Cotton Socks for the Army

[MrsArmstrong]

I have two patterns for knitted socks from newspapers for ladies to knit for the army and they recommend wool. Has anyone seen a pattern that is for cotton? I find that there is a difference in knitting with cotton instead of wool for socks. One is much less "stretch" and the fact that smaller needles are called for with cotton being thinner than wool. As wool was scarser than cotton in the south was wondering if any patterns appeared in news accounts using cotton. Also the ladies were knitting for anonymous gentlemen and they would need some "guage?" to follow for say small, med and large so that there would be some uniformity...no? Thank you.

Susan Armstrong...just turned the heel :D

[KarinTimour]

Dear Susan:

I've never seen a newspaper print directions for a cotton sock, but I can double check some of my other knitting sources when I get home this evening. Didn't think about it, but of course there would be much less stretch...hmmmmmmm.

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: ktimour@aol.com

[Fiddlebum]

Let me just say, I detest making socks with cotton and try to avoid it whenever possible. If you want cotton socks from me, you'd better be somebody I love a lot. A WHOLE LOT. :wink_smil

Now, that being said... I've seen original socks in cotton, but like Karin, I don't recall offhand that I've ever seen an actual printed pattern calling for it. Wonder why?

One of these days I'm going to get really brave and make some linen stockings for my 18th century kit... yep... one of these days..........

Cheers---

Kim Caudell

[KarinTimour]

Dear Susan:

Sorry for the delay, but I've finally been through the various books here and I did find a pattern in "Treasures in Needlework" by Mrs. Warran and Mrs. Pullan, published in 1870.

It calls for 121 stitches cast on Number 16 needles (American current size 0000) with either cotton number 24 or fine lambswool. Through the original book is well out of copyright, my copy is a more recent facsimile reproduction. In keeping with the policy here about not posting copywrighted images, there is also the issue of copyrighted patterns.

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- socks, hats, balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Gerkin]

Ladies,

My mother has recently offered to make me some socks, and has been looking for a pattern. I was wondering if any of you could post, or send me a pattern to pass on to her. And, where could I get some good wool yarn? I have been looking at all of the fabric stores around here, and all they have is cotton.

Thank you all

[KarinTimour]

Dear Charlie:

Has your mom knit socks before? If not, get her a copy of Nancy Bush's book "Folk Socks" (costs about $18 new, lots of used copies out there for cheaper) as it has a very good chapter for new sock knitters on "how to knit a sock".

But only some of her patterns are period correct. For a good sock pattern, go to "Directions for Socks for the Army" on the 10th Texas website:

http://members.aol.com/cbbelt/Cloth/socks.htm

Some things she will need to know about reading period patterns -- "seam" means "purl" in modern knitting terms. "Knit plain" means "knit" in modern knitting terms (as opposed to purl). The needle size is listed as 14 or 15 which in modern sizes is 0 or 00. She could probably go with the 0 rather than the 00 unless she is a really loose knitter. The pattern calls for "27 stitches on each needle" and it's assuming you're using 3 needles, for a total of 81 stitches.

Sock wool
She can order sock yarn from Carodan Farms which is a family-owned business and sheep farm in the Shenandoah Valley. They stock their own brand of yarn spun from the sheep they raise and also a wide variety of commercial sock yarns from around the world. Make sure that she orders their own brand. Most commercial sock yarn has man-made fiber spun into it so that you can wear it longer without holes. This is not only inauthentic, but a) any man-made fiber will cause your feet to get hotter during a march and b) during a cold night, if you should accidentally put your feet in the fire, the wool will smolder and resist burning, but the man-made fiber content will often quickly catch and then melt to your skin.

She should make sure to get the sock yarn for this pattern, not the worsted weight wool.

Their website is: www.carodanfarm.com

Hope that is helpful,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting - socks, hats, balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Gerkin]

Mrs. Timour,

Thank you very much. I'll pass that on to my mother, and she if she makes since of it. As for me, I have no idea what you said, but thank you and God Bless.

[KarinTimour]

Dear Mr. Gerkin:

Thank you for your reply, it made me laugh -- yes, knitting as with any other specialized interest has it's own language.

You're entirely welcome, and I hope the information helps your mother make you an excellent pair of socks. I know she takes pride in her work by the respect in your post back to me -- but I've been chided by my friends for one small point -- I've not got a husband, so I"m not entitled to "Mrs." You couldn't know that, and it's always wise to err on the side of caution.

Thanks again for your post, it was a reminder that not everyone speaks fluent knitting jargon!

Sincerely
(Miss) Karin Timour
Period Knitting-Socks, hats, balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[MrsArmstrong]

Well I am using "sorta" the directions from the WWGuide. So-far-so-good....I have made it to the foot. :D
I have been doing on a good day about 2", which is about 40 rows give or take a few. Today has been a very good day for knitting and got about 60+rows while doing three big loads of laundry :baring_te !
If anyone tries this I would suggest keeping a knitting diary to keep track of any alterations or mistakes that are in your sock/stocking so you do the same with the mate as this takes a bit longer than knitting with wool and you are sure to forget what you did on the first. :cry_smile That way they come out the same!
Susan Armstrong

[lydee54]

I have never posted here but may I suggest buying a second set of needles and working on Both socks at the same time. A very wise lady, Mary Stock gave me this advice. It Really helped me. Also it seemed to go faster! Needless to say doing it this way means both socks come out the same length, and all alterations came out even..

Lydja Urban

[ElizabethClark]

Lydja, that's a wonderful suggestion, and just might help me solve the problem I have with knitting one sock, and being so bored out of my mind I never knit the second. LOL (My mom is the knitter--I just know how, too, but refuse to do it. Mom is teaching my daughter, and then I can avoid it for another generation as well.)

I wonder if cotton socks were more easily done in a factory setting, on perhaps some sort of machine? (No information here, just raw speculation and curiosity.)

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

My mother just knit me a pair of wool socks...using a period "longmarcher" pattern...It took her about 4-5 months to decipher, and figure it out...but she should be turning out a sock a day now....

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04

[KarinTimour]

Dear Mr. Boulden:

Could you tell us more about the "period "longmarcher" pattern"? I'm always interested in another period pattern for socks.

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[MrsArmstrong]

Knitting two at a time....I have enough trouble on one! LOL
This is a "experimental" first cotton sock so I knit and rip out...knit and rip untill I get over whatever "hump" has stumped me. The second sock will go like the wind once I get the first "OFF" the needles! I usually can get the second done it about 1/3rd the time, as it is "in" my head by then.
Also I am working off of a cone and it would mean winding enough to do one sock...first, to time consuming for me, and I hate it if I have to weave in "extra" end if I don't have too.
YES...it would be much easier and faster to just purchase machine made socks and just do the heel and toe! I do not know what it would entail to leave off those parts when knitting them on a machine and making them "transportable" so they don't unravel, for sale along with the extra cotton for finishing. This would be great if there was say a "kit" that one could purchase and take to an event. Say three for $X plus cotton, then one could have one finished for "show" one on the needles and one to show undone. Just thinking....now back to my knitting.
Susan Armstrong

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

The 1860s Longmarcher pattern was purchased from Sue Stone. www.stonesneatstuff.com. Not sure how many questions to answer...because I didn't do the knitting. If there are specific questions I will see what I can ask my mom and I am sure Mrs. Stone would be more than happy to answer questions also. She answered alot of ours.

Thanks,

Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04