Question for survivalists
 

A question for those of you who have/are stockpiling supplies of any kind. What are your plans for clothes? Do you have plenty hidden away? Or are you concentrating on the supplies and skills to make or repair your own � cloth, sewing machine, needles, wool etc?

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Depends on the duration (and situation) you're talking about.

I think the one consideration that should be given would be to that of cold weather gear. Most "survivalists" hunt anyway, therefore have plenty of good quality cold weather gear.

Anything can be adapted for warm weather.

Most Americans have FAR too much clothing (myself included) and could last for years on what they have. Just look at how closets have been made over the last 50 to 100 years. Old homes didn't even have closets, just a wardrobe and that was enough. Try that nowadays. We have to have walk-in closets now. Pretty pitiful when you think about what you actually wear daily.

I guess the only other consideration would be for kids that would outgrow clothes.

But in answer to your question, no, I'm not stocking up on clothes or means to repair them.

SJ

Re: Question for survivalists
 

50 - 100 years ago (even 20 years ago) most women were capable of mending their clothes, which were also made to last much longer than clothes are nowadays.

I'm just curious about thinking on this subject � I've seen masses of info on stockpiling food, silver, guns, toilet paper!:D but no mention of clothes ....

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Our goal is complete independence. Right now my wife sews all the clothes for the kids. We've been talking about having her try some shirts for me, but that makes her nervous. We do have a large stock-pile of donated fabrics. Even fabrics that look outdated can be made attractive with a modern pattern. She has two sewing machines (different stitch patterns) which were both given to her from family (they both needed a "tune-up" for about $40 each). I got her a serger for Christmas, and that has made some stuff a lot easier (such as finishing hems and fabric trimming).

Likewise I just took up reloading. Eventually I hope to cast my own bullets (from bullets caught in bullet traps). I have the lead melting pot, but not the molds yet.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

The word 'survivalist' is sorta funny to me.....I assume everyone that isn't actively trying to commit suicide is a person who would like to see the sun come up tomorrow, and thus a "survivalist"......I guess some just put a little more effort into that goal of seeing sunrise than others....... :D

Sorry for the right turn....back to our program......

thoughts on clothing......

1. Yes, we do keep some of spare clothing....especially boots and winter clothing. The boots, new in boxes in closets.....I go thru a couple pair every 2-3 years, and then buy more to replace them ahead. Clothing we keep in large plastic tubs in the attic.

2. Wife does sew, or used to a lot when she had more time, and knits and crochets even now.....she make a heck of a sweater ! She keeps quite a bit of cloth, threads, yarn, etc in stock.

3. Should the poopie TRULY hit the fan, there is going to be a LOT of surplus clothing around from folks no longer around to wear it.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Super post, Andy!:applause_

You are right, 'survivalist' is a kind of silly word now I come to think about it! :D

These days at GIM you try to find the least emotive word you can think of so someone doesn't detrail your thread! ...

I am greatly in favour of knowing how to knit, sew, crotchet etc, partly because you never know when you might need to, and partly as I hate the idea of old crafts falling into disuse.

I guess the US is like here in the UK, that most of the clothes are made in sweatshops in the Far East and Eastern Europe, and apart form anything else, I can't see them ever being much cheaper than they are now ...

Your last point, well, probably .....

Re: Question for survivalists
 

To my credit I know how to spin fiber, weave cloth, sew and mend.
I often think I should buy that spinning wheel I keep putting off.

If TSHTF and lasts for a long time... decades? Peak oil.. ...
well it will be nice to have real organic fabric and less petroleum
based stuff? (agree Jerry?)

IF TSHTF for that long, will your current clothing last decades, even
if mended? I am buying extra for my family and also to barter with.

Also.. in the great depression my grandmother was a hairstylist and
she made a great living, she said people would starve to get a good
haircut. (Vanity a necessity?) So I am betting that having some
nice looking clothes to barter with will be a good item.

I suppose learning to cut hair is not a bad idea either.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Impressed! :applause_

Re: Question for survivalists
 

How true. Stick with 'preparedness'...tends to frighten the sheep a little less.

What we've been doing the past couple of years is putting away our used but still servicable clothing. We clean them, vacuum pack and store in Rubbermaid containers.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Andy says:
"The word 'survivalist' is sorta funny to me.....I assume everyone that isn't actively trying to commit suicide is a person who would like to see the sun come up tomorrow, and thus a "survivalist"......I guess some just put a little more effort into that goal of seeing sunrise than others....... "


Understanding terms is actually fairly important. A "survivalist" is more than someone who wants to live another day. A Survivalist is actually someone who has decided to assure the continued comfort and safety of his/her family, in recognition of the daily and special exposures to risk which that particular family must endure.

Survivalists are not hoarders or preppers. They are formulators and doers. The Survivalist Family knows how to garden, slaughter meat, hunt, fish, gather, fabricate, and is prepared to live without dependence on others. Some may embrace the "living w/o dependencies", others avail themselves of all conveniences as long as they choose or until no longer available.

The Survivalist realizes that money is a tool that can enable greater preparedness if mundane/ordinary daily living requirements are purchased. Buying clothing is much more cost & time effective than making garments and outerwear. Skills to produce goods for daily living are valuable, but it is very difficult to compete with clothing that can be purchased like new in thrift shops or resales. Patterns, buttons/zippers/thread/needles, button attachments, fabric and all the rest add up to a lot of investment and more importantly time invested by a member of the Survivalist Team.

If you have minimal funds, then maybe you need to fabricate for your needs. But, if you have some extra money, a wise shopper can acquire quality goods for a fraction of their new retail cost.

