Capote Coat

[rickystl]

Hi All

What size HBC (# of points) blanket is required to make a capote with hood for the average adult male ?
Thanks for your help.

Rick

 

[Black Hand]

2 1/2 to 4 point depending on the size you consider average. That said, many of the "Mountain Man" capotes you see advertised are Reservation Era (1880-90s) - distinguished by a boxy profile (1-piece body), fringe and pointy elf hood. Sometimes, it is easier to buy wool material (blanket-weight, I've seen Melton or Duffel mentioned) and make a tailored coat as would have been most common in the period. Personally, an HBC blanket is more useful in its original form.

All that said, I see a Great-coat as a better choice...

 

[Crewdawg445]

I have one available in the classifieds, believe it is a four point...

However no way would I cut a real HB blanket up for a capote. The one I made is from a old trappers point blanket.

 

[tenngun]

Today’s HBC are softer woven then historic blankets that while thick was more corse. A modren HBC is a little more insulating but not as wind proof and rain proof asold blankets. Old capotes tended to be made from blanketing and not blankets and tended to be fitted.
Should you get some thick woolen blanketing and taylor a hooded capote you can fit it with a wool lining and it’s much warmer.
If you just want to use a HBC or similar blanket you can use it as a match coat. A blanket just wrapped on and pinned. Then your coat fills three job, coat,blanket and good looking.

 

[tenngun]

North west traders out of Michigan and on line have multi capote patters for fitted and boxy capotes.

 

[rickystl]

Thank you ALL for your replies. Most helpful.

Rick

 

[Rifleman1776]

You asked size, but I'll divert a bit by sharing my experience. When I decided to make a couple capote I was 'told by someone' (we now know "someone" at an event is often far from the best to give advice. Oh, well.) that a Whitney blanket was the same as HB just less cost. So, we got a couple Whitney's. Nice blankets and made into nice looking capote. But, BIG BUT, they are not the same. The Whitney will keep you warm as long as there is no wind. But even a gently breeze on a cold day will go through that wool and make ye feel like ye are nekkid. Spend the extra money to get a thicker, and warmer blanket.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I would also suggest that one not get a HB blanket for your first go at sewing a capote. A good analogy is the oft repeated one here of turning $600 worth of gun parts into a $300 gun.

To reiterate Rifleman 1776's comment though, there is a difference between Hudson Bays and the others. I have both that we use as blankets in the house.

 

[nhmoose]

Before cutting out any pattern The blanket needs to get "fulled". Washing it hot water and spinning will accomplish that it tightens the weave tremendously shrinking the blanket down making the weave much tighter.

 

[BillinOregon]

Moose beat me to it on fulling the wool prior to construction. There is a nice chapter on this in Beth Gilgun's "Tidings from the 18th Century." Such a useful book!

 

[rickystl]

WOW!! Thanks again guys. Great tips. :hatsoff:

Rick