Ghillie suit materials ?

[wisconsinteacher]

I have a 2X mesh coat that I want to make a suit out of.  Will a kit with mesh measuring 4'X5' be big enough to make a pull over coat that will me made for sitting on a stool?  Also, what colors in a kit would you order?  I get 5 picks.  I am thinking 2 natural tan, brown, light olive, and lime green.  Is there anything I am misshing?  It is going to be made for hunting on the edges of fields in WI.  Thanks for looking.

[ryped]

That's the same size as mine, which hangs down to just above my knees, I'm 6' 1".  I used 4 colors, tan, brown , olive and black.  That seemed to be too dark when I was done so I removed some brown and black and used all of my tan and olive.  In hindsight I wish I would have not used brown at all, just tan, tan, black, and olive.  If you want more info just PM me, I'd be glad to help.

[lpcjon2]

Is it synthetic material kit or the Burlap?

[wisconsinteacher]

That was my next question.  Should I go burlap or synthetic?

[ryped]

I would recommend synthetic, lots of benefits.

• Water-proof
• Rot-proof
• Mildew resistant
• Fire-retardant
• Washable
• Odor-less
• Non-Allergenic

[SveinD]

These guys on Youtube have alot of instructionals, how-to's and good ghillie videos!

They are called GhillieArnhem, see them on :

 http://www.youtube.com/user/GhillieArnhem

[Sam McMichael]

Some grey and even a tiny bit of yeollw. Don't get it too dark. Dr. Ashby did a great article on ghillies, but I don't recall where it was published.

[wisconsinteacher]

Here is what I am thinking with the 7 color kit.  3 tan, brown, light olive, dark green, and forest green from this webpage.  I have a mesh pull over that was a motorcycle jacket.  I cut the liner out.  It is like a heavy jersey.  

Here is the kit webpage.
 http://www.theghilliesuits.com/PPGKC.html

[wisconsinteacher]

Do you think with the colors I have picked, my suit will be light enough in color or are there still to many darks?

[wisconsinteacher]

Last questions, for a hat, do most people use a boonie hat?  For string to tie the mesh on, would nylon tip-up line work?

[HcSmitty]

The only thinkg migh be the lime green.  If you dont use it in moderation itd look out of what.  But the Natural tan, light olive are the 2 main colors youd want.  Lighter color really absorb trapped shadow really well.  Plus that absorb the tones of whatever natural vegetation u choose to add.

[wisconsinteacher]

Would it be better to replace the Lime Green with gray?

[mjh]

I have a snythetic kit from Bushrag.  I orginally went to dark with the greens, browns, and blacks.  Got more materials, and put in more light green  and a lot more tans, and lighter browns.  A better match for my areas I typically hunt. Was 6 yards from a doe this past season and she eventually figured something was there but didn't run off.

[nchunter]

I second (or third) what people have said about not getting it too dark.  I ended up cutting off most of the black, dark brown, and dark green off my store-bought ghillie suit, and replaced it with light brown and light gray.

What I replaced it with is strips I cut out of that synthetic camo leaf blind material that you can buy at Wally World for about $10/roll.  If you wash it first you'll really fade it out to a light color.

[wisconsinteacher]

Well my mind is spinning on this.  I know I want to keep it light in color so here is my next color make up.  2 tan, 2 light olive, forest green, dark green, and gray.  Will this be light enough in color?

[WVeer]

I bought a kit and the only regret is the amount of time to tie on the strings.......seems like it took days.  I also took a small square of mesh and added string to it to make a cover for my boony hat.  I just use black safety pins to attach it when I use it.   The ghille is effective though.  I've been feet away from some game.  Another word of caution,  keep the strings away from you bow string when you shoot.  They will mess your shot up.  I use a poncho ghillie and the pull it away from the side of my body that the bowstring comes close to.

[wisconsinteacher]

I called a place and they said to just order 3 tan, 3 light olive and one brown.  Man is this difficult or at least I am making it that way.

[mjh]

Go with what you've got, tie material on such that you can redo/modify.  It's not a dificult thing just get going on it, monitor and adjust and needed.  I didn't do any major trimming until I had the combo I wanted.

[ryped]

Matthew,

This stuff is supposed to be fun.  I think the recommendation you got is a good one.  Go with it and if you want to add/remove colors later it's not that hard to change the "look".  post some pics when you fininsh.

[wisconsinteacher]

I just ordered my kit.  I got 3 tan, 2 light olive, 1 brown, and 1 gray.  I know it is supposed to be fun, but I want it to be right and fun at the same time.  Measure twice (5Xs for me) cut once.  I even have the wife thinking she is going to get to make a small cover for herself.  She can work on her own when WE finish mine.  I will post pictures when it is finished.