doesn't not support the resolution to the question.

Second, what's your impression? In my second question the point is how would a soldier in your primary impression have received such a blanket. Not likely an issue item. Then you're down that slippery slope of "sent from home." If it was sent from home, how did it get there in the first place? If it's a Tennessee impression, you've got ever increasing swaths of the state which are behind Federal lines. This means that the odds of something like this being found at home are small and sent from home even smaller.

Seemingly sound advice, stick with the 'issued' impression first - effectively "if it doesn't meet official prescription - run". While we all too often see where poor Billy or poor Johnny attempts to rationalize all the oddities of their kit, by having things sent from home - the real honest to God's truth, is folks used whatever means they had available to be comfortable...often times that meant sending requests home, or liberating desired items from captives, the dead, and civilians. Should the use of a civilian blanket be plausible if you're going to use it...sure, but the advice of not using it may just as likely be equally as great a sin to recommend such.

It's easier to stick with a recognized blanket along the "common, everyday, plain" school of reenacting. Stands out less that way.

Again...not untrue, but what I think this discussion enters into later is that this particular pattern may not have existed...that would seem to indicate this particular 'blanket' as not being correct.

However in the absentia of documentation, are you prepared to say that checked/plaid/striped patterns...etc. as evidenced by some non-approved AC vendors are not "common, everyday, plain"? Should it be the goal not to stand out, when we know that some did?



Paul B.