Video How To: Make a poncho from a wool blanket

averageiowaguy

averageiowaguy

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Mar 22, 2011
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Hey,
I signed up for a primitive skills course and one of the things the course material suggested was to bring a wool blanket and a coat. I have to cover 50-60 miles of desert terrain for the course with 2 quarts of water and minimal food. I'll have to find whatever else I need. To lighten my load a bit, the course materials suggested converting half of the wool blanket in the poncho instead of bringing a coat.

I did a fairly extensive search for info on the project but I wasn't able to find a great source. I made a how to video. I hope you find it useful.

How to make a poncho from a wool blanket
 
Wow, that was a pretty fantastically edited video! Great information on the poncho. Here is another famous thread on making a wool anorak by Rick Marchand.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=618590&highlight=anorak

From post 96 of that thread, a nice easy pattern for the anorak.

Blais said:
I just finished mine a few nights ago and am very happy with the result. I used this drawing, which Rick kindly posted in my thread:
Anorakpattern.jpg


I just subtracted a couple inches from the width, length, and sleeve dimensions to account for my frame. (I'm 6 feet, 156lbs.)

As soon as I shell out some dough for a better blanket, I'll use the one I made as a pattern and hopefully end up with something I really love. Thanks again, Rick.
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One thing I misunderstood from your video - are you taking your poncho plus a full blanket or are you just taking the half blanket with you?
 
Thanks for the feedback. To answer the question - I'm only bringing the poncho and the other half of the wool blanket. Should be at least a little weight savings in comparison to bringing full blanket plus coat.

The anorak looks cool! I searched for poncho and didn't find that thread. If I end up liking the poncho in the field and think it would work better as an anorak maybe I will convert it.
 
I'd be interested in hearing about your field experience with the poncho. I imagine you will have some kind of belt to keep it flapping around a bit or will you wear it loose?
 
There are several options, of course. Myself, I really prefer wearing a quality "matchcoat" (smaller blanket) to a poncho. I'll let the photos speak here http://www.wildeweavery.com/matchcoats.htm.

Depending upon my base layers, the matchcoat is my blanket, coat, and sometimes the haversack (carried over one shoulder) or part thereof (when folded in with my oilskin trail tarp).

Great job on the video!
 
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Even some paracord would be a nice way to tie it closed. You'll find that some nights in the desert can be cold. Depends on elevation, and weather of course. Have fun, on the trip!
 
Hi Dannyboy, do you have the dimensions on the matchcoat/blanket? That looks interesting too. Do you use blanket pins yourself?
 
Dannyboy Leather said:
There are several options, of course. Myself, I really prefer wearing a quality "matchcoat" (smaller blanket) to a poncho. I'll let the photos speak here http://www.wildeweavery.com/matchcoats.htm.

Depending upon my base layers, the matchcoat is my blanket, coat, and sometimes the haversack (carried over one shoulder) or part thereof (when folded in with my oilskin trail tarp).
Click to expand...

Thats cool. Looks beyond my skill level at the moment but really versatile.
 
heresay1 said:
What school is the course associated with?
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Its the Boulder Outdoor Survival School. I'd heard some good things about it, thought I would give it a try. I was just going to take a backcountry camping trip but I didn't have time to do all the planning what with permits and all. I decided to try something a little more hardcore to learn some new skills.
 
kgd said:
Hi Dannyboy, do you have the dimensions on the matchcoat/blanket? That looks interesting too. Do you use blanket pins yourself?
Click to expand...

kgd, My matchcoat measures 68" X 65" and was handwoven by CJ Wilde (great lady) of Wilde Weavery. Any good blanket cut to appropriate size will work, though.

Yes, I use the old-fashioned (C-shaped) brass blanket pins at night, and one blanket pin above the belt (mid-chest) if more protection is desired when worn as a coat. I (we) have traveled far in all sorts of weather and terrain (Utah included) with only the very basics wrapped in matchcoats and trail tarps. This was the attire of the fast moving colonial hunters, frontiersmen, sometimes soldier, and it works as well today as it did then. The wool capotes, though warmer, don't offer the versatility of the matchcoat.

Thats cool. Looks beyond my skill level at the moment but really versatile.
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Much, much easier than it looks...promise. :)
 
Averageguy - thanks again. How do you plan on using the half blanket, do you intend to use it in conjunction with your poncho, the blanket or ponch as a ground mat the other as a blanket?

Dannyboy thanks, a little searching on the boobtube and I found this nice demo video (not me).

[youtube]KVnhoYHEjKY[/youtube] showing how to tie up a matchcoat with a blanket pin.
 
KGD:
I'm probably going to use the other half as a ground cover and use the poncho half to cover up with. Definitely sleeping in clothes. I tested the concept and its fairly comfortable. The poncho hole doesn't really seem to make much difference.

In other news, tried my hand at a bow drill fire tonight. First one ever. I got some smoke at least. I'll try again tomorrow. Its a lot harder than flint and steel.

