HOW TO WEAR A BLANKETBy: Dude McLean
Wearing a blanket is nothing new and has a long history. Among the many that have worn a blanket is George Washington. “I put myself in Indian dress and continued with them for three day. I took my necessary papers, pulled off my clothes, tied myself up in a “match coat” and with my pack on my back …”.
Eastern woodland Indians would sometimes decorate their “match coats” with trade silver and beads. It is believed that the match coat got its name from the Indians who sewed matching skins together until they were of the desired size and ended up with a blanket or a “match coat”. The wool blanket became the “new” match coat.
WHAT IS A MATCH COAT?
The answer to that question is that a “match coat” is a homespun or a wool blanket, worn as any other article of clothing would be, just the way we use a jacket or a parka or coat today. It was secured by a belt or a rope around the waist, or just above the hip. It could drape over one shoulder. It was used like a shawl or a cape. Draped over the head, secured at the neck and the waist, it answered all the weather concerns and kept you warm and dry. The versatility is my attraction to the match coat. For me, it is an essential item in my pack when going deep into the bush.
USES OF THE MATCH COAT
The obvious use is that it is a blanket. Wool is the preferred material. It needs to be a good quality wool blanket. My match coat was woven by , Wilde Weavery. It is of the right weight or density and the correct weave to repel water. Not only do I use it as a blanket, I have used it as a lean-to. And of course, I use it as a match coat to help keep me warm and dry.
GETTING IT ON
How to wear your blanket takes just a few steps. Besides the blanket, you will need a belt or some kind of tie. You will need a pin--a horse blanket pin will do, or any large pin will work.
Drape the long end over your head like a hood, lean forward and wrap your belt around your waist on the outside of the blanket. Overlap the front of your blanket and secure it with your belt.
Hold the blanket at about your throat or where the open neck would be and pin the blanket at your neck or throat. That’s it!
The hood will be over your head and the blanket will be wrapped around your body. Your arms will be covered, but your hands and arms will have freedom of movement so that you can handle whatever chores need to be done without unwrapping yourself.
Too hot? Pull the hood down and it will form a kind of double cape over
your
shoulders. Your whole body will be protected. This is a really warm method of covering up from head to toe.
THIS IS THE MATCH COAT
This is the “match coat” how to wear a blanket. If you have a wool blanket try this primitive style of warming up. All in one you have a warm coat, a sleeping blanket and a lean-to shelter cloth. I call that a good use of your gear. I believe you will be warmly surprised by this simple garment.
References:
“Fordhams personal narrative 1817-1818”
“George Washington’s Diary”
“The journal of Nicolas Cresswell 1774-1777”
“Tartan; The Highland Habit” by Hugh Cheape
Video “Pioneering;The Longhunter series” volume three starring Mark Baker
“The Pilgrim’s Journey” Volume one, pages 261-264 by Mark Baker
Wilde Weavery