Knitting Socks for the Troops

[yankeewoman]

I recently came across some directions for sock knitting in the ACW. While I do understand most of the directions, I am puzzled by one thing, and thought that perhaps someone here could help me out.

The size of the needles for this (old) pattern are listed as No. 14 or 15. In today's parlance, that would be enormous!! What size needles, do you think it would be?

[dawna]

Yankeewoman:

We have an amazing woman in our group who is not only our fashion expert, but Jenna is also proficient in all things relating to thimbles, needles and thread. I have no talent whatsoever in the sewing department (Jenna will bear witness to that fact) and my worst nightmare is losing a button...thank God for the Dry Cleaners!

Dawna

[13th Illinois]

I would love toget a copy of the directions for sock knitting in the ACW. Please let me know how I may obtain it from you. I know it would help a lot of use look that much better in civil war impression.

[sockknitter]

Several years ago i bought directions for soldiers' socks from Susan Stone on eBay. She took directions printed in the 1860s in the Charleston (SC) Mercury and added notes for modern clarity. I still have the directions and would have guided you to her website, but checking the site out just now told me she's temporarily shut down!

I do know that her directions stated modern size 00 needles would work for most knitters, with larger or smaller needles recommended for those who knit more tightly or more loosely than the gauge recommended for the socks.

After several botched socks, I finally produced a pair according to her directions. They are very fine knit and do not go quickly.

Here's her website, although as I said, right now, or at that site, you can't buy the directions.

http://escproductions.bizland.com/st...uff/index.html

Possibly I wouldn't be breaking copyright law by emailing you portions of the publication.....

[kat1121]

How many stitches does it say to cast on? A modern number 4 needle takes 52 to 56, and that is a bit heavier sock. Regular modern thin sock yarn is a #2 needle, I believe.

They might also be British size needles. You could try Googling for a knitting gauge chart showing the difference between the British sizing numbers and the American.

[kat1121]

I went and looked through some of my Godey's issues, as I knew I had seen a sock featured. You know what? A lot of times, they showed an illustration with a little description and no instructions. Did they just suppose that everyone knew how to knit a sock and so didn't need instructions?

But I did notice the needle sizing was odd, so I checked it out and a size 14 is the British equivalent of a size 0 American needle. It looks like the sizing is in opposite directions -- 14, 15, 16 in British size is 0, 1, 2 in American. So, a size 0 would be a very fine yarn

[southern_belle1861]

A lot of fashion books like that don't have instructions. One of the reasons is because most people knew how to do it.

[kat1121]

When I was using Godey's for research purposes, it was in my pre-knitting days so I never paid much attention to the knitting projects. Some do have the instructions, but not alot. Interesting!

[kat1121]

Yankeewoman, here is the sock that referenced in my posts above. It is from the Jan. 1862 Godey's. The line of text at the bottom is the only "instruction" you get!: