Vintage ad for Jaeger, Pure Wool Bedding.
I love wool… I lost the reference for this one but I think it’s very early 1900s.
When Wool Was King
Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
Vintage ad for Jaeger, Pure Wool Bedding.
I love wool… I lost the reference for this one but I think it’s very early 1900s.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 
Wait…WHAT!!!…Wool isn’t King anymore…???…Lord help them all…their all going to freeze to death!!!
LOL,
j
It is to me, and all the other smart kids. It’s just all these new “miracle” fibers I don’t get. And, it’s nearly fire-proof.
I love designing and building architecture, but I also love outdoor living and ILS skills development…
I will share a little “idiosyncrasy” of mine…(Don’t tell anyone please how weird I am…LOL)…but I have slept outside for a minimum of 300 plus days a year most of my life…be it 60 below or 100 plus…When its really cold out…natural fibers beat the shit out of modern fibers every single freaking time!!!
As to fire resistance…wool can be match at all (other than nomex forms perhaps?) for constructing a “hot rock” or “coal bed!” It truly is very fire resistant!!!
Thanks for a great Post!!!
I fully agree. I have slept out and worked outdoors most of my life and I am completely sold on wool. Nomex has it’s place in my motorcycle kit for sure.
We raise sheep and thus have a lot of wool here as well — my wife knits, spins, and does a little weaving. Our home is chocked full of old cedar chests, all of which are full of wool. We focus on breeds with softer wool, which can be a real surprise to people who invariably think wool is “scratchy”. New wool garments are still enormously expensive unless you buy used. I’ve developed a fondness for used Filson wool garments, as well as for WWII era army surplus wool pants on Ebay, particularly Belgian and now Swedish. They all wear superbly (wool fibers are so much more durable than cotton or synthetics!) I can usually find military surplus pants — often never issued — for $25-35, and they last for decades. The Swedish pants have the nicest wool, but come with a canvas cuff/strap that I’m sure is super functional, but looks a little goofy for everyday wear. Just ordered them a little long and cut that part off, and re-hemmed. Clothes from this era also used linen thread, which is another plus imho. Synthetic clothes are responsible for much of the micro-plastic in the oceans, as wash water makes its way through sewage treatment plants with the fibers unscathed.
All well said. Thanks for the comment.
Seriously…I couldn’t agree more…
As a Timberwright and Wilderness Educator, I understand the place of synthetic fibers, and they do have there place…
Nevertheless, if you need something that is going to outlast even your own existence, these natural fibers, when taken care of, can do just that…LAST!!! I have pants that are over 100 years old and still functional, my Shepherd’s Cloak is from Uzbekistan (a gift from a dear friend) it is more than warm and functional…I have utterly know idea how incredibly old it is…but it still does as it was intended…Shed water and keep the occupant warm…
Combine natural with synthetics correctly and you have a wardrobe and bedroll that can go to any location on the planet (or altitude) and it will keep you more than alive…
To David V…Deep thanks for keeping wool alive on the farm…I practice most of the fiber arts myself, but tend to focus on the folk styles and modalities…For me…Felt is the ruler of them all!!!!…It does everything that the other textile arts can…but in my view…Felt does it better…
Keep up the love for wool everyone!!!!
Blessings,
j
Thanks Jay. I love your comments.
And I must say I am a huge fan of your blog George!!! It’s a treat each time I get an alert that you have been moved to share something with all your followers…Deep thanks Brother!!!
j