Wool Blanket Shirt

[tombear]

Well, it's finished, less dying a decent colour, the neck opening ended up too small to merit fitting any sort of closure so I used some heavy cotton 2 inch tape to bind it (and put on the hem).

Because of the huge belly it looks crap on me but the square cut design of most blanket shirts would fit fine on most people. It is naturally very warm.

It's certainly given me some good practice in working with heavy wool.

Cheers,

Tom

Anybody knowledgable about dying yellow wool dark natural green?

 

[Firebringer]

Great series of posts there Tom for what it's worth I think the colour actually looks okay as is

 

[tombear]

Cheers! The wife wanted to put black splodges on it as she says (particularly before the arms went on) as I look just like Fred Flintstone in it...

With a sewing machine I bet they take under a hour to make from start to finish.

As well as a exercise in recreating a historical garment I'll be using it as a semi disposable Swanni arond the fire. It's as shrunk as it is going to get so it can be safely chucked into the washer and for a outlay of £1 and a few bits I had laying around its no biggy if it gets totalled. I've kept the left overs for patching anyway.

ATB

Tom

 

[Chris the Cat]

Very well done! You have given me hope that even I could manage one!
Chris.

 

[tombear]

Cheers Chris!
they are dead easy and it only took me so long as I (a) went all anal retentive, doing very small hand saddle stitches and (b) it is huuuuuuge, XXXL at least. You could easily get away with much bigger stitches done with very thick thread. A whip stitch http://www.holiday-crafts-and-creations.com/whip-stitch.html would prevent the edges fraying rather than adding a seperate line of blanket stitches.

To all,

Now it's done can anyone advise on how to dye it a good strong green idealy to a colour that looks like a natural dye. If it wasn't already factory dyed yellow I'd have looked into dyeing it with a natural dye but since its been done that yellow already...

Would a blue do it or does it need to be a green with a larger blue element that usual to allow for the yellow starting point?

Thanks!

Tom

 

[John Fenna]

Dylon cold dye with a load of vinager as a fixative should work well.
Wash your garment first and tripple rinse to get rid of dirt, oils and the detergent....
I dye my big stuff in my canoe barrel....
As to colour....difficult to judge realythough a bluey green should give a "Woodland" green. When I dyed a Day Glo Orange merino wool blanket black dye turned it Russet.
Remember that you can always redye something to tweek the colour, so if your bluey green dye is not strong enough you can then redye with a weak blue, ir if it is too blue, with week yellow etc etc until you have a decent colour.
Nice work though mate - I machine sew all mine

 

[Magentus]

Nice work! Glad I wasn't drinking my coffee when I read your Fred Flinstone comment!

I think I'd like to see a pic of you wearing it a la Fred.

Magentus

 

[topknot]

Hi, That looks very nice work.
Cheers Topknot.

 

[QDanT]

Cheers! The wife wanted to put black splodges on it as she says (particularly before the arms went on) as I look just like Fred Flintstone in it...
ATB
Tom

cheers Danny

 

[Kerne]

Thanks for this - it's given me encouragement to get on with my own DIY Swanni. Love to see a pic of it dyed and in action.

 

[Firebringer]

http://www.youtube.com/user/wildernessoutfitters

Under the 'Recent Activity' on the page he has a interesting video that shows the partial manufacture of a wool blanket shirt. Second part still to come.

In passing his channel is well worth a look for anyone not familiar him. He has I understand picked up a contract with Discovery to do a Survival Series.

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Looks very good to me

 

[libero95]

Wilderness outfitters has a video on it on you tube.

 

[tombear]

I've still not dyed it. I'll get someone to do a pic of it on me some time, bellowsed up over a belt. The shoulders fit awfully but as a functional garment it works fine.

I've not worn it in the rain yet, I may proof it once it is the right colour and I have scored some of the lanolising wash.

ATB

Tom

 

[tombear]

Shopping for the kids presents I was in Hobbycraft today and got some Ocean blue Dylon to dye it (hopefully) green and some dark green to dye it again if it comes out too light.

Wish me luck!

ATB

Tom

 

[tombear]

Well, despite my careful washing and then dying (used both packets at once as there wasn't enough water to cover it with the amount used with one packet) itys has come out with a darker blotch on one shoulder and a bit light over all. When I get the internet link back at home I will stick up a pic of it. I left it for a bit longer than the instructions said but kept stirring (OK 50% extra).

It's still usable but in future I think I will make stuff from pre dyed material rather than do it myself. It cost 5 quid to dye a shirt that cost £! for materials. Still, all good experiance!

ATB

Tom

 

[tombear]

Back on line at home so heres the pics of the finished blanket shirt, not so blotchy under the flash. Still looks like poo as the square cut design isn't flattering for huge gut!.

Its very warm and suprisingly comfortable, not as itch as I'd thought it would be!

ATB

Tom