Woolen Shards and Traditional Pins

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Dan

[@TheSaneHatter]

My friends, I give you, The Cloak. This is a time-honored clothing staple from the Renaissance and before, and this little item that we properly call a "Brooch" is exactly how I and all my colleagues at the Ren Faire kept ours on. Seriously, there is nothing like a full-length, hooded wool cloak with a warm lining to shrug off every kind of foul weather, no matter how weird it looks today.

[@libertycowboy2495]

As a historian, i call it a fibula

[@coolwipp10]

@@libertycowboy2495 looks more like a tibia to me

[@zooh8017]

I second this having just bought a really nice one, it’s so soft and warm and thick it’s gonna be incredible for fall and winter! I’m gonna bring back cloaks singlehandedly I swear

[@whytepizza]

Penannular

[@BombsAwayMineCraft]

Bring the cloak back!

[@SwordGuardian]

Back when we were having the polar vortices, where temperatures were around -30°F, I would wear a military wool blanket woth a blanket pin. Makes a great cape, wore it when walking around campus at my university. Every now amd then someone would say "you look stupid" and I'd respond "you look cold". Shuts them up every time.

[@ThePainkiller713]

"Cooler days even cooler nights, ah the fall is here!" Me: *cries in Floridian

[@chuckcartwright1328]

ThePainkiller713 Me in Arizonan.

[@ItsAdventureTime1]

Move! Best decision I ever made after 38 years in South FL

[@joeltower5964]

How cool does it get in south Florida?

[@ItsAdventureTime1]

@@joeltower5964 you will start to see upper 60’s overnight in November, mid to low 80’s during the day from mid November until April. The occasional cold front will come through a few times in winter and cool it down into the 50’s overnight for a day or two then it warms right back up. For me, I didn’t do any outdoor activities from April to November because it was to hot and humid. Some people love that crap, but I don’t really like the feeling of being wet all day lol

[@joeltower5964]

@@ItsAdventureTime1 I know that feeling. Our summers can be quite hot here in southern New Brunswick, Canada. I sweat alot so work can be gross and just not having good air conditioning in the house sucks. I was in Florida in July one year, wow that was awful .

[@Mr2greys]

Takes a real man to feel secure enough to wear a bow.

[@ANONM60D]

I wear two on my feet every day

[@KingsDaughter.]

​@@ANONM60D😂😂

[@danielarenas7707]

Hi Dan, At Colombia we have a traditional poncho but is made 100% wool, is call Ruana and it's amazing to avoid coldness at the outdoors

[@Thehappyhammockhiker]

What kind of Wool?

[@Meibeon]

The Celt is strong in this one.

[@libertycowboy2495]

Or viking

[@scottbrown5181]

Same thing

[@nilcriochgubascelticfolkceltic]

​@libertycowboy2495 that's a celtic brooch and celtic style wear and no celts and vikings not the same

[@NoahSpurrier]

@@nilcriochgubascelticfolkcelticLooks more ethnicallyViking, though.

[@WordsOfARaven]

​@@NoahSpurrierviking was not the name of the scandinavian people it was used as a verb

[@Mike-gt1cs]

The blanket pin is also known as a penannular ring (it almost makes a complete circle = penannular)

[@sandraw4763]

I have actual "blanket pins" (like large 3-in safety pins, available for about $6-7 for a 12-pack) but I absolutely love my medieval cloak pin because its just way cooler :-) For dedicated bushcrafters, Emberlit (and others, I believe) sells a cloak pin that has one side modified into a straighter edge so that it functions as a fire steel striker so, if you use the pin part as an awl, you have an almost hand forged multi tool.

[@PaulB-justme]

Having been a historical reenactor for years portraying different era's, I have always found that woollen cloaks, and coats, are some of the most practical and versatile around!

[@DIY_Miracle]

It's a damn shame they are no longer in vogue! I would love to wear one at work on a cold day.

[@PaulB-justme]

@DIY_Miracle oh yes - the amount of times I wished that I had the nerve to walk to work wearing a nice warm greatcoat or cloak! 😳

[@nursekate6772]

So where do you find one that is good quality? Or a pattern to make one? 🤔😊

[@roblogified]

I literally do this all winter. I have a pin that's basically a little more decorative version of yours, and I use a full sized wool blanket and rock a cloak all winter. I don't care if it looks silly at the grocery, because it's warmer than any coat i've ever had. Just like I use my shemagh as a covid face covering lol

[@maxsparks5183]

Hey, it will work about as good as an obedience mask. Which means not at all. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Mr.Matchingsocks]

​@@maxsparks5183looks cooler than a face diaper

[@cliffordmattern2454]

This just proves my point. What makes this cat so cool is he teaches the grass roots of survival. The simple things really do work. No frills.

[@donnienewman9141]

My wife and I were looking at those like 2 nights ago. Thought it would be cool. We have those wool blankets. Now we know how to work them so gues what we're going to do? Thanks much!!

[@clarklindquist8137]

I use wool blankets for insulation in my van. We live in our van, so wool blankets over the windows really help. We put them over the barn door, and over the side windows that open so they are insulated, but accessible. Alot of folks ise wool as insulation for vehicles. For us, we stay warm about 5 to 6 hours in weather in the teens without having to run the heater. It helps that we have wool blankets over top of minkey blankets too... plus we have eachother...

[@FrontierTradingCompany]

Good stuff! Longhunters in your region were doing the same thing years ago- as of course you know, I've seen you on Townsends! Keep the content coming.

[@jorenbosmans8065]

So I'm not the only one who arrived here via Townsend 😄

[@rl-762]

it is also possible to not push the pin through the blanket, which is good for non-woven material. you can lay the fabric on top of the pin portion and then clamp the fabric in between the pin and the ring

[@kebrun4484]

The Blanket pin, striker, and a belt buckle that was made a few years ago is my favorite piece of gear. I use it year-round.

[@hardtrooth1776]

Where can I purchase one , it sounds awesome.

[@kebrun4484]

@@hardtrooth1776 Now days? I have no clue.

[@glennslatoniii4931]

I enjoy these quick, informative videos. And that face when demo’ing sitting on the blanket-😆

[@Edcognito]

My thought as well!

[@huddless50]

No wool blankets were hurt in the making of this video but one was minified.

[@Thehappyhammockhiker]

Fandabi Dozi is another excellent source. Thank you Dan, good work.

[@GarryNichols]

I really want to see you do said hand-stands. PLEASE!

[@tommythuntdeer]

Intersting demonstration. Thanks for sharing! Bank line doth not a cute bow make! 😁

[@cowboyroy1961]

Loved the video as usual! Just received my Coalcracker gum blanket by the way....freakin’ awesome!! How did I go so long without it?? I may tie some cordage in a cute little bow around it! ....see what I did there? LOL THANKS Brother!!

[@bigoldgrizzly]

Wear one of these in some cities you get pulled as a vagrant - but a cute one ;

[@johnvelas70]

Don't laugh but a quadriplegic asked me how to use a traditional cloak pin. After 7 videos yours actually made sense.

[@__-pl3jg]

The pin seems excessive. I think i'd rather push a small stone through the 2 layers of fabric, then pinch the shere shaped protrusion with something.

[@johnryan1292]

always believed in packing a cloak, good to see im not the only one

[@richarddavies7127]

My son got me a cloak pin for fathers day, a few years ago. I've been using the wool blanket cloak since then and it is an awesome addition to the kit.

[@ryankanters4385]

Is it me or does this give a game of thrones vibe?

[@karenwinkle3504]

Nice shawl. We women been utilizing this concept for centuries.😀

[@asmith7876]

It's NOT a shawl, it's a manly CLOAK! That's our story and we manly men are sticking to it!

[@trevor7355]

The cloak came long before the shawl. Also shawls were originally part of sophisticated MALE wardrobe in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar. You still feel empowered, Karen?

[@sevenarchers5953]

Hey Dan, great "quick tip". BTW, are you still planning on doing the "how to" video on making a large wool blanket out of smaller cheaper blankets? If so, when? Thanks.

[@michalurbanful]

Wish for that one too! :)

[@grahamblackall6305]

Hey Dan Is this 100% wool? And when you cut it how do you stop it fraying and falling apart? Thanks for the help Take care Graham

[@victorpena4940]

Im wondering that as well. I'm also looking for a wool blanket to re create his set up

[@Myrtle2911]

Bonus: this also works for pretty much any era of reenacting. Pins like that have been used for centuries.

[@MrTangent]

Where did you get the wool blanket?

[@aeronmb]

Thanks for another great video. I recently got two of your Coalcracker blanket pins and I can't wait to use one (got the other for my wife for Christmas, so they're hidden away for a while); have to say your oilskin haversack is a great piece of kit, too.

[@williamlong8859]

Love it, been using this type of cloak pin for decades. Tend to get my wool blankets from Army Navy surplus stores. A couple in the camp kit for everyone that may stop by and visit whilst camping.

[@jvin248]

A third option is 'a very small stone' used to create a bulb in the overlapped blanket then use a short leather or paracord tie just behind the bulb, the stone keeps the cord from slipping off. Button Stone? Choose a small smooth stone for this. Or a coin of the realm.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

.... an acorn works great

[@PaulMeyette]

New camera? It looks great.

[@mendyviola]

You don’t have to poke it through the fabric. Just use it as a tensioning clasp to preserve your fabric.

[@isaweesaw]

Thanks for the video! I'm wearing a cloak and brooch for a Halloween party this year - our ancestors had practical winterwear all figured out!

[@quietlife4me]

Hand stands....video or it didnt happen

[@davidyummus6259]

2 Yrs ago I purchased a huge 70 x 80 Fleece Blanket from Walmart for $5 & a 60 x 80 90% Wool Blanket from Harbor Freight Tools for $8 & I paired them together,... Is this high end gear ?... Nope. Is it super warm & dirt cheap ?... Yep ;)

[@zoeyonyx1]

Lmfao 🤣 i love my wool blanket..... just wish i had a pin like that 😕

[@abencheysadventures6692]

Me too think I'm going to make one.

[@killmimes]

I found mine on Amazon szco supplies

[@gringo3009]

Get one. He makes them and has them on his website. I got one a while ago. It's very nice.

[@abencheysadventures6692]

@@gringo3009 ok I'll look into it

[@killmimes]

Next video, hand stands in a shard

[@bassburd1]

I want to see the hand stand

[@puddin94]

Nice video, thank you. I have Been using one of these for years. It makes a great kilt also. Wrap it around your waist, pleat it in the front and wrap your belt around kilt then fold the excess down over the belt. It rained for 5 days strait one spring every thing I had was soaked. My blanket shard kilt and a Teflon sleeping bag were the only kit not soaked and I stayed warmish and more importantly wasn't arrested.

[@richardgummere84]

Great tip! I feel a bit cheated not seeing you do handstands though! Hahahaha

[@rickpollard1853]

I want to see the handstand!

[@papapsadventures6119]

Like a kilt pin!

[@BalthazarMyrrh70]

STONE BUTTON. Used by monks. Safer/cooler/less damaging than a pin. (Find a smooth, roundish stone, tuck it in from underneath, twist & tie with cordage, zip or hair elastic. Holds cloak like a button. No danger of pin opening & stabbing you in your sleep or when fighting off trolls.)😅

[@jwoltremari]

Thanks for simple survival vids. so many people will have a hard time when the great EMP happens or they are lose in the wild!

[@RaechelleJ]

Cool

[@Calibri57]

Love your humor! Another great vid...short and sweet ... and informative

[@johnnyquest5727]

Thanks for sharing a terrific idea! So a Twin Blanket is 90 x 66 and you "cut a third" (so around 22") . . . final product is around 90" x 44" ? I think you're around my size or slightly taller so that should work for me. The only thing I don't understand is where you find "wool shards." Looks like the local woolen shard department at Walmart is gone. LOL So . . . can you recommend a good blanket to perform surgery on? I looked at buying wool by the yard but it's actually cheaper to invest in a blanket and cut it. I'm just not sure which are actually worth the money for bushcrafting. Thanks again for sharing this idea. I'm guessing a 90 x 44 wool shard would be around 2-3 pounds which is great considering all you can do with it.

