Socks and Knitting

[JPK Huson 1863]

Super thread, thanks very much 18th. Never knit a pair- I've knitted socks just never, ever a whole pair- once one is completed something in my head says " Are you kidding me? We're doing all that again? Right flaming now? How about this. You put that sock away, get out the chocolate, let's have a conversation about which you prefer.

So get this, from Socks Die And Go To Heaven ( just made that up ).

Bureau of Missing Socks

 

[donna]

Such a wonderful thread. I have never learned to knit but still would like to. I know all of you who knit do a wonderful job.

 

[18thVirginia]

Donna, had a college roommate who'd decided to learn to knit. She purchased yarn, needles and someone instructed her and she made a little, very tightly knitted, scrunched up piece about 5" squre.

A male friend of ours came over and said, "Let me show you how to do it." He was the youngest son of a Home Ec teacher who had no daughters. In about 5 minutes he'd produced this perfectly knitted square. I don't think she ever picked up the needles again.

 

[18thVirginia]

Robert E. Lee's socks

According to a note supplied with these socks, they were given to General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) by his wife, Mary Anna Custis Lee (1808-1873). They were then donated to the war effort through a gift to the sons of "G. Preston" by Mrs. Lee.

https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/marb...aordinary-world-of-marbl-robert-e-lees-socks/

Though disabled by rheumatism and in a wheelchair, Mary Custis Lee was an inveterate knitter of socks during the Civil War. Mary Chesnut remarked that Mary Lee's room was "like an industrial school: everybody so busy. Her daughters were all there plying their needles, with several other ladies."

 

[ole]

We have, or had, a member who went by the screen name of SockKnitter. It's been a while since I've seen a post from her. If she's out there, I'll bet she could shed additional light on the subject.

 

[18thVirginia]

Mrs. Lee started this sock and gave it to a friend and asked that she finish it. Perhaps the friend was knitting challenged like some of the rest of us. The half-finished sock can be seen in the White House of the Confederacy section at the American Civil War Museum.

https://acwm.org/blog/white-house-wednesday-lees-unfinished-sock

Mary Custis Lee encouraged her daughters and all her friends to knit socks for Confederate soldiers, to be packed in boxes and sent to her husband for distribution. In one 6 month period, she and her associates produced 859 pairs of socks.

 

[Northern Light]

View attachment 81713

Mrs. Lee started this sock and gave it to a friend and asked that she finish it. Perhaps the friend was knitting challenged like some of the rest of us. The half-finished sock can be seen in the White House of the Confederacy section at the American Civil War Museum.

https://acwm.org/blog/white-house-wednesday-lees-unfinished-sock

Mary Custis Lee encouraged her daughters and all her friends to knit socks for Confederate soldiers, to be packed in boxes and sent to her husband for distribution. In one 6 month period, she and her associates produced 859 pairs of socks.

Perhaps she kept a souvenir!

 

[Patrick H]

Super thread, thanks very much 18th. Never knit a pair- I've knitted socks just never, ever a whole pair- once one is completed something in my head says " Are you kidding me? We're doing all that again? Right flaming now? How about this. You put that sock away, get out the chocolate, let's have a conversation about which you prefer.

So get this, from Socks Die And Go To Heaven ( just made that up ).

Bureau of Missing Socks

View attachment 81660

View attachment 81661

Now, this is a hoot. "Bureau of Missing Socks"...that sounds like a headline in THE ONION!

This is a fun thread! A year ago, if you'd told me that I would be responding to a thread about socks today, I'd have told you to lay off smokin' your Easter basket.

 

[18thVirginia]

We have, or had, a member who went by the screen name of SockKnitter. It's been a while since I've seen a post from her. If she's out there, I'll bet she could shed additional light on the subject.

In researching this thread, I found a previous thread with posts by someone name Karin Timour, who I believe produces hand knit socks for reenacting or living history outfits.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/winter-sock-knitting-pattern.9036/#post-102700

 

[18thVirginia]

Now, this is a hoot. "Bureau of Missing Socks"...that sounds like a headline in THE ONION!

This is a fun thread! A year ago, if you'd told me that I would be responding to a thread about socks today, I'd have told you to lay off smokin' your Easter basket.

Just for you, Patrick, this is from the previous thread on socks:

EPISTLE TO THE LADIES.

From camp, "W. E. M." of Gen. Lee's
army, writes the following.

Ye Southern maids and ladies fair.
Of whatsoe'r degree,
A moment stop—a moment spare,
And listen unto me.

The summer's gone, the frosts have come,
The winter draweth near,
And still they march, to [text is unclear] and drum,—
Our armies!—do you hear?

Give heed then to the yarn I spin,
Who says that it is coarse?
At your fair feet I lay the sin,
The thread of my discourse.

To speak of shoes, it boots not here,
Our Q. M's., wise and good,
Give cotton calf-skins twice a year.
With soles of cottonwood.

Shoeless we meet the well-shod foe,
And bootless him despise;
Sockless we watch, with bleeding toe,
And him sockdologize!

Perchance our powder giveth out?
We fight them, then with rocks,
With hungry craws we craw-fish not,—
But, Miss, we miss the socks.

