hudson bay blankets

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Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket Shoes

Posted by James on October 5, 2013
Posted in: New Home. Tagged: , , . 8 Comments

You read that right,

Shoes. Who could have know?

Last January I wrote the History of the Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket. One of my favorite things on Earth.

Last week, a dear blog follower sent me a picture of these striped wonders, and this week…they are on my feet.

How Amaze-ballz are they?

Hudson Bay Point Blanket and Jack Purcell

2 of my favoite things, working togther in perfect harmony.

So the Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket Company gathers up the courage to call the Converse Shoe Company and asks them on a date …….let’s assume that they shared a nice dinner, some drinks, perhaps a walk under the stars,…… they went back to the Converse Shoe Company’s house and they made sweet, sweet love.

A few months later – baby. (Of the Lifesaver Striped wool, Jack Purcell variety)

Just love them.

…and there’s no doubt who the father is.

The History of the Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket

Posted by James on January 11, 2013
Posted in: Did Ya Know?, New Home. Tagged: , . 39 Comments

Hudson's Bay Point Blanket in Canoe
(Photo via rowellphoto.com)

Very few blankets hold the iconic status that Hudson’s Bay Point blankets do.

These stripped blankets were created by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the Northern part of North America in 1780. Typically, the wool blankets were traded with Native Americans for pelts; arctic fox, lynx and most importantly beaver.  The beaver pelts were shipped to Europe to meet the demand for beaver fur top hats. (I know, I had to read that twice too) Not just pelts, the blankets were also traded for buffalo robes, pemmican, moccasins, and other trade goods. Native Americans prized the blankets because of their ability to hold heat even when wet.

Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Add with Earth

Because they were easier to sew than bison or deer skins, Point blankets were made into hooded coats (called capotes) by both Native Americans and French Canadian voyagers and were perfectly suited to the cold Canadian winters.

To this day, clothing manufactures are still making coats and jackets from, and inspired by, these awesome blankets. Even Jamie has a toggle sweater from Rugby that he wore to meet the Young House Lovers a few months ago.

Hudson's Bay Point Blanket Add

Although woven in a handful of background/stripe colors, the “favored” look of Hudson’s Bay Point blankets are the ones produced with stripes of green, red, yellow, and indigo on a creamy white background. The stripe colors were chosen simply because they were easily produced at the time with colorfast dyes. They have always reminded me of a cheerful roll of Life Savers candy. The large stripes woven at the top and bottom of the blanket are called “Headings”. But more importantly, there is a series of small 5-6 inch lines woven in the side of the blanket called “points”.  It’s these points that identify the size, weight, and of course the value, of the blanket. (Not it’s value in terms of beaver pelts, as is sometimes believed) These could be “read” without unfolding and measuring the entire blanket. Pretty clever, Right?

Stack of Hudson's Bay Blankets

From the Hudson’s Bay Company website:

Each blanket was graded as to weight and size using a point system. Points were identified by the indigo lines woven into the side of each blanket. A full point measured 4 – 5.5 in.; a half point measured half that length. The standard measurements for a pair of 1 point blankets was: 2 ft. 8 in. wide by 8 ft. in length; with a weight of 3 lb. 1 oz. each. Points ranged from 1 to 6, increasing by halves depending upon the size and weight of the blanket. The number of points represented the overall finished size of the blanket.

Jeep Rigged with Camping Supplies and Hudson Bay Point Blankets

Remember when we covered that chair the previous owner left in the garage with military blankets?

I am an absolute fanatic for mid-century teak furniture with cushions upholstered in these old striped blankets. These pieces were all available from Sit and Read in Brooklyn.

Hudson's Bay Blanket Furniture

They have that perfect mix of relaxed/formal; comfortable/modern; ….. little bit “country” and a little bit “Rock-N-Roll”.

But who would have though to use them as window coverings?

Blankets as window coverings

Now that I have y’all in a feverish frenzy to buy one…….here’s where you can,

Genuine Hudson’s Bay Blankets continue to be sold by Canada’s Hudson’s Bay Company, and are available to buy from Woolrich. There is also a version made by the Pendleton company, refered to as “National Parks Blankets”, but these blankets are not true Hudson’s Bay and most importantly are lacking the points on the sides.

