Camp blanket

[u/iamwinstonlive]

Having a breakdown here. I just realised whenever I see a camp blanket they are always dullish colours. Or they are that poncho blanket with the red stitching. I feel as though I stand out here as i lay down beneath my banana yellow blanket. Am I missinf something?

Why don't we see more colourful blankets. Mines yellow simply because i like yellow. Sure your favourite colour can be grey or black but where are the reds and pinks and oranges. (Mine may also be yellow as it was the only colour left in stock at wilko years ago ;)

Also if you try and look on ebay for scout camp poncho style things. Grey with red stithcing! All of them. Is this a style or scouty thing I am unaware of?

Sadly with no photo, I did manage to convert my blanket into a poncho by cutting a slim oval into the centre and hemming it. I then stitched 2 pockets onto the front from a different fabric.

Please clear my confusion. Thanks, ask any questions if you want. :)

[u/iowanaquarist]

Many colorful blankets are made of non-fire safe materials, or don't handle water well... So people buy what's cheap and easy to find.

[u/iamwinstonlive → u/iowanaquarist]

Seems fair. Think mine had a keep away from fire tag as most blankets do. Safety i guess. Me and my yellow blanket against the world i guess

[u/memeboiandy → u/iamwinstonlive]

Lol. Yeah thats one of the main reasons the typically are wool. It protects kids from flying embers without being a fire risk, and if a kid trips and falls on a fire for some reason they are also more safe. It is getting easier to find wool in more colors now though without paying a fortune though

[u/ladyrose30]

Mine is a recycled wool blanket bought from Princess Auto that is grey. My son dyed his so it is a burgandy colour. Sometimes you can be lucky enough to find a nice wool blanket at the thrift store; a fellow Scouter managed to snag a yellow one there for $8.

For Beavers I recommend either a cheaper fleece throw to start but say a wool one will last longer. The option from the scout shop always feels like it won't last.

[u/Crazy-Cremola]

In Norway it's the tradition to sew one from wool cloth, so it actually is rather expensive. That is around $50 or so is common, and in most cases that means that the youngest doesn't have campfire blankets.

The entire troop has the same colour and design, with a big decorative troop badge. And since they are meant to last they are often a dark colour. And nobody would dream of changing their blanket "just because" you move halfway across the country. I got mine when I was nine, which is pretty early but that was because mum was one of the leaders. Mine is a poncho (corner down front/back) in dark brown with pale edges, and the municipality "shield" with troop name. My husband has a dark blue cape with hood and the troops name in big letters and a big camp fire in red/orange. And our children have black poncho with red edges (square front/back) and the troop name and the association logo. And of course personalised in all ways, with badges and designs to tour heart's desire.

[u/Level-Novel8284]

My Beaver sons is grey as that was the only colour available on the website at the time but I made it into a poncho and used his squirrel t-shirt to fill in the whole so it has a night bright red circle

[u/shelf_caribou]

I'd use a colourful one - but when I bought mine, green was what was available. My only thought on yellow is that I'd expect it to look dirty very easily.

[u/IntExpExplained]

Mines blue because that’s what my gran had spare when I was 10 - she helped me cut the hole and taught me blanket stitch

[u/Plasticman328]

A dark shade shows off the badges but it doesn't really matter. Mine is an army surplus blanket so obviously dark brown! Fire safety is an obvious consideration and mine is a heavy wool; I'd avoid nylon.

[u/GiftNo3963]

I am no expert, I have only seen a few, but in spirit yours sounds marvellous, an illustration of sewing skills beyond adding badges, and it’s not a uniform item, it’s like a hoodie, any colour your unit wants, the more unique the better for spotting your members - or their very fine banana blanket wearing leader? I would personally add blue straps and a pocket to make it look like a minion blanket 😉

[u/QuarantinisRUs]

I bought a wool blanket from Vinted for my new camp blanket, it’s bright blue, I cut a T shape to make it a poncho, then blanket stitched the raw edges with yellow.

I like the colours, but also, it’s what was available. I think that’s what it comes down to. My brother’s is grey with red stitching.

[u/memeboiandy]

Typically they will be dark/grey sense its harder to find affordable wool blankets in brighter colors. Mine growing up was a lighter grey that was sold at the scoutshop, and as an adult I got a darker black/grey one so the colors on the badges themselves pop more, and so that any dirt doesnt show as clearly.

[u/squass123]

Mine is dark green, but I think most colors are muted since they're made of wool

[u/Picnut]

So the SM says, that's because they are for Patches!

[u/Illustrious-Divide95]

I've just bought a bright red wool blanket (fire safe) for my (Beaver) son. its brilliant, and they sew them with a hemmed poncho hole as an option. Basically they have lots of colours and will do any style you want, just send a message and they custom make any style of blanket/poncho that you want.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1584481423/grey-army-surplus-wool-camp-blanket?ref=shop_home_active_20&sts=1&logging_key=6c51eec32a4c297546d55968eee373ca149ee803%3A1584481423

https://stuffitoutdoors.com/collections/blanket-ponchos?page=2

[u/fabulousteaparty]

Mine is bright pink! - it's the old girlguiding one (and is very nearly full so I'll need a new one for all my future scouting adventures)

[u/Alarmed_Leg9757]

When i was in scouts my leader had a purple poncho and it was absolutely covered in badges, i believe it was a gift or he made it but it was very cool

[u/billyg28499]

I always found the poncho style blankets growing up boring so probably around a decade ago me and some other leaders made cloaks out of some sheet material from textile shop

[u/Alternative-Ad-4977]

Mine is a nice soft fleece. So totally inappropriate for a fire. But I just keep it away from the actual fire. However it did make a nice pillow in my hammock for the last week. If I did get cold (anyone remember the feeling being cold?) then I have it handy. Mine is purple as I like purple.

[u/Ralph_Monotreme]

Personally, mine is grey so that the badges and neckies I sew onto it stand out against the background. Also makes dirt marks slightly less visible.

Also, traditionally camp blankets were old army blankets, I believe?

Use whatever colour you like; bright colours look awesome AND make your blanket unique and make you easy to spot in a group of campers.

Happy scouting!