I did all the prep work on the bow, spindle, hearth and hand piece with a Mora. Its a little tougher but its doable.
 
averageiowaguy said:
KGD:
I'm probably going to use the other half as a ground cover and use the poncho half to cover up with. Definitely sleeping in clothes. I tested the concept and its fairly comfortable. The poncho hole doesn't really seem to make much difference.

In other news, tried my hand at a bow drill fire tonight. First one ever. I got some smoke at least. I'll try again tomorrow. Its a lot harder than flint and steel.

I did all the prep work on the bow, spindle, hearth and hand piece with a Mora. Its a little tougher but its doable.
Click to expand...

Good stuff on the bowdrill. Let us know if we can help at all.
 
KGD:
Thanks for the support. I've camped my whole life but this is taking things to a whole 'nother level. I've done the flint and steel thing since I was a real little kid but never tried the bow drill method. I've already figured out some tricks. Hopefully after a few more tries I'll get a fire. I'd like to get slick at it before I go on this survival course so that I don't have to spend a bunch of time learning the skill and I can concentrate on finding water and shade. I'm thinking the water is gonna be the real killer and its something I can't really practice here in Iowa.
 
annyboy thanks, a little searching on the boobtube and I found this nice demo video (not me).
Click to expand...

Good find, kgd. I would say, that once you install the matchcoat a few times, it becomes as easy as putting your coat or shoes on. Just takes a few seconds.

averageiowaguy, We have two (or three) wool ponchos here on the ranch (have a horse, have to have a poncho). They do offer some protection from a cool breeze and are best worn with a hat with a goodly sized brim. When the wool poncho begins to absorb water, the increased weight of the wool begins to enlarge the neck area of the poncho and it doesn't take long before you are trying to cover up your neck (most of our heat is lost through the neck and head area). The matchcoat has solved this issue with its hood capabilities. You will learn to love that hood in the cold morning hours or during a rain storm (been there many times). Too, you have a blanket without a hole in it! :)

Just a few miles down the road, we have Oregon's High Desert. It is VERY MUCH like Utah's deserts in many areas. It can be in the 90's and low 100's during the June and July days, below freezing at night. The locals know that "layering" is the key to surviving these temperature extremes. Deserts are very deceptive environments and though I have lived around them for over two decades, I'm STILL surprised at how extreme they can be. We have been snowed on in July, hit with flash floods, and baked in 120-degree temperatures all in the same week!

Myself, before I headed out on a survival course, I would get to know that poncho very, very well. Use it with what you will be carrying on your desert trek. If you decide you don't like it, you saved yourself a LOT of potential misery. I would give the matchcoat a try also for comparison. :)
 
Dannyboy Leather said:
averageiowaguy, We have two (or three) wool ponchos here on the ranch (have a horse, have to have a poncho). They do offer some protection from a cool breeze and are best worn with a hat with a goodly sized brim. When the wool poncho begins to absorb water, the increased weight of the wool begins to enlarge the neck area of the poncho and it doesn't take long before you are trying to cover up your neck (most of our heat is lost through the neck and head area). The matchcoat has solved this issue with its hood capabilities. You will learn to love that hood in the cold morning hours or during a rain storm (been there many times). Too, you have a blanket without a hole in it! :)

Just a few miles down the road, we have Oregon's High Desert. It is VERY MUCH like Utah's deserts in many areas. It can be in the 90's and low 100's during the June and July days, below freezing at night. The locals know that "layering" is the key to surviving these temperature extremes. Deserts are very deceptive environments and though I have lived around them for over two decades, I'm STILL surprised at how extreme they can be. We have been snowed on in July, hit with flash floods, and baked in 120-degree temperatures all in the same week!

Myself, before I headed out on a survival course, I would get to know that poncho very, very well. Use it with what you will be carrying on your desert trek. If you decide you don't like it, you saved yourself a LOT of potential misery. I would give the matchcoat a try also for comparison. :)
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Thanks a ton for the advice. I've camped a bit in the desert but it was car camping. I'm supposed to bring along long underwear etc. I've been trying to get used to the kit that I'm allowed to bring and learn how to do everything with it BEFORE I go. They say you don't need any experience but I want this to be enjoyable and not as stressful as it might be. I've been wearing the poncho quite a bit around the house but it looks a little goofy and I'd probably get beat up if I wore it outside in town. LOL! I'll give the matchcoat a real close look. It looks really well suited and adaptable. A real multi-use tool.
 
averageiowaguy said:
KGD:
Thanks for the support. I've camped my whole life but this is taking things to a whole 'nother level. I've done the flint and steel thing since I was a real little kid but never tried the bow drill method. I've already figured out some tricks. Hopefully after a few more tries I'll get a fire. I'd like to get slick at it before I go on this survival course so that I don't have to spend a bunch of time learning the skill and I can concentrate on finding water and shade. I'm thinking the water is gonna be the real killer and its something I can't really practice here in Iowa.
Click to expand...

email me at kengdrouillard@gmail.com and I'll send you some materials I have on bowdrill. Its one of my passions, but I've whored myself so much on this topic here, I scant bore my bretheren with it anymore and I like to see the new faces demonstrating the technique :D
 
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