Civilian Saddle Blanket

[Mark Choate]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Paul,

Not to rain on anyone's parade, this is at least the 5th time I have heard someone state something to this effect. Every single one, when learning of the demands of the weave and the use of the loom and equipment necessary to make them accurately have decided to "reconsider" their plan. It is grueling and there is so much prep to the moss itself to soak it and remove the outer husk and then prepare the filament, etc. There are precious few samples that survive of these blankets and any products that are to be used, must be made according to that type of weave and how they are made.

However, if she wants to get into it to a greater degree, I suggest that she contact Ms. Dawn, Karl Pepper or even Ken Knopp, in order to find out what really is involved.

I can help with some contact info if still interested.

regards,
Mark

[Old-South]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

If there is a decision to try the moss blankets, let me know. I can bring as much moss as I can carry to Shiloh if need be.
Mark is right. The process is very very time consuming. I hope someone can fill the void.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Mrs. Paul here.

I've read up on the retting process from Ken's article. It actually doesn't sound any more involved than taking a raw sheep fleece and prepping it for spinning/weaving.

Every single one, when learning of the demands of the weave and the use of the loom and equipment necessary to make them accurately have decided to "reconsider" their plan. It is grueling and there is so much prep to the moss itself to soak it and remove the outer husk and then prepare the filament, etc.

I would like to try my hand at this. I am already famliar with the process of sheep to shawl using wool. I see the most difficult part of working with the moss is removing the chaff. I have wheels to spin it with and various looms to weave it.

I may not make more than one blanket, but I am determined to make at least one and hopefully a lot more. Mark, if you could send Paul the contacts about this, I'd be appreciative.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

HEY jEFF Thank you for the offer of bringing moss to Shilo, Please do! Cyndi is interested in this project, and who knows where it may lead. I myself have never seen the stuff so my curiosity is aroused too. Thank you plm

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

To echo Mark Choate, the process of retting Spanish Moss to make a product that is weavable is much, much more difficult than any kind of weaving with any other material. First of all, it takes a massive amount (relative) of Spanish Moss to render enough for one saddle blanket. The process is long and laborious, and retting the moss is not anything that you want to do inside. Jeff would need to bring a pick up truck load of Spanish Moss. If you don't have ready access to Spanish Moss (remember that Mrs. Klug lived in Florida where it is readily available), then it is going to be virtually impossible. You probably don't want to take the raw moss into your house, as it often comes with lots of parasites. Not saying you shouldn't attempt it, just managing your expectations based on watching 3 other people try it in the past.

[pirateCSA]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Bill,
Tim at S & S in Gettysburg has some real nice Pat Kline Civilian blankets for sale right now. I believe they are around $100.

Thanks,
Bobby Small

[Chris Fisher]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

I know if someone was to tackle the Spanish moss blankets again I would be very interested in one. I regret not buying one years ago.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Just to add a bit of relative information regarding the moss blankets....one should understand that the hand retting process used in the 19th century was very labor intensive, difficult, dirty and often lengthy work. Retting (rotting off the natural green outer cortext of the moss) in the old method took many months and requiring hot, humid weather. As such, even in the deep south there were seasonal times of year for this work. Later, moss providers used a ginning process much like that used for cotton to make it less laborious and speed the process but it also tended to produce a very fine and clean fiber.
In the beginning of her work Dawn gathered moss from all around her Florida home and experimented with retting. Fortunately, she learned of an old timer in south Louisiana who had some bales of ginned moss in his barn that he had ginned at his family gin before it was shut down way back in 1964. So she traveled to Louisiana and purchased these bales. It was from this old moss which she spun and wove the blankets that ultimately made it into the hobby. I am not sure but, I believe that she never made a blanket or mat from her own retted moss. However, I could be wrong on this. Her son Jason and even Dawn herself frequents this forum from time to time so perhaps they might chime in here and correct me. I am also not sure if she has any of these bales remaining or not. If someone is seriously interested in pursuing this project I would be happy to provide her contact infor.
On a side note, Dawn has told me that the color of the ginned moss and subsequently the finished product varies geographically. Interestingly, that found in Louisiana tends to be a shiney black while that found in Florida tends to be more brown.

For those wanting to know more about Spanish Moss blankets, etc. you can find an overview in my article (first published in 1996) on my web site.

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Mrs Paul here again.
Thanks for the advice and the warnings. I'm not a-skered. Taking raw sheep's wool and turning it into a beautiful, colorful shawl is a lot of dirty work, as is making a 3 deerskin painted & beaded dress. For that matter, starting seeds, planting a garden, keeping it cleaned of weeds and canning the produce is a long drawn out process. I do (or have done) these things.

As Paul mentioned, I am a fiber fiend and engage in the fiber arts every day, be it spinning, dyeing, knitting, scouring/pciking/carding fleeces, weaving, etc.

From what I've read, retting Spanish moss is almost like keeping a wet compost pile. It needs to be wet enough for microbes to do their thing but not too wet to prevent growth of said microbes. It will require wetting, turning, keeping covered to promote the humidity needed. Not much different than my current compost piles.

As for ginning the moss, who says that pasta machines need to be used for just making pasta? I know of fiber artists that have used their pasta machines for ginning cotton, why not give it a try with the moss??

It appears that one of the weaves is what is known as twining. Time consuming because twining is woven by hand and not by a loom, but I am comfortable with twining rugs.

Please, Ken, I would appreciate if you sent Dawn's contact info. You have both Paul's and my email addresses.

Thank you all kindly,
Cyndi

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Cyndi,

I like your grit!! You obviously understand the process. I also know how innovative, skilled and determined Paul is. No doubt he gets that from you!! Email sent!

Ken R Knopp

[Mrs Paul L Muller]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Jeff, Thank you for volunteering to bring Spanish moss to Shiloh. Process of retting it will begin right after Paul returns.

Ken, Paul received your email of the contacts. Thanks so much!

[Old-South]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Cyndi.
Do you still want moss? I'll grab as much as I can. I hope Paul can get it to you!

[Mrs Paul L Muller]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Yes, Jeff. I'll take as much moss as you are willing to gather to give to Paul. The crew that Paul is going to Shiloh with understands my 'fiber fiend-ness'.

I think my biggest difficulty with this project isn't going to be the retting or the spinning or the weaving, but the cost of getting the moss up north to me to work with.

I guess as long as Paul goes to the Southern events and folks bring moss to him (and there is room to carry it back), we'll be all set.

[Old-South]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Mrs. Muller,
I have six 30 gallon trash bags stuffed with moss and packed. Does anyone know how much is needed to make a blanket? Hope this is enough to get something started.
Regards,

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Civilian Saddle Blanket

Thankyou so much for the effort with the moss. I'll bring a larger trailer now. This will be such a big help in starting Cyndi out on the right foot. I'll be asking around for you ...I'll be the CSA yankee on the white horse trying not to step on snakes and in bigfoot poop. plm