Forgotten Children's PictureBook ID: Man Cuts Blanket, Sews to other End
September 5, 2018 12:04 PM Subscribe
Looking for a children's picture book from mid-1980s or previous, about a man who tries to make a blanket longer by cutting off one end and sewing it to the other.
This has driven me nuts for several years, but it is particularly apropos of a budget/staffing situation at my employer right now, so I am finally asking.
I am trying to find a children's picture book. It was illustrated in full color pictures that took up the entire page.
The plot was about a man whose feet got cold because his blanket didn't cover them when he was in bed. So he cut the top off the blanket, and sewed it to the bottom, then was surprised when the blanket was no longer than it had been. He did this several times, and eventually learned the lesson that you can't make something out of nothing.
I am fairly certain that I encountered the book around 1984 (I recall being upset it didn't address the idea of seam allowance, so it had to be around when I was 8 and joined 4-H and learned to sew).
I am fairly certain the man's wife was also a character. I remember illustrations of him sewing (by hand), and one of him in the bed with his toes sticking out. I am pretty sure he had a very rosy complexion.
This has driven me nuts for several years, but it is particularly apropos of a budget/staffing situation at my employer right now, so I am finally asking.
I am trying to find a children's picture book. It was illustrated in full color pictures that took up the entire page.
The plot was about a man whose feet got cold because his blanket didn't cover them when he was in bed. So he cut the top off the blanket, and sewed it to the bottom, then was surprised when the blanket was no longer than it had been. He did this several times, and eventually learned the lesson that you can't make something out of nothing.
I am fairly certain that I encountered the book around 1984 (I recall being upset it didn't address the idea of seam allowance, so it had to be around when I was 8 and joined 4-H and learned to sew).
I am fairly certain the man's wife was also a character. I remember illustrations of him sewing (by hand), and one of him in the bed with his toes sticking out. I am pretty sure he had a very rosy complexion.
Could it be an adaptation of one of the stories about Chelm?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:35 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:35 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
There is a similar story here in The Independent under Pebbles.
Warning: somewhat racist.
posted by slipthought at 1:56 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Warning: somewhat racist.
posted by slipthought at 1:56 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have definitely read this story exactly as you described, but I don’t believe it was as a picture book—I’m fairly certain that it was part of a larger collection of children’s stories, and I have the impression they were fairly old/classic stories, maybe 19th century? Google is failing me and now I really want to know too, dammit. But I would suggest perusing some classic children’s authors’ bibliographies to see if you can find the original story, which I suspect was later turned into a picture book.
posted by brook horse at 7:52 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by brook horse at 7:52 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Is it Hiram's Red Shirt?
There's a description here on Goodreads.
It's been many years since I read it myself, but the image of the blanket you describe is ringing a bell for me.
posted by terooot at 10:37 PM on September 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
There's a description here on Goodreads.
It's been many years since I read it myself, but the image of the blanket you describe is ringing a bell for me.
posted by terooot at 10:37 PM on September 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh wow terooot! The images aren't 100% in my brain (I remember the protagonist being older) but I am currently thinking my brain has mushed something in with this because Hiram's Red Shirt is so very close. I think this might be what I'm thinking about somehow mangled up with another book (it's been about 35 years at this point, after all).
Also, I feel like this plot must be related to all of the things others mention above. The Chelm stories rang especially true in this!
posted by pixiecrinkle at 11:16 PM on September 5, 2018
Also, I feel like this plot must be related to all of the things others mention above. The Chelm stories rang especially true in this!
posted by pixiecrinkle at 11:16 PM on September 5, 2018
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posted by coppermoss at 12:10 PM on September 5, 2018 [1 favorite]