Thanks Mr. Marchand - Anorak

HDBeav

HDBeav

Joined
Mar 1, 2001
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Wanted to thank Mr. Marchand for his anorak concept and sharing the photos/design process. I went to the surplus store and got a clean heavy blanket. Then took it to a seamstress friend of mine that uses an industrial sewing machine daily. I showed her Mr. Marchand's photos and discussed with her what I was looking for. I left behind my Carhartt coat for her to size the anorak from. She did not have a pattern but said she could work from the photos. Shortly thereafter I had a righteous anorak that will last me my lifetime.
My GF looked it over and I could tell...........better produce another one soon. So her Valentines Day present was easy this year. They are great for campfire night (lucky to have a woman that enjoys campfires) or waiting for the woodstove to heat up the cabin. Also nice for the days you just cant get warm, and make a blanket for sleeping in my car (overtime days) or for insulation from the ground. For not a whole lot of money I have a really nice piece of cold weather gear.

Dont let my mug scare the kids, thought some might be interested in how they turned out. Background is my woodshed.
 

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Besides going out and freezing for us on occasion, that's a really excellent Anorak that Rick came up with. I need to get me a friend like your's. :D
 
That is great!! After reading Rick's posts and seeing his pics, I am dying to get on board the Anorak band wagon myself. Would be a great addition to my cold weather wardrobe here in the PNW.
 
Regrettably I still dont have a pattern. Marchand (Rick :D)did post a very usable drawing with dimensions in one of his most recent threads about it. The seamstress is fairly talented and I figured she would be able to put together what I wanted from the photos. Her finished dimensions were actually almost exactly what Rick posted. I would have really liked to have made this myself but time and talent were two major factors.

If you make one, I recommend a fuller cut over a narrower one so it goes over your other cold weather clothes easily. The wool tends to put up some friction resistance over my jacket or coat, so the wider fuller cut helps with the on and off process. The wider neck opening with the button closure tends to help with this as well. I have to thank the seamstress for accomodating that.

Indeed I greatly value having a GF that loves campfires, hunting woodchucks, dutch oven cooking and supports my knife hobby:D. Some Cherokee blood in her family helps I think. Ive thought about trying the old "hey bet we can sleep out tonight by the fire in these anoraks ! " but I gotta make sure her tomahawk is out of reach first, we'll see how it goes.
 
Hey... wow.... awesome, Beav.

I'm glad my Anorak inspired you to make your own. Nothing special about the pattern. It's as simple as it gets. Did you make it double layered? Thank you for mentioning me in your post. I was going to have a bunch of these made and sell em.... but I thought that folks would like to make their own. It is rather easy if you learn the basic blanket stitch or have access to someone with a machine that can surge stitch.

I used mine last week in weather that dropped to -36C at night. I spent the night in a quickie-1hr shelter with a 1ft sq fire pit. My anorak kept me snug.

Thanks
Rick (no need to call me "Mr." .... like Doc said, that's my dad's name)

morningafter.jpg

firestartingonthetrail.jpg
 
I now have a Swanndri bush shirt and two Empire Canvas Works wool jackets (all bought used for bargain prices), but I still want to make one of these. Great idea, and yours look awesome.
 
Hey Rick,

I read your post on your recent night out, that was very cool. In that kind of temperature I woulda been looking for a huge pile of firewood though.:D Great that you managed the resources you were given and finished the challenge.
I made my anorak one layer thick for a couple reasons; the blanket was ridiculously thick to start with, and I planned to add the liner shirt without the hood to have a broader spectrum of use. I just received an Italian wool blanket (sportsmans guide) and Im really pleased with it. Headed back to the seamstress to make it into the liner shirt.
Our low temperature this winter was just below zero Fahrenhiet (sp?) and the anorak is sweet for sittin around, but if I start to move around much WOW does it start to build up heat. Anxious to see how much the liner shirt adds to it.
Been thinking about a canvas poncho or shell of some type. Trying to think of something I can use year round here for rain, snow, ground cloth, mini tarp, bedroll. I saw you were starting a canvas anorak and would like to see how it turns out. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on this.
 
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