Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Shelter Half Material

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Shelter Half Material

    I would like to make my own shelter half. Does anybody know of a vendor that is selling the correct cloth?
    Eric Hageman

  • #2
    Re: Shelter Half Material

    Go to JoAnns Fabric and get the 40" Cotton Drill...it's 7-8oz and very correct (not every SH had the Blue line drill, FWIW). May I also suggest investing in Gaedes book.
    Your Humble Servant,
    Sean R. Otis
    124th NYSV Co. A "Orange Blossoms"
    MIDDLESEX LODGE F. & A.M.

    In Memorium: Harvey Otis, Jr. — 156th NYSV Co. A .
    Killed in action, September 19, 1864,
    at Winchester, VA. Aged 26 years.

    Member of the "Hard Sauce" Mess

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Shelter Half Material

      The man from New Jersey who shall not be named is selling the right stuff as well.

      Will MacDonald

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Shelter Half Material

        You can make a shelter tent from linen, drill, or duck. Must fabric stores will have unbleached cotton drill - the trick is finding some without wide ribbed and finged selvedges. I've used unissued military mattress covers, they had very narrow selvedges. Needle & Thread in Gettysburg has blue-line duck for a late war one. For a nice early war linen one, I'd try an 18th century dealer like Burnley & Trowbridge Co. And the closest match I've found to the original rebel shelter tent, made of coarse and cheap looking duck, was from a painters dropcloth I bought at a hardware store. Just depends on WHICH shelter tent you wish to make!
        David Stone

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Shelter Half Material

          I've been using JoAnn's cotton drill for the ones I've made. Works well all in all and, as already stated, is a good weight. If you can find a palce selling cotton drill with a better selvedge and the correct weight, go for it. Definitely get Gaedes and decide on WHICH tent as Mr. Stone pointed out.

          I know shelter halves have been dicussed out the wazoo on here. Try a search for more info, most likely gathered neatly in one or two old threads.

          Best,
          [SIZE="3"][FONT="Century Gothic"]Matt Mickletz[/FONT][/SIZE]

          [SIZE=4][SIZE=3][/SIZE][FONT=Garamond][COLOR="#800000"][/COLOR][I]Liberty Rifles[/I][/FONT][/SIZE]

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Shelter Half Material

            Ww had blue line-but with all the construction and time period issues I would nail down a "type" of shelter half then move on to material
            Philip Guenther
            Columbia Rifles
            Living History Guild

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Shelter Half Material

              Thanks for the info. It has been helpful.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Shelter Half Material

                Eric,

                I have the correct 8 oz drill if you would like to purchase a few yards. It is 40" wide and for a late war you will need to cut it down to 33.5". It is a very tight weave and it keeps me dry when it is raining. It is the same that the New Jersey vendor was selling and also what Chris Sullivan sells. I have a bolt but I can let enough go for you to make your tent. I can also send you the directions and enough bone buttons. I will charge you my actual cost for the material and buttons. Just PM me if you are interested.

                Regards,

                Claude Sinclair
                Claude Sinclair
                Palmetto Battalion

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Shelter Half Material

                  The guy in NJ has the 8 oz. drill with the correct slevedge on it, so instead of making 4 hems you can make 2 and let the slevedge serve as the other 2. That was fairly common on originals to save time on sewing.
                  Julian New
                  26 NCT
                  Rumpus Regulators Mess
                  "I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers." -William Tecumseh Sherman

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Shelter Half Material

                    Julian,

                    The 8 oz. material being sold by that vendor is a plain woven cotton duck, not drill. I believe it's mislabeled on his site as the widely available twill woven cotton drill is also sold there. Cotton drill also has a selvedge. If someone cuts a 3-piece shelter half from drill then there will still be only two edges to hem if the selvedges are used in cutting.
                    Brian White
                    [URL="http://wwandcompany.com"]Wambaugh, White, & Co.[/URL]
                    [URL="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wambaugh-White-Company/114587141930517"]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wambaugh-White-Company/114587141930517[/URL]
                    [email]brian@wwandcompany.com[/email]

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Shelter Half Material

                      Thanks Brian! It is a good thing I didn't order the fabric for mine from him. What you said about the selvedge is was trying to say.
                      Julian New
                      26 NCT
                      Rumpus Regulators Mess
                      "I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers." -William Tecumseh Sherman

                      Comment

                      Working...
                      X