31 Days of Pintrest: Day 26 DIY Cape From a Hudson Bay Blanket

I love Hudson Bay wool blankets. These vintage finds are a great treasure if you can find them at a reasonable price at flea markets and antique shops. In good condition, they will fetch about a hundred dollars or more. I fell in love with this red one at a recent flea market, and knew that it was destined to come home with me, it was only $20.00.

You can't tell from the photo, but the reason it was only $20.00 was because the other half of the blanket looked like Swiss Cheese. It had a million mouse holes chewed in it. I am sure that little mouse was one happy camper.

I was one happy camper at the flea market. I love antiques.

They have such personality, I am helpless to resist.

Just like I was helpless to resist this red blanket. Did you know that the Hudson Bay Company has been in business since 1670? Incredible! You can still buy this same blanket new, but it will cost you a pretty penny at $370.00. Here's the link to this incredible Scarlet Wool Blanket.

So my story goes like this: I had planned to make a cape from this blanket from day 1. However, it took me days and days to sew up all the mouse holes. Then I washed and dried it in hot water, felting it. I had hoped this process would close up some of those holes, which it did. But, when my kids saw it, and curled up under it on the couch to watch a movie, they loved it! I was convinced to keep it as a blanket for a time. But, because the wool is old and fragile, the holes seemed to appear again, and I am back to my original cape idea.



There were a few on Pintrest, but not many.

I bought a few supplies like black seam binding and a couple of big buttons to finish it off, but in the end I decided not to use them.

I didn't really use a pattern, just copied a cape I had from Coldwater Creek. It's a few years old, but I love it. It's a great item to throw over a blazer instead of a heavy coat. It also looks great with boots and leggings.

I just copied the shape of my throw on to the blanket and cut it out. I positioned it so I was cutting off most of the fabric with the mouse holes. I left extra length for that classic black stripe in the back, then sewed the matching stripe on to the front pieces. I rounded the corners, and I had intended to trim all the edges with the seam binding, however, I decided I didn't like it. I left the edges raw for now (felted wool doesn't unravel), but I am toying with the idea of blanket stitching the edges with some back wool yarn. I nixed the buttons idea altogether, deciding that I liked the option of just throwing it over my shoulder.

I will have to make my kids another blanket for them to watch TV with. This one is mine!

Designer Mom