home made quilts

[coloneltubbs]

I was looking at an old quilt my wife was going to send to quilt heaven. Before doing so I would like to ask if anyone knows if a longhunter would have used such a covering? It is lighter than wool and would be good for a fall trek. I realize that no one would be there to judge me (except for myself) but I want to do it right.

Thanks up front for any input.

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General Tubbs

[Sanscoeur]

I would say that we are more aware of the use of blankets because they were trade goods, they could be found in merchant inventories, and many of those inventories have been recorded as part of the historical record. A thriving international industry was making big money from their distribution and sale. Quilts, on the other hand, were strictly homemade and small-scale - never intended for mass production, and therefore never suitable for large-scale capitalist gain. Because no batteau was ever laden with quilts and cordelled up a river for trade with primitive Native tribes they don't play a very significant role in recorded history. But they were certainly on the scene throughout the historical period. I would think that it would almost be a certainty that somebody carried a quilt with them across the frontier. Because they were made by caring hands at home the bearer of a quilt would probably have been some kind of family man, and not the romantic nomad who peoples our imagination about the characters that broke timber and trapped beaver. I can't recall ever seeing a quilt in a colonial or a frontiersman's death inventory, but it might just have been annotated as "blanket" by the notary.

All in all, the only limitation that I see on quilt carrying in a historical reenactment situation would be to not carry one with day-glo colored fabrics, and one that was stitched in a traditional pattern. Go for it!

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Depuis le vin est tiré, il faut le boite.

[coloneltubbs]

Mine is of faded, muted colors from old worn out material. No matting between the top and bottom. Back side is of faded white material. This is not a blanket for temperatures below the 50's. This is a typical home made blanket of average means.
Thanks for the reply.

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General Tubbs

[Paul C. Daiute]

See below.
Paul

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The second amendment is not a right but an obligation for all Americans! I will protect my country from all enemies foreign and domestic!

[Paul C. Daiute]

I would say we are more aware of blankets because that's what is being used in the 17th and 18th century most commonly. Trade blankets enter into the equation but are only part of it with home woven blankets and imported blankets, being a significant part of the total number. I believe that quilts are more of a 19th century item much like the fancy woven bed covers one sees. The term quilt may also refer to a petticoat. You may see the term "patch blanket.".
As an aside the trade blankets are more likely to be one piece where the home made blankets will be joined of two sections often with any stripes being carefully aligned to be confluent. If you are interpreting 1700s period history in the English colonies the safest bet is to stay with what was common for your gear. How you interpret history or "reenact" is your choice and a matter of your commitment to authenticity.
I would like to ask, what was the percentage of the total population that were "Long Hunters" in the 18th century?
Paul

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The second amendment is not a right but an obligation for all Americans! I will protect my country from all enemies foreign and domestic!

[Paul C. Daiute]

Ok, I tried to help this fellow out and gave him information and he has ghosted me. I laid down some information that should have lead to some discourse but that just wasn't meant to be. When I talked about patch blankets, I had hoped to have an exchange. There were patch blankets but they were not treated with a quilting stitch. So what did you do anyway sir? Did you do the right thing? We measure men by what they do when they are alone and when they do the right think they bestow a gift unto themselves and it is called honor.
Paul who asks, is there any any body body out there there there there there there?????

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The second amendment is not a right but an obligation for all Americans! I will protect my country from all enemies foreign and domestic!

[bob miller]

I have followed this with interest. First, I looked at the profile of the gentleman who initiated the post. A hunter in colonial America. Then, I did a little research on quilts in Colonial America. I didn't have much knowledge on this topic because my interest is mainly concentrated on my own location , however, what I did find made a lot of sense. " Quilts" as we know them i.e. the patch work type, were not really a part of Colonial America at all. Later in time...yes. The examples of quilts which I found were solid pieces of fabric, "quilted" together , and associated with the well to do of the time. Trade blankets and home made blankets were the norm amongst the common folks. I have to admit that I find this type of research absolutely fascinating
As Paul has asked...how many "hunters" were there back in those days ...I would suggest that there were no where near what we see portrayed today.
My family homesteaded their property in the late 19th Century. I spent a lot of time with my Great Uncle, and farm work occupied most day light hours except in the winter, when he cut wood for the local logging company. For him to take some time off chores to take us kids fishing was no small thing. Hunting in the Fall was a matter of getting his meat [ moose] as quickly as possible so that he could get back to work. My Great Aunt was just as busy. This was during the 50's when I was a wee lad, and I can't imagine that Colonials had it any easier.

[coloneltubbs]

Paul,
I apologize for not replying to your post. I did go ahead and use my quilt after talking to other friends and getting their approval. We are a small group of trekkers and we try our best to be as accurate as possible even though we are never in public view. Since that time I have acquired a very lite weight wool blanket that fits my needs. These old bones cannot carry the weight they use to so I am always looking for ways to reduce the weight I carry into the field.

Thanks to all that has replied to my posting and will follow you lead.

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General Tubbs

[Paul C. Daiute]

Thank you!

_________________
The second amendment is not a right but an obligation for all Americans! I will protect my country from all enemies foreign and domestic!