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Christmas is coming. Some fellers will get woolen hose. Most will know how to care for them, but some will not.
First, some period instructions, with thanks to Virgina Mescher for supplying the references:
From _The House Book and a Manual of Domestic Economy for Town and
Country_ by Eliza Leslie (1843)
"Woollen Stockings, - These are to be done as fast as possible, and washed
precisely in the same manner as flannel [washed in white soap in warm, not
boiling water, twice, rinse in warm water, while drying slowly, shake and
stretch garment]. It is best to dry them on the boards made for the
purpose in the shape of legs and feet, over which the stockings are to be
stretched to keep them from shrinking. The boards are to be hung up by a
string to the clothes line. If you have no boards, stretch and pull the
stockings when half dry; and in hanging them out, suspend them by the toes
pinned to the line.
Black Worsted Stockings. - These should be always washed before they are
worn. Lay them all night to soak in cold water. Wash them next day by
themselves, through two waters, warm, but not hot, the soap being
previously rubbed into the water so as to form a lather before the
stockings are put in; and mixing with the first water a tablespoon of
gall. then rinse them, first in lukewarm water, and then in several
different cold waters, till the dye ceases to come out, and the last water
is colorless. Stretch them, and hang them out immediately in the air, to
dry as fast as possible. Then iron them on the wrong side.
Any dark-colored worsted stockings may be washed in this
manner. When you hang them out, it is well to always stretch them on
drying boards."
From _Treatise on Domestic Economy_ Catherine Beecher (1858)
"To Wash Black Worsted Or Woollen Hose. If new, soak all night; then wash
in hot suds, with beef's gall, a tabelspoonful to half a pail of
water. Rinse till no color comes out. Then stretch on stocking-frames, or
iron them, when damp, on the wrong side."
From _The Housekeeper and Healthkeeper_ by Catherine Beecher (1873)
"Wash the colored flannels and hose after the white, adding more hot
water. Some persons dry woolen hose on stocking-boards, shaped like a foot
and leg, with strings to tie them on the line. This keeps them from
shrinking, and makes them look better than if ironed. It is also less work
than to iron them properly."
From _Notes on Practical Laundry Work_ no author and no date but was
printed in Edinburgh after the turn of the 20th century.
"Socks and Stockings - Socks and stockings should be well shaken to be free
loose dust of sand.
If they have become muddy while worn at such games as football,
dry them, rub the muddy points between the hands to get rid of the earth
before putting into the first washing water. Wash by squeezing a pair at a
time in lukewarm soapy water, paying particular attention to the feet;
these may require to be rubbed with some of the soapy lather. Wash in
second similar water, first turning socks or stockings wrong side out,
again, paying attention to sole and ankle parts. When quite clean, rinse
in lukewarm water to remove the soap, then in a pale blue rinse if white,
and in a dark blue lukewarm water if navy blue or black.
Rinse all other colours in a second lukewarm water. Unless the
colours are very bright, vinegar need not be used as the dyes of worsted
are as a rule firmer than those of coloured flannels.
Fold evenly by seam at back of leg, pass through the wringer. Peg
to the line by the toes. Hand-knitted socks or stockings can be folded or
rolled up when dry, or they can be finished by mangling. . . . "
Do I have an agenda here? Why yes, most certainly.
Over the last year, I've seen an inordinate number of fine pairs of hand knitted period socks that have been ruined by machine washing and drying. Sometimes the unfortunate soul catches the error before it hits the dryer, but usually the damage is already done.
Normally the conversation starts something like this.... "Miss Terre, I got these socks and they have shrunk. Can you do anything about them?
And the Answer usually is : No, son, I can't. :cry_smile
Here's why: Wool, combined with hot water, soap and agitation, relaxes a bit, opens up the scales on its individual strands, and fluffs up. As the agitation continues, the strands begin to matt together. Then, a cooler rinse hits the wool, and everything closes back down quickly, matting together even more tightly. Depending on how long the agitation went on, those fine hand knit socks that once fit your size 13 pontoons, will fit, at best, my dainty size 6's and at worst, your GI Joe Action Figure.
If you will mix soap in warm water, soak your socks, hand wash them carefully, press the suds out, refill the water and soak to rinse, then reshape the socks (preferably on wooden sock boards, but at least stretch them out), then they will behave themselves and give you good service for a long long time.
Oh, and don't wash them to death either. Wool releases a good bit of odour--not all, but some. Air those socks out, change them, turn them---follow that foot care manual posted on another thread. You won't need to wash them nearly as often.
