The Armour Archive

Ok, so I really want to make a cloak for cause I have some sexy pennular brooches that need wearing, but there is nowhere local that carries wool. However, the local Wally World has some beautiful dark green flannel on sale. Would this make a decent cloak? I would think I would need to double layer it to achieve proper fullness of body...

Or...

Should I just get some wool way later when I have the $$$?

Mm, woolens in Louisiana are a tall order, aren't they? And ordering it off the Internet isn't a go because funds are short? Last I heard most of those guys take checks, after all -- for when you do have the bucks.

At worst, the flannel would make nice garb for the cooler months and nights. Decent for a 13th/14th-c. hood too. And those hoods roll up into 15th-c. chaperons and are still available for inclement weather.

fabric.com is running a sale right now on some wool. Might be worth checking out.

Swete wrote:Ok, so I really want to make a cloak for cause I have some sexy pennular brooches that need wearing, but there is nowhere local that carries wool. However, the local Wally World has some beautiful dark green flannel on sale. Would this make a decent cloak? I would think I would need to double layer it to achieve proper fullness of body...

Or...

Should I just get some wool way later when I have the $$$?

What's the content of the flannel? *Wool* flannel is good.

I would honestly wait to get something nice.

http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-f ... olive.aspx

This is only $10 a yard. 3 yards should be plenty, and that's not too bad.

@Charlotte: I will check and see if the flannel I saw contains any wool.
@konstantin: Yeah, one of my worries was the whole 'deep south humidity' thing regarding wool. But also the price is also $3 per yard for the flannel....and it sure looks like wool. I thought it was even after feeling it. It wasn't till I looked at the label that I learned I was deceived. ;p

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=143188

$8-$10/yd wools....


OR

http://www.denverfabrics.com

now until 12/25 you can ask for 20% off orders of $40 or more. Find a friend who wants a cloak....

I had a grey cloak made from something called logger flannel. It was great. It even looked like wool
unless you REALLY knew your fabrics.

I miss that cloak. No idea where it went.

Swete, check army surplus stores for wool military blankets.
They run about $10.

Uric

Blackoak wrote:Swete, check army surplus stores for wool military blankets.
They run about $10.

Uric

I shall do that...need to get some more military chinstraps anyways.

Chances are good the "flannel" you're looking at is 100% cotton.

I would check your local Goodwill - wherever the big distribution center is, and look for wool blankets or even 3+ yard pieces of wool or wool blend fabrics. You will find some.

If not, keep an eye on internet sites.
.
Also, mention to people in your local group you need cloak wool, and see anyone has stuff on hand they'd trade or sell you cheaply.

Check Big Lots or nicer discount places - TJMAXX, Steinmart, for wool blankets.

See if anyone in your area is making a pilgrimage either to Dallas or over here to Sir's in Meridies to buy fabric, and see what they can find in your price range.

A note: Cotton flannel actually makes a nice, warm, invisible lining for Gulf Wars. Several of my favorite cloaks are lined in it. On the inside, it does for 10 foot rule and makes things snuggly warm while keeping wool from skin.

Note that "flannel" does not indicate fiber content! Wool flannel is just as good of a use of the term as cotton flannel.

ALL CLOAKS SHOULD BE BURN TESTED!

100% worsted wool should do quite well in humid conditions---as well as hot ones; guess what those Bedouin are wearing in the Sahara!

My experience; it makes no matter what material you make a cloak out of if it is hot you cannot wear it. Anything adding a thick layer to the shoulders is no good in warm weather.

Also wool is better in the heat than any artificial material, wool breaths but artificial materials are plastic and they insulate.


So them what is better for the cold? Only wool will keep you warm in the rain and shed the water. Also being a natural material it burns slowly if ash from a fire hits it you get a tiny whole where an artificial material will catch fire and burn.

Having seen a cloak start to ignite from just someone brushing a cigarette against it I am a bit spooked by people wearing "spun napalm" around fires, candles, torches, my forge, etc.

I use 100% wool for all my brats.

Worsted wool works well in hot climes; yes it will get soaked with sweat and then do it's best to wick it away from your skin and evaporate it.

Many people do not know the difference between worsted and woolen spun wools (combed and carded wools) Knowing wool (and linen/hemp/nettle) details is a very medieval thing!

Thomas who's Christmas present is a hand spun hand knit balaclava to wear in our unheated bedroom this winter. If he can pry it away from his Spinster wife who made it and is sure to want to show it off to her students...like her previous presents

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Solid-Med ... ewprod.htm

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/searc ... ing+100%25

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/searc ... nel+100%25

http://www.classactfabrics.com/wool/wool_fabric.htm

www.ebay.com - Crafts > Sewing & Fabric > Fabric

Search "100% wool flannel", click to include descriptions
Also search "coating wool"

The trick with ebay is to a) determine if their asking price is for the piece or per yard and then add shipping costs (which can be equivalent to paying local taxes and gas for shopping or much more!)

Swete, don't use regular craft flannel (which is totally synthetic) or cotton flannel.

If you can't buy 100% wool online (which I recommend), I've used some of the better fleeces for some of my kids coats (which is also flammable and must be watched carefully.).

At least cotton flannel fabric or fleece fabric are washable - craft fabric will stretch and fall apart over time - and it hangs just 'wrong', but I've seen it used in a pinch for a short term outfit and it worked. I'd go with wool military surplus blankets first.

Sometimes it makes a difference in what kind of cold you are planning for.

Since I am rarely in truely cold weather (like snow), I tend to add wool outer layers before I add a cloak or coat.

If I were in one of the areas with snow or really cold winters and outdoor events, I'd have some fur lined heavy wool coats. When we did a snow camp for a fur trade event, the heavy pendleton blanket capote coats worked pretty well over layers..

These are really nice woolen flannels (warm, especially if you wash them on a hot cycle to shrink them a bit): http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/ ... Wool-7.99/ . It's a period weave from a sheep with wool that's very similar to medieval breeds, in a number of good colors. They're also on sale at a really good price right now. I really like this stuff.

Swete wrote:But also the price is also $3 per yard for the flannel...

... but if you have to double it, it's more like $6.

Alric of Drentha wrote:These are really nice woolen flannels (warm, especially if you wash them on a hot cycle to shrink them a bit): http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/ ... Wool-7.99/ . It's a period weave from a sheep with wool that's very similar to medieval breeds, in a number of good colors. They're also on sale at a really good price right now. I really like this stuff.

I have both the moss green and wedgewood blue. It is a fuzzy medium weight wool. I am using some of the blue for my leg wraps in this image:

Avitoria_vidua wrote:

Swete wrote:But also the price is also $3 per yard for the flannel...

... but if you have to double it, it's more like $6.

Yeah...I realized my folly after posting. I remained quiet in the hopes that no one else had noticed. Drat

Alric of Drentha wrote:These are really nice woolen flannels (warm, especially if you wash them on a hot cycle to shrink them a bit): http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/ ... Wool-7.99/ . It's a period weave from a sheep with wool that's very similar to medieval breeds, in a number of good colors. They're also on sale at a really good price right now. I really like this stuff.

I was going to make the same recommendation. I made a "birka" style coat from it, and it is nice and easy to work with.

Jestyr wrote:

Alric of Drentha wrote:These are really nice woolen flannels (warm, especially if you wash them on a hot cycle to shrink them a bit): http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/ ... Wool-7.99/ . It's a period weave from a sheep with wool that's very similar to medieval breeds, in a number of good colors. They're also on sale at a really good price right now. I really like this stuff.

I was going to make the same recommendation. I made a "birka" style coat from it, and it is nice and easy to work with.

Hey thank you guys for the link! They have just what I am looking for. ^o^

Looks like they are having a one day 30% off sale today on that site.

My wife and I are loading a shopping cart full as we speak!

And 8 yards have been ordered. Excellent pick... thanks!

Poo. After doing the math, me and my lady don't have the extra funds to order any today. :'[
Well, there is always next month...