[@Sam-gf1eb]

Instructions unclear. I stabbed my blanket with my knife and it didn't heal itself.

[@HarshmanHills]

multi purpose items are great to have in your kit

[@sherryhayhurst3027]

I'm still waiting for the handstand! Lol

[@ernestitoe]

I'm so manly I wear a pink cap every October (breast cancer month). Seriously, though, that must be tough thread. I know you wouldn't use it if it weren't tough, but on the trail, I would be extra-careful not to get the blanket caught on brush. Has the thread ever broken on you?

[@EgoTherapieLee]

really like that little lovely bow! thank you

[@puckingfickles]

Crazy. It's like people have been wearing blankets (cloaks) for thousands of years 😅

[@3vanguardofthephoenix335]

Hey guys if you arent a fan of wool... try alpaca! I love natural clothing products (clothes, toothpaste, boots, backpack, building materials) especially wool and linen! Theres a reason our ancestors wore it!!! Try an alpaca blanket though (2 in your survical kit, one for you, and one for a friend! Or if its really cold (like canada or russia) youll appreciate the second blankt to insulate you better!

[@ericsprado4631]

One of basic rules of survival is to not talk so much and get to the point. Good video but PLEASE get to point sooner.

[@renzoids]

Surprise you haven’t made a CoalCracker emblem and looped it onto your pins. Once the pin goes in and spin, the emblem shows like a badge.

[@scottpeever3198]

I have 2 different sizes of blanket pins like yours and they are awesome.....I use my blanket and pin for sitting around the camp fire doesn't get any better than that? 👍

[@theuglywolf2536]

Bro that's not how you use a pennanular brooch, holy fuck. Imagine poking holes in and out of your wool cloak like that.

[@musikSkool]

The reason why it is better than a jacket, besides it being considerably cheaper for the amount of warmth you get, it is also versatile other than just using it as a jacket. It is more easy to replace than a jacket, you can use it as a bag by wrapping it around your stuff and tying a rope to it, you can use it as an emergency tarp if you don't have anything else (even a small tarp is better than nothing), you can wear it over one shoulder if you only need a very small amount of warmth, you can put it on top of a regular jacket if you are still cold and probably my favorite part is that you can wear it different ways depending on how much warmth you need. A normal jacket doesn't have as many wearing options and it is too easy to get overheated in a jacket. Finally, it is just slightly faster and simpler to put on than a jacket, which doesn't sound like much, but if your hands are shaky and you need some warmth fast but are too tired or cold to have the manual dexterity to play with your jacket, it is much less fumbling around than a jacket. Imagine picking up your jacket in the dark and having to find the sleeve, make sure it isn't inside-out, make sure it is right side up, and then maybe have a hood to push out of the way, make sure you are putting it on forwards instead of backwards accidentally and then finally getting one arm through just to find that your arms are slightly too stiff from the cold for you to be able to get the other arm in. Once you warm up it will be easy to put on the jacket, but what are you going to wear before that? Also, on nights that aren't going to get all that cold, it has more uses than a jacket, and is perfectly fine as a replacement, lightening your pack, and giving you just a little but more cushion from the ground.

[@ItsAdventureTime1]

I would just use a potato chip bag clip... Then again that would not have the cool Lord of the rings vibe :)

[@stephenzellers9736]

I love your videos! Short and to the point. I'm in whitehall, so your stuff is local and it makes it more relevant. Thanks

[@2secondslater]

Shard us just a name to made up, right? You know that there is already a name for a short woollen cloak, right? It is called a shawl.

[@2Treesandahorse]

If you liking this then check out fandabi dozi who put the Scottish great plaid (bacsically a wollen blanket..) to the test same sort of thing.

[@svenneff]

You just sold another blanket pin sir. Sure as hell beats spending $300 on a fancy hunting coat.

[@GandBeckz]

Hi, do you go for 100% wool or a mixture? sure hard to find pure wool blankets. Thanks.

[@kekipark77]

cool, very hobbit-esque. but, how many times have you gotten poked or scraped by the exposed pointy needle?

