unraveling blanket

[westcoastcampaigner]

Hello All,

I recently purchased a blanket made by Family Heirloom Weavers at an event from a vendor who's name I can't remember. It is tan with brown end stripes and has a course, loose weave and almost feels like burlap. I bought it to have an extra lighter weigh blanket around and because it was cheap. It looks like Pat was trying make his version of the emergency issue blanket that most mainstream vendors sell. The problem I'm having with it is that the ends were left raw off the loom and they keep unraveling. I've heard people say that this is only temporary and will stop eventually leaving you with frayed ends. If this is not true, is there a way to stop it? Does anyone have this blanket and what did you do? You suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks.

Best Regards,

Josh Sawyer

P.S. When in fact was the emergency blanket issued to Federal troops and what is the best time frame that this blanket can be used correctly?

[Matt Woodburn]

You've got a few choices. Let it unravel some and leave about a 1/2-1 inch of tufts that will get fuzzy and then the unraveling will stop. It will eventually do this naturally, or if it's making you crazy, pull out some of the yarns on the end leaving about a half inch of loose yarns and rub them between your fingers making them fuzzy. Wetting them and doing this will speed the process along too. Or , you can roll the edges over and sew the ends down to prevent the unraveling. I've seen originals both ways.

[westcoastcampaigner]

Thanks for the info Matt. Much appreciated. Any Idea about the date of issue on the emergency blankets to Federal trooops?


Best Regards,

Josh Sawyer

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

IMHO, "emergency blankets" is more of a "sutler" or "reenacting" modern term when it comes to "brown/tan" blankets. ("Tan Contract Type Blanket" might be better... ;) )
The enormous rise and demand for blankets for the increasing number of Federal troops in 1861 saw severe blanket shortages as the federal arsenals were not producing their own blankets and were relying on domestic contracts as well as foreign contacts.
And as a result, it is not unusal to find accounts of poor quality "shoddy" blankets as well as original tan blankets with specs of blue or red, etc, wool (shoddy) included in the weave.
It appears that tan blankets were issued from late 1861ish through the end of the War.

Curt

[CJDaley]

Hallo!

IMHO, "emergency blankets" is more of a "sutler" or "reenacting" modern term when it comes to "brown/tan" blankets. ("Tan Contract Type Blanket" might be better... ;) )

I agree and I might add that since the Federal Gov't never actually produced a blanket in it's entire history, that technically ALL army blankets issued by the Federal government can be considered "contract".

The more you know...

[VaTrooper]

Im glad this thread came up because I picked up a FHW 51' issue blanket from E.J. Thomas this weekend and had the same quesion about the raveled edges.

[westcoastcampaigner]

Thanks Curt and Chris for your answers to my question. I had a feeling the term "emergency" blanket was a modern term used in the reenacting community much like the "Type I" "Type II" for forage caps but wasn't sure. I only used it in my original post because it's what I knew at the time. As far as I am concerned my questions have been answered. Thanks for the great info guys.

Best Regards,

Josh Sawyer

[ScottCross]

The problem I'm having with it is that the ends were left raw off the loom and they keep unraveling. I've heard people say that this is only temporary and will stop eventually leaving you with frayed ends. If this is not true, is there a way to stop it? Does anyone have this blanket and what did you do?

The original Civil War blankets had raw edges that unravelled, so you really don't have a problem. Check your local or state museum and take a look at some originals and you will see.

[jurgitemvaletem]

guys,

I bought one of these blankets about three years ago. Since then, it has been the only blanket that I keep in active service for every event I attend. In the beginning it did it's fair share of unraveling, but after a couple of months of continuous use, iteventualy quit.

thanks,
Jurgitem Valetem

[58th C]

Would blanket stitching the edges with wool be considered appropriate rather than rolling the edge in and stitching it?

Lauren Kaye

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Blankets were woven as something of a continous roll. The end stripes gave the "cutter" a guide for where to separate them into single blankets (although doubles were sometimes issued). They were then compressed in a press and baled for delivery to the field.
As a result of being cut and torn to be spearated, both ends were "raw."

This raises some questions for the soldier receiving it, whether to leave it alone, hem it, or blanket stitch it. It also raises some questions for we Moderns. There are some period accounts of edge binding. However, it is hard to know whether hemming, binding, or cloth tape binding was done by the soider, or done AFTER the War to extend the life of the blanket in a civilian setting.

