warm garb

[isabelladangelo]

You don't need a sewing machine (they weren't invented until the 1850's anyway) - fleece doesn't unravel like most other fibers.   Wool blankets won't either for the most part.  (The army wool ones don't!)  It's really just cutting out either a big circle or two wide trapezoids, sewing up the back seam, and adding two squares for a hood.  Any basic sewing kit should do decently well. 

[gem]

And if you're really short on time, you don't even need to sew anything!  One of my warmest wraps is a ruana I made from grey sweatshirt fleece that looks like wool (! I still don't know how they managed that!) and it is literally two yards of fabric straight off the bolt, with rounded corners and a slit up from one short end to the middle. Basically, like this. The unslit end hangs down your back, and then you wrap the narrower panels around you howeverwhichway you want.

You could easily do the same thing with an old army blanket. It will take you longer to get the army blanket than it will to make.

[ladybriony]

Hmm.... what about microsuede? Is that warm?

[isabelladangelo]

No.  Stay away from every single man made fiber ever except for fleece.  Basically, most man made fibers are either a) extremely flammable and you'll become your own sparkler the second someone accidentally drops a cigarette near you or b) are basically like wearing a plastic bag.  You will boil and not be able to breath at all if it gets too warm or you will freeze in the cold. You want wool, if you can find it (army blankets!  Seriously!  They are cheap!).  Second best is fleece but it really is second best since it is a man made fiber.   

[ladybriony]

Got it.  Would I just find army blankets at an army/navy store?

[isabelladangelo]

You should be able to find them there.  Also check out thrift stores and craigslist - although a lot of people are wary of craigslist, I have yet to encounter anything too suspicious.  Instead, I've met some very lovely people.  But craigslist is really only good if you want to buy in bulk - it's the costco of the internet ads/auction sites.

[ladybriony]

Isabella-

Thanks so much for the tip about army blankets!  I bought two wool blankets from the army surplus store yesterday for $40 and a friend of mine did the sewing with her sewing machine!  It was super easy and I now I have a super warm cape for WAY less than they were going for online!  I'll show y'all a picture once I'm 100% done!

[isabelladangelo]

Yay!  I'm so glad.   And, because it is an army blanket, your cape will last forever.

[Crimson]

Lady Briony, look for me, I'll be in pirate garb.  If you are camping let me know, there is a toast friday night.  I'll send you an invite.

[LadyStitch]

When the weather is cold I live by my flannel bloomers, wool stockings, a flannel partlet, a snood/biggin/head covering under my hat.  I also have a circle capelt.  It is made with a hidden layer of fleece in it.  Yes it is heavy but when it came to keeping damp air out, it works wonders.

[ladybriony]

Hello all!  Thank you so much for the advice on keeping warm at Sherwood!  It was in the 40s pretty much all day, so I wore leggings under my skirt and the wool cloak I made out of army blankets and stayed warm all day! That was a great tip!  Here is a picture! 



LB

[Crimson]

Very nice!  The cloak looks great!

[isabelladangelo]

The cloak looks great!   Glad you were able to stay warm.   

[DonaCatalina]

Looks great. Glad it worked so well to keep you warm.