Does anybody know much about the constuction and use of "lined blankets" during the war?
Does anybody know much about the constuction and use of "lined blankets" during the war?
Greg Sheppard
There is an extensive thread on this subject on the AC Forum, but in short, they were a means to add some bulk and heft to thin blankets, particularly in the south. Some were jean lined, some in muslin, and some even sandwiched in newspapers to hold in the heat. They were not quilts, so they should not be grouped in with them, but were indeed some kind of two sides blanket, sometimes bound with wool or cotton twill tape. They were not as popular as a good kersey blanket or wool coverlet, but were ersatz stop-gaps in a time when better goods were hard to find. You'll also find that anything one could wrap in, such as carpets, painted floor cloth, and wagon tarps were being used at the same time. For further information, go to the AC thread or contact Dan Wambaugh from Wambaugh, White, and Co. who has sold excellent researched reproduction in the last couple of years.
Ross L. Lamoreaux
Tampa Bay History Center
www.tampabayhistorycenter.org
"The simplest things, done well, can carry a huge impact" - Karin Timour, 2012
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