[@NicholasMeyer515]

Couldn’t a properly made blanket pin also be the “steel” in a “flint and steel” kit? If you want to lighten the gear load?

[@RJLpt]

Her: He's thinking about other women! Him: 1:32

[@diannaharrison5931]

Thank you. I have wondered how the blanket pin worked. Pretty clever.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I have a Roman example found in a ploughed field - the pin has rusted off but the bronze frame is intact . it was quite a while before I figured how it was used

[@dangray4086]

Easier and safer from unintentional chest-piercing with shivering arms or numb hands, is a large, old school diaper pin or (same exact form factor, but pointier and thinner gauge wire) knitting stitch-keeper. One is larger, and the smaller one can nest in th larger, if carried loose. Weighs more than a needle, less than a blanket pin, is spring loaded, and has an unfailing safety catch.

[@dangray4086]

For those younglings who've never seen either of these, it's basically a very large safety pin.

[@dangray4086]

And yes, you can use it as an emergency repair safety pin, on anything from fairly fine clothing fabric, to heavyweight canvas gear.

[@dangray4086]

I like to carry two, one of each, both nickel-plated spring-steel, but they're available in modern incarnations of stainless and aluminum. Not recommending the aluminum, though it shaves weight; bends too easily under stress.

[@dangray4086]

Oh, and a couple other nice features: they can be used as an emergency attachment point on a tarp, etc. when a grommet tears out, providing a nice round eye on the non-pointy end, to slip cordage through, and if not stowed loose in a bag, pouch or pocket, can be pinned securely to whatever and wherever wherever you want, inside the pack, or outside.

[@kidbach]

Where did you purchase yours?

[@krishoogstraat6866]

I want to see the Hand Stand ! Lol

[@finnmacky7106]

I had a feeling something cool was about to pop up and.... here he is!

[@saphireflare4183]

Thank you, I always wondered how that closure actually worked

[@petergunn9149]

Capes have been around a long time they are the best at keeping you warm and dry very versatile 👍 I use a rain cape over my rain jacket keeps me dry no matter what 👌

[@Mothyone]

😂😂😂 so great, this is fantastic that last bit had to take practice it sounded like a tongue twister from grade school

[@brickempire4427]

It's a wool blanket. But I like to call it a Shard. Now, my wool-blanket-Shard.... Lesson: when you don't know what you should call something, call it everything! 😂 Really good video, I've also been doing this on trips

[@finnmacky7106]

Like magazine clip?

[@brickempire4427]

@@finnmacky7106 or soda pop?

[@FishTheJim]

its an added bonus!

[@asmith7876]

@@finnmacky7106 Ok, now THAT'S funny!

[@RogerWilber]

Hell with the blanket, I now feel so stupid for not seeing how the pins worked before...

[@Hambokuu]

Damn right, us manly men can wear cute little bows! The cuter the manlier!

[@geoffallert1921]

Note to self, always pack a sewing kit.🧙‍♂

[@abencheysadventures6692]

Let's see that hand stand.😂 Great vid

[@jorenbosmans8065]

We are manly men. We can have cute Lil bows. I did not see that coming

[@gride5153]

Your shirt looks great for winter, what brand is it?

[@GrumpyGrunt]

No pink bow? Harumph.

[@robthompson1399]

That pin could be a flint striker right ?

[@ericdpeerik3928]

Wool shart? I'm pretty sure cotton is easier to clean

[@erikperrott7302]

Must be a damn Scot. Your channel is fine to me.

[@jessevargasii9771]

I say potato, you say patato. I say shawl, and you say shard.

[@gw10758]

Where can those repo pins be found? Thanks

[@robertpattinson2065]

That's how my Scottish ancestors did it

[@cillaloves2fish688]

Thx Dan!

[@elmimodelpoderosodeisrael]

Wow awesome thanks for this video.