Without the points, how could anyone possibly know how many beaver pelts they are worth?

Hitchhiker with Hudson's Bay Point Blanket

Swiss Army Blanket Chair

Posted by James on January 31, 2012
Posted in: New Home. Tagged: , , , , , . 4 Comments

SOOOOO, A few days ago, whilst prowling the internets, I came across this picture….

Everybody knows that I am all about a Hudson Bay Blanket. My Pendleton obsession runs a close second to my glass ornament fetish. (Both border on the fringe of 12 step program help) This picture totally reminded me that we have a very similar chair that belonged to the previous owner in our living room. That’s the “formal” room at the front of the house where Harley sleeps all day – also the only room sans a television. It is possibly because of the dog smell and lack of TV viewing that we don’t really use this room for much.

I did install can lights a few weeks ago…so there’s something.

When we were at the house for the home inspection, I snapped this picture of a heap of crap the previous owner had in the garage.

See it there? Underneath what could have possibly once been a side table and some scrubbing pads? Pretty Groovy chair, right? Obviously has a cool 1950s vibe. The cushion covers are hainus in person…olive-green-pea-green-chartruse pollyester stripe……. Now the chair shape, on the other hand, I knew I could do some magic with that. Jamie was eying the lawn mover and weed eater to add on to the closing, I was scanning this chair and an orange light fixture that has yet to be used anywhere in the house. But I digress. We offered 200$ for crap in the garage…the previous owner excepted.

Here’s my second piece of chair inspiration…

Beautiful, isn’t it? Mid-century office mixed with Swiss Army Blanket….AAAAhhhhhhh (wheels are turning ) See where I’m headed with this post folks?

I posted this picture on my Pinterest page, and my dear friend Amy quickly informed me that this chair was from her shop, Red Barn Mercantile, a few years ago… Small world.

Hudson Bay blankets are about 200 dollars….Swiss Army Blankets, on the other hand, are much more reasonably priced. Mostly because there are so many reproductions available……if you aren’t “married” to the idea of 100% wool, that is. Since I plan on chopping this baby up, 100% wool isn’t that crucial…actually, a little poly in the mix will keep it all-the-more stain resistant.

Every online military surplus shop I tried was completely sold out of these blankets (in the 25$ range). Every time I placed an order, I would receive a follow up email refunding my purchase because they were no longer in stock. What the Hell? Of course, there are plenty available for 300 bones.

Maybe I could do some shopping in person, like people did in the olden days. We took a chance and hit up The Army Store in Garland Texas. I’ve driven by this shop hundreds of times, it’s 2 blocks from H. Depot, but Never been inside. Honestly, it looks a little, well, ummm, sketchy. I’m giving them props because I completely loved the place. There was inspiration hanging from the ceilings. Literally, HANGING FROM THE CEILINGS. Boiled wool peacoats, vintage foot lockers, silk parachutes, and just like I wanted …….”mostly” wool military blankets…

50% wool, and 50% something else…Not really sure what the “Something else” is, but who really cares? They were 22 bucks each. We bought 4. Navy with a reddish stripe, grey with a yellow stripe, and (big sigh of relief ) brown with a red stripe.

We bought 2 of the brown. These will be our new chair cushions. Too bad they are the only blankets with a little whip-stitch around the edge…because it will just be hacked off in the process.

They also have this crudely sewn cross…..

After much consideration, we decided to seam-rip the cross off, and focus on the red stripe as the detail of the cushions. Genuine Swiss Army blankets have a cross woven into the red stripe. This sad sad cross ain’t fool’n nobody.

I kinda love this project, because I have already done most of my part. The remainder is left up to my seamstress. ( under my supervision , natch ) I can sew a pretty decent pillow, and occasional Christmas stocking, but I feel much more confident having a professional line up the 2 stripes on 2 separate cushions.

I went through a similar dilemma a few years ago trying to decide if I wanted to pay a framer or just tape a cherished picture into an Ikea frame……I assure you, I am WAAAYYYYY happier with the professional framing job.

And I will be with this chair as well…..

We’ll keep ya’ll posted on the finished product.