Military Wool Meets Waxed Canvas
We recently picked up a thick U.S. military wool blanket from 2011, and once we started cutting into it, we knew some of it needed to become groundcloths.
The wool is thick, soft and substantial with a wonderful slightly bouncy feel. We paired it with our waxed canvas to create a smaller version of one of our favorite pieces of outdoor gear.
And we only made two.
Two Materials, Each Doing Its Job
Our groundcloths start with one solid piece of waxed canvas that creates the entire back of the groundcloth.
The military wool is placed on top, and the waxed canvas extends beyond it on all four sides. We fold that canvas over the wool and stitch it down, creating the finished hem and securely capturing the wool around the entire perimeter.
That construction gives you two very different sides.
Put the waxed canvas toward the ground to create a durable, weather-resistant barrier between you and damp grass, dirt, logs or forest floor.
The wool side faces up, giving you a softer and warmer place to sit, kneel or work.
Four grommets, one in each corner, give you additional options for securing or hanging it.
Small Enough to Take Along
At approximately 21" × 29", our Jr. Groundcloth gives you a useful little piece of protected space without carrying a full-size groundcloth.
Use it as:
- A seat on a damp log or forest floor
- A kneeling pad around camp
- A clean surface for organizing gear
- A place to sit while having lunch on the trail
- A work surface for outdoor projects
- An extra layer on a cold stump or bench
- A small camp mat
- A comfortable spot for your trail companion
Roll or fold it up, tuck it into your gear and you'll probably start finding uses for it that we haven't thought of yet.
About the Wool
The original military blanket is dated 2011 and was made in the USA by Northwest Woolen Mills in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
According to the original tag, it is made from 65% new wool and 35% reprocessed wool.
We love that this material already incorporated reclaimed wool when it was originally manufactured, and now we're extending its useful life again by turning it into something completely different.
Details
Size: Approximately 21" × 29"
Top: 2011 U.S. military wool
Wool Content: 65% new wool / 35% reprocessed wool
Back: Waxed canvas
Construction: Full waxed canvas backing folded over the wool to create the finished hem
Grommets: Four, one in each corner
Made: Handcrafted in our Washington State shop
Quantity: Only two made