I have been gathering thread, all types of needles and elastic. Now the tough part for me is wondering what cloth to buy. I am planning a lot of fleece and shell material to put over it. I'm thinking camouflage would be a good color.And maybe a leather hide for footwear. Any ideas?
It would depend on your location. If you are in an area with lots of snow you are going to want the snow camo fabrics. Every area even in the warmer months has different camo fabrics that work best. If you are going for extreme warmth, I would look at pure wool rather than fleece, which has a number of advantages. When fleece gets wet it stays wet...for a long, long time without some kind of dryer or lots of warm wind and it doesn't breathe as well as wool. Take a look at the "eskimo" style parkas and see how they are constructed.
"It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret"
Good point with the camo. Wool has a lot of advantages, but fleece can be easier to tolerate if you have somewhere to hang it to dry. Wet wool can be quite heavy . And with either a layer of cotton underneath would be good. I have an eskimo parka, but prefer to have a shorter top for movement. But, for warmth they can't be beat.
Bought a bunch of 1" straightened fleece at the surplus store, just large ruminants that couldn't be used, Plan to sew together and make a good vest. I may have to shave down the fleece a bit though.
"We 'Prep.' to live after a downfall, Not just to survive."
Joy29not,
If you are looking for a supplier I highly recommend PacCana Enterprises, in Calgary. (Email paccana@paccana dot com,
Phone 403.291.3633, Fax 403.291.1633, Address: 1916 - 27th Avenue NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 7A5, Canada)
They are a wholesaler who will sell to the little guy. Zippers, fleece, pack cloth, webbing, plastic and metal buckles. If possible when buying buckles get units of 50 or 100.
As for wearing cotton under wool, I would recommend poly-pro or silk or even lightweight polar fleece. Cotton will kill you if it gets wet and you are out in the Canadian Winter. Although, cotton does wick moisture it also absorbs the moisture until saturation. Poly-pro on the other hand will wick moisture away from the skin but does not absorb the moisture.
Must be different fleece material out there, I find that like wool, polar fleece will get wet but if exposed to cold dry air or a slight breeze polar fleece dries fairly quickly. And polar fleece does not get nearly as heavy as wool, when wet. But maybe I have just been out in different conditions. This is a large country after all.
Moose hide has been used for a long time for the soles of moccasins. Seal skin for anything that needs to be waterproof. Caribou hide for warm and lightweight clothing - anoraks, parkas, pants, etc.
Good luck on getting a collection of sewing supplies.
Mountainman.
Hides can be water proof if you tan them that way or soft and lightweight if that is what you want. Hair on or off as well, (furs or ropes) for warmth, again all in the tanning. Not many Seals or Caribou south of Calgary....hahahah... cow hide could maybe work for soles as well as the moose. Make sure you have heavy needles...thimbles, and small pliers to sew & mend leather. Ladyboomer
My thoughts for hide footwear are for warmth and a bit for stealth. Plus I just like wearing it. Guess I'll have to get some neatsfoot oil or something to waterproof them.
I swear by fleece of any kind. I am stocking up on mink blankets, they really hold the warm air in.