[@susanfarley1332]

I use a mexican shawl the same way. Its a bit wider than your half blanket and it is at least a couple of feet longer. Ive used it as a pillow, a blanket, a shawl (of course), a privacy screen when i had a baby i was nursing, and head covering that also keeps the rest of me warm. I have seen women in mexico use one to carry a baby on their back but i never figured out how they kept the baby from sliding out and hitting the floor. And since my shawl is striped in rainbow colors like a rainbow my daughter used it one year to wear as a halloween costume as a rainbow. With her face painted to match. My shawl was wool but they also have light weight ones for summer. My shawl is over 50 years old now and except for a couple of moth holes , it still works and is in decent shape. Wool is awesome.

[@cecillewolters1995]

May I ask why you would wear it during summer? It sounds kinda warm, but it also sounds like it gives shade in an open area. I have no clue which of the two options it is, if it is even one of them

[@susanfarley1332]

@@cecillewolters1995 the summer weight shawls are thin and made of cotton. Women with babies use them to carry their babies in their back (don't ask me how the babies managed to stay in them and not slip out of the bottom. I never learned how to do that. I was a kid at the time) the light shawl also provides privacy while nursing the baby. And in Mexico in some areas that are desert you do need something warm at night although they are light. They might have used a warmer one or twilight ones or a blanket if they had one. And in the hot sun a light shawl could cover the head to keep off the sun. Pretty much any use they could think of they would use them for it. And women just feel weird without one. In more tropical areas of Mexico I don't know if they use them in summer if they don't have a baby. I only visited there in December. The more modern young women in the cities don't seem to use them. Might be too old fashioned? I don't know. There are many regional costumes in Mexico and each is uniquely different. In Oaxaca, in the summer I believe, the women and men will gather in the city of Oaxaca and show off their regional costumes and the dances from their region. Now that. I would love to see. I didn't know about it until I saw it on a video about Oaxaca. I visited Oaxaca in December and that is when they have the radish festival. There put up a big display that various participants set up of dioramas of various things made entirely out of radishes. They grow some really big and long radishes in Oaxaca. Whether historical, religious, or whatever they like, they will make it out of radishes. In Oaxaca in December the weather is nice. We went swimming in the hotel pool while we visited there. Very friendly people there too.

[@cecillewolters1995]

@@susanfarley1332 Wow thanks for the reply, Oaxaca sounds amazing! I would love to see those festivals as well and tall the culture/clothes. The readdish art sounds pretty cool as well :)

[@nursekate6772]

I'd love to know where to find one that is good quality. Every search I do brings me to Amazon. 🙄🙄

[@susanfarley1332]

@@nursekate6772 i never shop Amazon. They treat their workers badly. Years ago I bought bark paintings from people in Mexico using eBay. I haven't been on eBay for a couple of years so I don't know what is on it now. But I was surprised to find bark paintings made down there, so they might be people selling shawls. But with eBay selling stuff from the US, maybe some American tourist bought one while down there and changed their mind about it and put it up for sale on eBay. I hope you find a good one. I originally had a shawl made of wool that I loved. It got stolen and I asked a friend that was going to Mexico if she would pick one up for me. She brought one back for me. It was colorful (under a blacklight it GLOWS) but instead of being handwoven out of wool it was machine knitted out of artificial fiber. I was disappointed because I love handmade natural fibers. But even though it was not what I expected it has worked for me. Kept me warm when I didn't have a blanket etc. It has a couple of small holes but is intact after all these years (almost 50 years). Try looking for a wool shawl from Mexico on eBay and I hope you have success. Or if you are ok with it one of the ones made from artificial fiber if you don't mind that. I don't like the loose woven shawls because they catch on everything and don't keep you warm. Good luck 🙂👍

[@richarddemas5262]

Warm and stylish. The Corporal Shawn Kelly is gonna be jealous.

[@recall5811]

Doubtful, I have the directions to my super suit. Flyin' away on a wing and a prayer Who could it be? Believe it or not it's just me.........

[@kidbach]

@@recall5811 co-signed and witnessed. You Mighty Awesome Devil Dog. ERRAH!!!

[@asmith7876]

@@recall5811 Is that the new Swagman Roll? Cuz I'll buy a new one in a heartbeat!

[@recall5811]

A Smith buy a blanket from Coalcracker so he can have beer money.

[@WDCallahan]

Why are you calling it a shard?

[@rubiconoutdoors3492]

It's it's called a penannular.