bottom shirts

[2RIVB]

Out of curiousity,does anyone know how the knit material in Skilletlicker's new run ofshirts is made? I don't quite understand what is meant by "knit". I recently viewed one of these shirts, and the material felt almost like jersey knit t-shirt material. It was quite unusual. Any help would greatly be appreciated. I have been unable to find any exact references on it. Everything I read just says knit material, and nothing more.

[SparksBird]

Re: bottom shirts

Josh,
I actually bought one of the shirts that you have mentioned out of curiousity. I have been interested in knit shirts as of lately and wanted one to study. The knit of the shirt itself does in fact look like a modern t-shirt. However, after playing with an original 1863 patent knitting machine this past weekend, it looks just like what we produced. We knit about 2 foot of a tube for a scarf, and the knit is very similar to what the shirt looks like. Actually, our machine has the original instructions with it on how to make a gents ribbed undershirt. You would simply knit each piece and then sew them together. As for how Pat Brown made the material, you would have to ask him. I imagine this is how he did it, by looking at the shirt.
Knitting machines have been around for quite a while, in an industrial setting, but companies like the Lamb Knitting machine company made it available in the household. I don't think they would have been as prominent as a sewing machine, but they were available. I hope this answers your question.

Rick Musselman
Buckeye Mess
GHTI

P.S. Wanna hear something else that is really cool? To knit the 2' section of scarf in under 2 minutes. How is that for fast? At that rate, I will have enough period knit scarves to last me all of next winter.