About making clothes in the wilderness
You can use many materials for clothing and insulation. Both man-made materials, such as tarps and tent materials, and natural materials, such as skins and plant materials, are available and offer significant protection. With the right materials and skills, it is possible to create clothing that will help you stay warm and protected. Here are the basic steps to follow:
Step 1: Find Suitable Materials
The first step is to find suitable materials to make your clothing. Look for natural fibers such as animal hides, plant fibers, or even feathers. Animal hides can be used to make leather clothing, while plant fibers like grass or bark can be woven to make fabric.
Step 2: Prepare the Materials
Once you have gathered your materials, you will need to prepare them for use. Animal hides must be tanned to create leather, while plant fibers must be spun or woven into a fabric. This process can be time-consuming, but it is essential to ensure that your clothing is durable.
Step 3: Design and Cut the Clothing
Next, you will need to design and cut your clothing. Use a knife or scissors to cut the fabric or leather into the desired shape and size. Make sure to leave enough room for movement and any necessary stitching.
Step 4: Stitch the Clothing
After cutting the fabric, you will need to stitch it together. You can use a needle and thread made from plant fibers or animal sinew. Use small, tight stitches to ensure that the clothing is strong and durable.
Step 5: Add Finishing Touches
Finally, you can add any finishing touches to your clothing. This may include adding buttons, zippers, or other fasteners. You can also decorate your clothing with beads, feathers, or other natural materials.
Making clothing from animal skins
The selection of animal skins in a survival situation will most often be limited to what you manage to trap or hunt. However, if there is an abundance of wildlife, select the hides of larger animals with heavier coats and large fat content. Do not use the skins of infected or diseased animals if possible. Since they live in the wild, animals are carriers of pests such as ticks, lice, and fleas. Because of these pests, use water to thoroughly clean any skin obtained from any animal. If water is not available, at least shake out the skin thoroughly.
First, skin the animal. As with rawhide, lay out the skin or stretch the skin across a wooden frame and remove all fat and meat by cutting and scraping. Dry the skin completely for five days or if time constraints necessitate, dry over low heat. Use the hindquarter joint areas to make shoes, mittens, or socks. Wear the hide with the fur to the inside for its insulating factor.
Making clothing from plant fibers
Several plants are sources of insulation from the cold. Cattail is a marshland plant found along lakes, ponds, and the backwaters of rivers. The fuzz on the tops of the stalks forms dead air spaces and makes good down-like insulation when placed between two pieces of material. Milkweed has pollen-like seeds that act as good insulation. The husk fibers from coconuts are very good for weaving ropes and, when dried, make excellent tinder and insulation.
