Matchcoat
- Thread starter wayne1967
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A match coat, or watch coat, is just a blanket draped over your shoulders then pinned under your throat and belted around your waist. The part draped over your shoulders forms the "sleeves" - by folding over them as well.
Wilde Weavery shows how to put on and wear a matchcoat on their web site. And Mike Alton showed putting one on and how to use it in several configurations in the one Mark Baker Longhunter videos.
A regular blanket tends to be too long. Most people use a shorter blanket or piece of wool clothe. Mike Alton's was 60 x 65 inches. It needs to be wide enough to wrap around you with some overlap when you belt it about your waist. And then long enough to go from your shoulders down to where you want in length on you legs - or a little longer if you want to drap it over your head likd a hood.
A number of people leave their blanket full length, and then start by folding the top 1 1/2 to 2 feet over. Then they drape it over their shoulders, pin it, and then belt it. That extra part folded over on top gives you an extra "cape" over your shoulders.
Hope this helps explain it better. The Wilde Weavery web site has pictures.
Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
p.s. Adjust the ... thickness ... of the blanket you use for a match coat to the weather you expect. Thicker for colder/wetter weather, thinner/lighter for warmer weather.
Wilde Weavery shows how to put on and wear a matchcoat on their web site. And Mike Alton showed putting one on and how to use it in several configurations in the one Mark Baker Longhunter videos.
A regular blanket tends to be too long. Most people use a shorter blanket or piece of wool clothe. Mike Alton's was 60 x 65 inches. It needs to be wide enough to wrap around you with some overlap when you belt it about your waist. And then long enough to go from your shoulders down to where you want in length on you legs - or a little longer if you want to drap it over your head likd a hood.
A number of people leave their blanket full length, and then start by folding the top 1 1/2 to 2 feet over. Then they drape it over their shoulders, pin it, and then belt it. That extra part folded over on top gives you an extra "cape" over your shoulders.
Hope this helps explain it better. The Wilde Weavery web site has pictures.
Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands
p.s. Adjust the ... thickness ... of the blanket you use for a match coat to the weather you expect. Thicker for colder/wetter weather, thinner/lighter for warmer weather.
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It can be a blanket, or half blanket. No arm holes! They are much more comfortable, and practical than you can imagine. Their only drawback is the trouble to get one on, and arranged like you want. They require a belt, or sash, to keep them in place. Once in place though, you have the option to drop the upper part if you get too warm. The way the blanket sets on you gives you the option of a head cover. Aside from the belt, they work best with an upper closure, such as some form of a pin, or such. I would say a celtic blanket pin, but those are not correct for 18th c., if that matters to you.
