Easy Waterproof Ranger Cloak Improved!

We did it again! Our Patreon members were given the opportunity to vote on what they want us to revisit and our water-proof ranger cloak won the day! We have tried to improve this in every way while still keeping it on the CHEAP!

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[johnhuynh]

What you can do, to help cover everything like a backpack or backing gear, before cutting your hole for your head, find the center where you would normally cut it and move it about 7 inches to the front. This way the back of the cloak might be slightly lower but now, you can carry a rucksack/backpack with you and wear the cloak to cover everything from the environment. And when you're not wearing the cloak, the straps can hang off the backpack from the top, bottom, or side for storage.

[huntressmma]

These blankets, were the bane of my existence when I was in the Army! During basic training they shrank so much that they never fit the bunk. But as a cloak it works awesome!

[PatrickFlerlage]

when doing the blanket stitch, or any hand stitching really, get a fine tip sharpie and put 2 marks on your nondominant thumb. The distance between them will be the length of stitch. line one mark up with the stitch you made and then line up your next stitch with the other mark. that way you just have uniform spacing...you know...just incase that would trigger an OCD thing. but I freaking love this and would be great for bushcraft as well. Thanks!

[iancameron]

Great timing, I've been wearing capes for just on 50 years (I'm 72) and I've just had to toss out my third one. The 1st one I made in 1975 to go to a costume party as a hobbit was made from a 100% wool blanket, but cut into the more traditional shape with rounded hem and attached hood. I found it was great to wear to watch Motorcross, kept me warm and dry. When it finally fell apart I made another, same patten but only 80% wool, it was good but I noticed the differance in heat retention. The third I changed to this pattern and its great, easier to sew. Lack of a hood seemed stange at first but as I'm no longer charging about sword in hand but sitting watching the others do it, or my grandchildren playing football or racing their speedway bicycles, just folding it over my head worked out fine. The next one I'm about to make I will put in the storage staps, great idea thanks. Keep up the good work!

[nephicus]

Another reason you don't want a wool cloak all the way to your ankles, if you don't waterproof it, it will get wet, it'll get heavier, and it'll stretch quite a bit. So if it's ankle length, it'll end up dragging in the mud and over debris, eventually tattering and fraying the edge.

As for the difference between a cape and a cloak; cloaks typically have hoods, capes do not. But mostly, capes are fashion over function so are often made of more expensive materials like silk, and cloaks are always function before fashion, typically linens and wools; even though either or can be made fashionable and functional. At least, that's how I was taught the difference.

7:12 - This is why I wear wool and leather when working at the forge. Cotton is also flame retardant; at least, if it burns and you put it out, it'll just be the burnt edge.
Polyester and nylons melt and become a molten plastic glob; fuses to flesh; overall unpleasant.

[Rosalee-Eibhlin-Aine]

Fun fact, you can actually use a similar-ish process to this to create a somewhat tradition Scots kilt or plaid. Most people know the kilt for the more modern kilt which is the sort of pleated skirt you will typically see, but traditionally, kilts (or plaids as this style is now known) would be a large piece of tartan (wool) which was normally 8 Yards in length and around 28 to 32 inches in width (depends on your own taste). You can find videos online on how to put one on, you can either throw the excess over your shoulder or when its raining, you can drop it off your shoulder and pull it up as a cloak and you can pin it closed with a brooch or just a simple pin

[ryanbradley]

I made this as a Christmas present for my 20 something daughter who goes trudging through the woods often. She loves it. Her older brother says now he wants one!

[marcchoronzey]

When edging woolen fabrics, I recommend using embroidery floss. 1, it comes in an insane variety of colours and 2, it is the right thickness and strength for the kind of application you were using the leather thread you used for the edging.

[redknight]

6:36 to answer the question a cloak is the medieval equivalent to a raincoat with a hood and could wrap around a person to cover them from the rain while a cape was more a way of showing status and could usually not fit around the person totally and didn’t have a hood

[jerrythrasher]

I would've totally added pocket pouches on the bottom edges where you added the leather lol. You know how you like your hidey places lol. Great job again y'all.

[bridgetgroce]

The crow and the comments from her (?) are hysterical! Worth rewinding and watching again to catch them!

[dave]

I like the updates. I also have some ideas. You could continue a thinner band of leather up and around the neck to complete the edge treatment. Add a thin leather strip inside (just around the neck) and attach the straps a little wider. You could add some sam brown buttons to that new strip so you could add a detachable hood that could double as a bag. Put 2 grommet holes up by the neck through the newly added leather for one of those cloak pin things you made to hold it like a cape for hot days. That's it. I'm making one now. lol

[firebrandproductions]

Loves the teachers' corner with the chalk board. Professor Cl3ver.

[paulangelo]

Another advantage to wool is that when wet it retains about 80% of it's insulating value. This is why so much military equipment (socks, gloves, watch caps, dress uniforms, blankets, sweaters, and on) is made from it.

[Noneofyourbusiness-my]

16:51 I don’t know if anyone else would be interested in a video about camouflage and moving unseen in the woods but I know that I would. Also Amazing video and awesome cloak great job

[aravindvinayakan]

I received an alpaca wool poncho for Christmas, it's so ridiculously comfortable and has kept me plenty warm this winter! Doesn't hurt that I also feel like Clint Eastwood whenever I wear it 😎

[shadowkitsu]

I made one of these for around the house, and it is very warm but heavy. I even made a hood for it. I lined the whole thing with a bed sheet since the blanket was itchy. I love it all winter❤

[DryerFryer]

This is a genuinely fantastic build. I'm not into LARP but this is a project that I could see really working for me in real life as I commute in London in the rain! And it can just roll away.

Plus it's a cheeky blanket for my daughter when she gets extra cold.

I think i found my first textile project since school 😂

[pitteby]

Just wanted to comment to thank you, because of your videos i started leather work. I've made all kinds of small things, cardholders keyrings etc and now some chrismas gifts! And it all started from binging your videos! So thanks and greetings from finland!

[jjmetrejhon]

I'm a newish subscriber and I've been enjoying your videos just about non-stop since the algo suggested you. I really love your sense of humour, and your enthusiasm, but most of all how genuine it is. Your passion is contagious and your library of skills is so impressive, and I really appreciate you showing us (and reminding us) when you learn from your past experiences. I love this cloak and I'm already looking for a blanket that suits my measurements!