The Survivalist sees the fragility of the distribution system. Fewer merchants selling fewer items of quality. If you are expecting to acquire bullet molds at the last moment, you are in for a surprise! Very few dealers stock bullet casting gear. Very few wholesalers keep deep inventory on these items.

The Survivalist has formulated a plan and works his/her plan. The unexpected will not catch them flatfooted. When you consider all the work and expense that goes into handmade clothing, the savings are elusive at best.

If you want a more thorough understanding of what is meant by the term Survivalist, I recommend Kurt Saxon's Survivor series, Tappan on Survival, and Life After Doomsday by Bruce Clayton.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

For sure. But � I am not really a believer of the real SHTF scenario. But if you are, then I think thrift shops will be things of the past very soon. As will cheap imported clothing. If you believe in a major disintegration of society, then the ability to make or at least repair your clothes should surely be a major issue. Or did you mean use cheap options now to stockpile as much as you could need for years?

Even if the worst thing that happens is a deep recession, unlike recessions of the past, many young people now in the western world are unable to do something as basic as even shorten a trouser hem ... or darn a sock ...

Re: Question for survivalists
 

#4 here, funny thing is I color hers for her every year and all the ladies love it and asks who does it. Funny when she points to her husky, scrubby lookin man and says, "He did it" Always seems to get quiet.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Though far from having the skill..or patience...of a seamstress, I can sew. When I volunteered at the local history center, I learned how to wash, card, and dye cotton, spin it on a walking wheel, and weave it, and we used to do it for demonstrations. I'm not practiced at any of those, but I know enough to get by. At one time I wanted to get a spinning wheel and a loom, but now I really haven't the patience.

I can tablet weave (weaving decorative borders by running threads through patterns of holes in cards; the decorative borders were used in the distant past to keep cuffs and hems from fraying with wear). I can spin with a drop spindle, but I'm not practiced enough to get good length and strength from threads (I can spin a thin yarn)...it is a miserable task. I can crochet and tat (making lace with a shuttle, another miserable task that seems to be coming out of near-extinction), and I used to know how to knit, but I'd have to get out a book now, I fear. I do still have my knitting needles, etc., though. I even made a couple of chain maille shirts (which has absolutely nothing to do with sewing and everything to do with blistered fingers). I also have awls (and many, many spare needles), so I can stitch lightweight leather and webbing, etc. I've tried my hand at simple mocassins, and they came out alright. I have a clothing pile the size of Montana so I never have to do any of these tedious things unless I want to!

There are lots of places to pick up skills in this area. Trying what you read in books or on the Internet is a good start. Volunteering at a history center, joining a reenactment group, of hanging out with the elderly, etc., can provide good learning resources.

Regarding haircuts: Pfft! Who needs them! My husband and I both have long hair.
Regarding the term "survivalist": I know it's kind of silly sounding, but I like it. Maybe it's a nostalgia for the Cold War years, but it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like that feeling you get at the beginning of Red Dawn...

Re: Question for survivalists
 

I don't have near as much hair as I once did but it still needs cut to look decent. A couple years ago my daughter came by with a set of $8 clippers she bought to cut her boys' hair and tried them on me.

I bought some for myself and I cut my own hair. I keep it cut very short, it works better since I'm now half bald. Prior to taking a shower, [before the water] I get in the shower with the clippers and cut it all off down to about a quarter inch. Then I turn the water on and wash off all the cut hair and everything goes down the drain.

It looks fine and I have saved a LOT of $$. Plus I no longer have to waste time sitting in the barbershop waiting for my turn.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Back in the 70s my Mother was thinking things would get bad. She bought a working spinning wheel from a famous spinning wheel maker in Iraland.

Any way, I actually know how to spin yarn from a bag of cleaned wool after carding it. (Probebly the only man in 100 square miles that knows how and has the tools.)--Except maybe the Bosnians that have been imported by Clintons State Dept

E-A

Re: Question for survivalists
 

I buy wool military clothing any time I seeit in a surplus or thrift store. Its made very well will last forever and is warm even when wet. Plus it holds its value quite well

Re: Question for survivalists
 

I buy wool military clothing any time I seeit in a surplus or thrift store. Its made very well will last forever and is warm even when wet. Plus it holds its value quite well

Re: Question for survivalists
 

With growing children, stockpiling clothes in many sizes is not only good preparedness, it makes economic sense, too. We do all our clothes shopping at garage sales and thrift stores for cheap. I always buy good quality clothes and shoes for cheap when I find them, even if they are several sizes bigger than currently needed. That way I don't have to go to the mall and panic buy when they have a growth spurt.

But if we would have a true SHTF scenario, that isn't going to get my kids through life, so we try to buy the tools and learn the skills they might need for their families in the years ahead.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Well, whether you believe in a true SHTF or just a general economic down move, the ability to alter and mend clothes is one that may be increasingly important.

We learned at least the basics at school � I imagine it has been some time since that has been so!

At the moment it is cheaper and easier to replace than mend (of many things other than clothes) but that may not always be the case ...

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Clothing preparation? Well in this one area I'm covered. No pun intended. My better half has a degree in apparel fashion & design. She sews as a hobby and as a hobby it has a wide range. We have a spinning wheel, literally dozens of boxes of textiles, patterns, etc. One entire wall of her sewing "room" is devoted to spools of thread.

She also works in the apparel industry. A lot of my clothing is deeply discounted so we are well stocked in jackets, gloves, shoes, etc.

Without electricity it would slow her down but she could still turn raw wool into a sweater or hand sew a shirt.

Re: Question for survivalists
 

We picked up a treadle sewing machine several years ago, then I bvought a couple of belts and got it working. Not only can my wife sew, she can sew "off the grid". Check out:
http://www.lehmans.com/

Re: Question for survivalists
 

Thanks Parker. I'll certainly look into it. :D