There is also a discussion on the differences between modern looms and period commercial looms, as well as differences between the quality of modern weaving as well. Meaning, the tightness of the period weave tends to limit the unraveling going on. At the risk of making a dangerous universal statement about various levels of varying quality for period blankets from "standard" down through "shoddy..." IMHO, "more cheaper" modern repro blankets will unravel more and more while a "premium" quality reproduction (and period blankets) will unravel so much and then "stop" moreorless.

But as in all things, IMHO, we should be comparing reproduction items against originals, NOT reproductions against other reproductions.

Curt

[coastaltrash]

[deleted - MC]

Josh,
The Kline blanket came with the option of having the US sewn on for an additional cost, most vendors just bought those blankets in bulk and said to hell with the US I'm sure. It doesn't kill the quality but I would suggest getting some brown 100% wool yarn and an original stencil of the US and putting it on there. As far as it unraveling, my Abe Thomas blanket did that when I got it back in 2001, and it stopped shortly after it started. I still have a full blanket. Hoped that helped.

[dusty27]

Oh, no we don't

[Charles Heath]

Some of you may giggle at this, but if you've read some of the more basic works out there, you'll know it to be true.

Save the ravels as you remove them, and consider using them to affix your initials to items of contrasting color, such as another blanket, or a canteen, or anything else that may seem to be worthy of identifying. A nice piece of yarn is too good to just throw away. In the absence of rack numbers on most equipment these days, well, sometimes this is a good idea, period correct, and something to do in camp with a large eye needle, large thorn, or even a fish bone. Just a thought.

[VaTrooper]

Charles,
We're on the same page buddy. I had no idea what I was going to use it for but I put my handful into a poke sack last night.

[Matt Woodburn]

Save the yarn and darn your worn socks. That's what I did at an event when my toes were poking through and I had a few bits of blanket yarn.

[Beaner]

Here's a simple solution to your probelm and it's historically correct. You need to run a stitched seam across the ends of blanket. It needs to be a close stitched seam. The blanket will fray up to the stitch and not beyond it. If you look at originals you will discover that some of them will have this stitch line across the ends. I have the same blanket and have not had a probelm since I did this.
Sam Billingsley
4thTexas Co. E

[toptimlrd]

Some of you may giggle at this, but if you've read some of the more basic works out there, you'll know it to be true.

Save the ravels as you remove them, and consider using them to affix your initials to items of contrasting color, such as another blanket, or a canteen, or anything else that may seem to be worthy of identifying. A nice piece of yarn is too good to just throw away. In the absence of rack numbers on most equipment these days, well, sometimes this is a good idea, period correct, and something to do in camp with a large eye needle, large thorn, or even a fish bone. Just a thought.

Soooo, I'm not the only lunatic that saves the unraveled ends of my blanket huh? They have come in handy several times, one of the most unique was when I lost the tie to my canteen stopper (don't ask me how, I still haven't figured it out, I looked down and all I had was the cork and top :confused: ) so I twisted four or five together as a make do until I could get some proper cord.

[Charles Heath]

A few months ago, the topic of Bryce Workman's repop blankets made for a good thread, and while that information is now GWTW, this online article is worthy of a good read as basic blanket background info, even if it is several decades prior to the CW.

http://www.revwar75.com/library/rees/variety.htm

Anyway, I found it interesting, and hope you do too.

[weed]

Basically everything that could be said has been. In my collection, my ORIGINAL blanket has raw edges with the US, in Gothic Style. The US was done in about 4 differant ways. For repros, I have both styles of blankets done by Charlie Childs m1851 & m1861, 4 blankets from the Wisconsin Vet's Museum (2 never taken out if the packages yet) and 1 from the Minnesota State Historical Society. Obviously all have raw edges. Never gave it a second thought as it it is totally correct. The most intesesting one I own/use is one used by the Swiss Army a number of years ago. It is dark brown with light brown end stripes. I call it my daguerreotype blanket (backwards). Got it for $5.00. I use it a lot and unless I point out the backwardsness of it, nobody even notess it. I too use the "loose ends" to put my initials on (i.e. - Si Klegg):)

John Wedeward

[brown]

Blanket yarn has both marked a blanket with my name and darned a sock. I still have a little left in case another need arises...

[JosephRoman]

It is shown in Echos of Glory that at least one Union Officer did indeed stitch the ends of his blanket.

[ScottCross]

Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine when the edge stitching would have been done on a blanket: during the war, or more likely, during its long service in a home following the war.