Machine Sewn Issue Stockings/Socks

[srcurrie]

Does anyone know of a picture available of original machine sewn Stocking/Socks issued to the Union Army? I know a picture of an example of hand knit socks is in the CRRC.
I have the chance to purchase a period sock knitting machine and was curious especially of the stockings that were made and issued.

[KarinTimour]

Re: Machine Sewn Issue Stockings/Socks

Dear Sir/Madame:

I've not seen a picture of any Federal issue socks, either machine or hand knit, and would be very interested in hearing if you find one.

Machine-made socks were supplied to the Army in our period, but the heels and toes were hand knit after the sock body was machine made. Most folks who currently make socks on a sock machine use the short-row heel, and a short-row toe that they can finish mostly on the machine itself. Hank Trent and I went on a search for documentation of short-row heels in our time period a couple years back, and the earliest provenance we could find for them was in the early 1880s. When the archives are finally back, you can search for that discussion -- I think it was in 2000 or so.

My understanding of the sock in the CRRC was that it was a hand knit sock made for a Civil War soldier. I'll go find my copy of the CRRC to double check, but I doubt that it had provenance as a sock that was bought and issued by the Army, as opposed to a sock that was sent to the soldier directly from the soldier's family, the Sanitary Commission, Christian Commission or the local soldier's aid society.

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

[MrsArmstrong]

Re: Machine Sewn Issue Stockings/Socks

[QUOTE=KarinTimour]Dear Sir/Madame:

I've not seen a picture of any Federal issue socks, either machine or hand knit, and would be very interested in hearing if you find one.

Machine-made socks were supplied to the Army in our period, but the heels and toes were hand knit after the sock body was machine made. Most folks who currently make socks on a sock machine use the short-row heel, and a short-row toe that they can finish mostly on the machine itself.

Karin,
Do you know if any one who makes these machine made socks would make them without the heel and toe for sale to knitters. I would think it would not be very difficult to just hand knit the heel and toe as apposed to knitting a whole pair. Like they did in the past and do "piece work" at home. Hmmmmm....interesting.
Susan Armstrong

[srcurrie]

Re: Machine Sewn Issue Stockings/Socks

I have searched quite a bit and cannot find any pics. I have not yet checked Echos of Glory. Maybe I'll get lucky...