Few are the miseries that we lack
And comforts seldom come;
What have I in my haversack?
And what have you at home?

Fair ladies then, if nothing loth,
Bring forth your spinning-wheels;
Knit not your brow,—but knit to clothe
In bliss our blistered heels.

Do not you take amiss, dear miss,
The burden of my yarn;
Alas! I know there's many a loss!
That doesn't care a darn.

But you can aid us, if you will,
And heaven will surely bless,
And Foote will vote to foot a bill
For succoring our distress.

For all the socks the maids have made.
My thanks, for all the brave,
And honored be your pious trade,
The soldiers sole to save.

 

[18thVirginia]

Sock knitting machines had begun to be used by the end of the war. Here's an illustration of one from a woman who calls herself "The Sock Lady."

http://www.smartmagpa.com/2011/01/30/meet-the-sock-lady-kim-garver/

 

[Legion Para]

Millions of miles marched by poorly clad Civl War soldiers.

The Louisiana Memorial at Gettysburg.

http://www.hyperbear.com/acw/gettysburg/acw-gettysburg-la-mon.html

Image 2: Louisiana monument. A view of the Louisiana monument itself, with the road along Seminary Ridge seen in the background. The female figure is holding a burning sphere, representing artillery. The figure on the base of the monument is a downed Confederate soldier.

A closeup:

 

[18thVirginia]

We have, or had, a member who went by the screen name of SockKnitter. It's been a while since I've seen a post from her. If she's out there, I'll bet she could shed additional light on the subject.

Okay, somehow my post disappeared. When researching this thread, I found a previous thread on socks with a Karin Timour, who I believe currently produces socks for reenactors and living history actors. http://civilwartalk.com/threads/winter-sock-knitting-pattern.9036/#post-102700

And here's a site by her, with very technical sock knitting instructions:

http://www.agsas.org/howto/patterns/knitting_sock.shtml

 

[18thVirginia]

Another previous thread, with some information about sock color:

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/period-socks-yep-socks.26216/#post-543982

 

[Legion Para]

Okay, somehow my post disappeared. When researching this thread, I found a previous thread on socks with a Karin Timour, who I believe currently produces socks for reenactors and living history actors. http://civilwartalk.com/threads/winter-sock-knitting-pattern.9036/#post-102700

And here's a site by her, with very technical sock knitting instructions:

http://www.agsas.org/howto/patterns/knitting_sock.shtml

Karin Timour is incredibly knowledgeable about Civil War socks and knits the most authentic reproductions. Her socks aren't cheap and are well worth waiting for. I highly recommend.

 

[18thVirginia]

Karin Timour is incredibly knowledgeable about Civil War socks and knits the most authentic reproductions. Her socks aren't cheap and are well worth waiting for. I highly recommend.

Thanks for that information, Legion Para.

 

[LoriAnn]

View attachment 81713
Mrs. Lee started this sock and gave it to a friend and asked that she finish it.

I came back to this thread to inspect the photos more closely in the event I get the bug to knit up a proper CW pair.
Seeing the hole that formed at the top of the gusset made me smile ~ it's a problem we still have to deal with! There's always that darn little gap. I try different tricks, and sometimes I can hide it, but most of the time I just go back and reinforce the spot with extra yarn. Or I let it be because really...who would notice it besides me?

Anyway, I wonder if Mary ever found herself thinking, "Argh, that gap!"

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

You're so better than me- become so bored after sock number one it's an orphan before one ever has a chance to be lost in the wash. Really do not know how you knitters do it! You know, with painting or pottery- other creative stuff, it's done. A sock? Or sweater? There's another sock or an entire sleeve! I'd loose my mind. Born with ants in the pants. Have watched my mother do it all my life with huge fascination- really do love seeing anyone do their crafts.

 

[Poor Private]

I have 2 pair of hand knitted wool socks- they are brown in color. Ok now for the history of them- The wool comes from a sheep named Nate. How do I know this it was one of our sheep. We (the wife and I) raised the sheep, the wife trimmed the wool from the sheep, had it processed at a local mill, the wife helped clean and process it by providing labor(barter system). she brought the wool home. A fellow reenactors elderly mother then for something to do in the winter time spun the wool, and knitted 2 pair of socks for me. This was several years ago. I still have the socks, and Nate has long since provided a second benefit to my family with more wool, and several evening dinners, when his wool production came to a close.

 

[LoriAnn]

You're so better than me- become so bored after sock number one it's an orphan before one ever has a chance to be lost in the wash.

Actually, we all feel that way. It's called Second Sock Syndrome. If the sock is very plain, much like the CW patterns I've seen and many of the socks I make (because I use crazy yarn and don't really need fancy patterns), then it's easier. Very zen. BUT if the sock is heavily patterned with lace and cables, that second sock is a challenge. This is a pattern photo (not mine) of a pair I made for my daughter who is a big Tolkien fan: Aragorn. Loved making them for her because she really appreciates my handknits, but boy...that second sock.

ETA: Photo of some of my socks. One has a small cable pattern (with sparkles ), but the other three are just fun colors. Total zen knitting.