RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 14, 2022 9:09:07 GMT -7
Hey, gang. I plan on an overshirt or work smock as part of my winter hunting kit. Not a rifleman’s coat or fringed hunting shirt, but a simple garment cut like a large common shirt.
Now, I’m a disciple of wool, and think Filson’s Mackinaw Wool is the Creator’s finest gift to woodsmen. (Har!) Is there evidence of such a garment as an overshirt made in wool? Or… oilcloth? Or is this garment best made in the standard linen or osnaburg? Just curious.
R
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Post by brokennock on May 14, 2022 12:19:37 GMT -7
I would doubt oil cloth, but be surprised of there were no wool examples. That said, I'm pretty confident that linen, osnaburg, and such were the norm. Maybe, maybe linsey-Woolsey.
Also, it might be best to make the 1st one of cotton or linen as a learning experiment before an attempt with more expensive wool is made.
Do you have a copy of the late Beth Gilgun's book, "Tidings from the 18th Century" by any chance? If not, I would highly advise getting it. She has basic patterns for a shirt and some other items. As well as a bounty of other useful 18th century living information.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 14, 2022 12:26:32 GMT -7
“Tidings” is on the slow boat from Amazon. It may actually arrive today.
I plan on a linen or osnaburg smock as well… and first. Was just looking ahead to the end of December. We had ambient temps of -6F this past winter in Sullivan County. Daytime. For almost a week. 🥶
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Post by brokennock on May 14, 2022 18:06:03 GMT -7
“Tidings” is on the slow boat from Amazon. It may actually arrive today. I plan on a linen or osnaburg smock as well… and first. Was just looking ahead to the end of December. We had ambient temps of -6F this past winter in Sullivan County. Daytime. For almost a week. 🥶 So a wool overshirt and wool waistcoat will be great. Paired with your other layers amd a wool matchcoat, I think you will be surprised how warm you can stay. With this manner of dress we wind up with several looser layers, compared to modern clothing, that trap a lot of air which is a large part of insulation, dead air space. I often struggle to stay warm during even our early archery season, but am usually fairly comfortable in our December muzzleloader season in period dress. There are factors other than clothing involved here I know, but, I do believe that layering, even of less than ideal materials, has a large part in this.
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Post by Black Hand on May 14, 2022 18:08:59 GMT -7
The smock is to protect your clothes. Make it from linen and go....
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Post by spence on May 15, 2022 13:32:58 GMT -7
RyanAK, I decided on a linen farmer's smock as my main outer garment a long time ago and have spent a lot of time out in all weathers with it. In the summer I sometimes go as a Cohee would, nothing under it but breechclout and leggings, sometimes with shirt, breeches and waistcoat under like a Tuckahoe. We don't get arctic temperatures here, but I've been out many winter days with temperatures in the teens and had no problems, whether hiking to kick up bunnies or sitting on the ground waiting for Bambi. With multiple layers I've been surprised that my outfit is warm enough, even compared to modern gear. I don't think I've ever found an original reference to a wool smock, but that of course means nothing. I made a "smock" of a wool blanket, cut and constructed just like a long shirt, and it does work very well. You can't beat wool. Spence
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 15, 2022 14:16:36 GMT -7
Thanks, fellas. I appreciate the voices of experience. I mostly live in ‘traditional’ outdoor clothing - wool, tin cloth, canvas, leather. Linen will be a new material for me in the woods. Linen it shall be for the first smock. But I reserve the right to “be like Spence”. 😎
I need to cruise eBay for cheap 100% wool blankets…
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Post by Black Hand on May 15, 2022 14:49:00 GMT -7
I made a lined jacket from wool that serves as my insulating layer in winter and the linen hunting shirt (smock split down the front) is worn over all other layers. I've found this the warmest solution for me. This jacket started life as a surplus wool blanket shirt that hung to my knees - a miserable and surprisingly chilly situation.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 15, 2022 15:02:10 GMT -7
That’s a neat garment, Hand. I need to get my sewing skills up to par.
What weight linen are you fellas using for your smocks?
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Post by Black Hand on May 15, 2022 15:36:04 GMT -7
I used the heavier "natural" color (grayish-green) linen from JoAnn Fabrics.
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Post by paranger on May 15, 2022 15:43:30 GMT -7
Mine is a heavy weight natural unbleached ("oatmeal") linen.
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Post by armando on May 15, 2022 15:45:03 GMT -7
RyanAK, I decided on a linen farmer's smock as my main outer garment a long time ago and have spent a lot of time out in all weathers with it. In the summer I sometimes go as a Cohee would, nothing under it but breechclout and leggings, sometimes with shirt, breeches and waistcoat under like a Tuckahoe. We don't get arctic temperatures here, but I've been out many winter days with temperatures in the teens and had no problems, whether hiking to kick up bunnies or sitting on the ground waiting for Bambi. With multiple layers I've been surprised that my outfit is warm enough, even compared to modern gear. I don't think I've ever found an original reference to a wool smock, but that of course means nothing. I made a "smock" of a wool blanket, cut and constructed just like a long shirt, and it does work very well. You can't beat wool. View AttachmentSpence My wife help me put together a woolen pull over shirt that was great during early season. It looked kind of like Spence’s. It’s small enough that it fits in my bedroom to use for sleeping on cold nights.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on May 17, 2022 16:02:40 GMT -7
Great help. Thanks all. Time to order fabric.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
|
Post by RyanAK on May 17, 2022 19:06:09 GMT -7
And… it’s ordered.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
|
Post by RyanAK on May 24, 2022 7:51:12 GMT -7
My material has arrived. 3 yards of heavy, 7oz natural linen. Last night I whipped the cut edges and double washed, then dried the fabric. It’s lovely stuff. With the pattern in Beth Gilgun’s “Tidings…” along with some information passed on to me by paranger from “Rural Pennsylvania Clothing”, I feel like I have the information I need to proceed with a hand-sewn smock for use in the forest. But… do I have the fortitude…? Ha. I’m starting my craftwork with objects that lend themselves to some experimentation and learning without being in danger of complete disasters. I’d like to give this hunting shirt a dye to bring it into the ‘drab’ values of my Penn’s Woods. Something close to this: I have walnut mordant dye that has been effective on leather, and I’ve done some reading. But any and all advice is greatly appreciated.
Now… where’s my thimble…
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