File:Ideas for Winter Nights Art.IWMPST13863.jpg

whole: the seven images are positioned in the lower three-quarters. The title is separate and occupies the upper quarter, in white set against a red background. The text is separate and placed in the lower three-quarters, in black and in red. The images and text are partially held within narrow grey borders and set against a white background. image: seven images illustrate various means of creating warmth in an air raid shelter during winter nights. Methods include using home- made sleeping bags or heaters, taking hot drinks and wearing hand-knitted balaclavas. text: IDEAS FOR WINTER NIGHTS 1 Make yourself this sleeping bag Take any Army or similar thick blanket about 7 feet long and 6½ feet wide (pieces of old blankets could, of course, be joined together). Line with muslin or cotton material to within a short distance of the top. Sew straight across both blankets and lining horizontally at intervals of about a foot, thus making pockets which should be well stuffed with folded newspaper. The newspaper stuffing should be changed every month. Fold the two sides of the blanket towards the centre and sew together to within about 2 feet of the top. Sew together at the bottom. Sew tapes on the open sides of the bag at the top so that they can be tied together when the person is inside. Alternatively, the bag could be made of two blankets sewn together, but without the stuffing. In either case, the blankets should be ironed inside and out once a month. A sleeping bag should be aired every day. When you are not sleeping on a thick mattress, you need as much covering under you, as on top of you. Therefore, besides your sleeping bag, and even more if you are not using a bag, have a good thick layer of newspapers or brown paper on your bunk, to lie on. Paper is draught- proof and does not pass warmth. 2 Cosy warmth in bed ..... If you haven't hot water bottles for all the family, use hot bricks. They are very effective. Just heat the brick in the oven for 2 hours before coming to the shelter. Wrap it up well and it will give out warmth for hours. 3 Here's a simple flower-pot heater Stand the candle in a 6-inch flower-pot so that the hole is not covered; put a second flower-pot over the top. The top pot soon warms up, giving off a lot of heat. Raise the lower pot off the ground. 4 Have a hot drink before going to sleep NO SMOKIN[G] If you have not a thermos flask, you can make a 'hay bottle', which will keep a drink hot. Cut a square of any old woollen material, 8 inches longer than the bottle. Line with thin muslin or cotton material, sewing down the sides and leaving the top and bottom open, to be stuffed. Cut two strips of woollen material, 8 inches to 10 inches long and 4 inches to 5 inches wide, rounded at one end. Line as before, for about two-thirds of the length, leaving a flap at the end. Figure 1 Figure 2 Mark the main square into three. Fold the lower portion over the centre, making the lower half of a bag (Figure 1). Sew the two strips to each side of this case, thus filling in the sides (Figure 2). Stuff tightly the main part and the side pieces with hay or straw, and sew down the lining. Make a similar bag of American cloth, but not lined or stuffed. Put the bottle in the woollen bag, fold over, tuck in well; roll up and pin the top flap over. Put this in the American cloth bag and roll up again. Fasten securely. 5 A Balaclava helmet A Balaclava helmet, such as every soldier knows, will keep draughts off your head. Start knitting now - for yourself and the family. DO NOT HAVE BRAZIERS OR OIL STOVES IN THE SHELTER - THEY GIVE OFF DANGEROUS FUMES ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY PRINTED FOR H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE BY J. WEINER LTD., LONDON, W.C.1.