If any of this is not clear to you, go talk to your Mama or your Grandmother and ask her to teach you how she hand washed her one pair of silk stockings during WWII.
Finally, if you do mess up and ruin a pair---be honest, own up to your mistake. Don't try to pass it back to the knitter as some sort of defect in her product-----like one feller who tried to tell one of us that the socks 'shrunk on his feet' and had not been washed, when they were less than 5 inches long.
Most of the knitters in the hobby are wayyy too ladylike to call bull on that to your face---but the lady knows you are woofing her.
Here's why: There are a handfull of known knitters in the hobby who produce for the public. Then there is a second tier who knit for their family and unit. They rely on the continuing body of research and period patterns, both those in print publication, and those shared through specific list serve.
None of these knitters hie themselves over to Walmart and snatch just any old yarn off the shelf and go to knitting. Each has her own specific yarn brand that she is partial to--Karin Timor uses Cardolet Farms, Robin Stokes uses Brown Sheep, Nancy Troxel and Sister Willis use my yarns, and I'm not sure what Kim Caudell uses, but know she's been on the same stuff for at least 5 years.
Each knitter knows how her choice performs, what her gauge is, how it affects sizing, how much yarn to use............................and she sure as heck knows what it looks like if someone has washed it in the machine.
Now, a lot of you boys think you are paying a heck of a lot for a pair of hand knitted socks. You are not. Considering time on task and materials cost--these gals rarely make even the bare minimum wage for their work.
So, to sum up:
(1) Well made, well researched period socks ain't cheap.
(2) You would not put your dandy uniform in the washer.
(3) If you do, take the consequences of your actions on your own self.
First, some period instructions, with thanks to Virgina Mescher for supplying the references:
From _The House Book and a Manual of Domestic Economy for Town and
Country_ by Eliza Leslie (1843)
"Woollen Stockings, - These are to be done as fast as possible, and washed
precisely in the same manner as flannel [washed in white soap in warm, not
boiling water, twice, rinse in warm water, while drying slowly, shake and
stretch garment]. It is best to dry them on the boards made for the
purpose in the shape of legs and feet, over which the stockings are to be
stretched to keep them from shrinking. The boards are to be hung up by a
string to the clothes line. If you have no boards, stretch and pull the
stockings when half dry; and in hanging them out, suspend them by the toes
pinned to the line.
Black Worsted Stockings. - These should be always washed before they are
worn. Lay them all night to soak in cold water. Wash them next day by
themselves, through two waters, warm, but not hot, the soap being
previously rubbed into the water so as to form a lather before the
stockings are put in; and mixing with the first water a tablespoon of
gall. then rinse them, first in lukewarm water, and then in several
different cold waters, till the dye ceases to come out, and the last water
is colorless. Stretch them, and hang them out immediately in the air, to
dry as fast as possible. Then iron them on the wrong side.
Any dark-colored worsted stockings may be washed in this
manner. When you hang them out, it is well to always stretch them on
drying boards."
From _Treatise on Domestic Economy_ Catherine Beecher (1858)
"To Wash Black Worsted Or Woollen Hose. If new, soak all night; then wash
in hot suds, with beef's gall, a tabelspoonful to half a pail of
water. Rinse till no color comes out. Then stretch on stocking-frames, or
iron them, when damp, on the wrong side."
From _The Housekeeper and Healthkeeper_ by Catherine Beecher (1873)
"Wash the colored flannels and hose after the white, adding more hot
water. Some persons dry woolen hose on stocking-boards, shaped like a foot
and leg, with strings to tie them on the line. This keeps them from
shrinking, and makes them look better than if ironed. It is also less work
than to iron them properly."
From _Notes on Practical Laundry Work_ no author and no date but was
printed in Edinburgh after the turn of the 20th century.
"Socks and Stockings - Socks and stockings should be well shaken to be free
loose dust of sand.
If they have become muddy while worn at such games as football,
dry them, rub the muddy points between the hands to get rid of the earth
before putting into the first washing water. Wash by squeezing a pair at a
time in lukewarm soapy water, paying particular attention to the feet;
these may require to be rubbed with some of the soapy lather. Wash in
second similar water, first turning socks or stockings wrong side out,
again, paying attention to sole and ankle parts. When quite clean, rinse
in lukewarm water to remove the soap, then in a pale blue rinse if white,
and in a dark blue lukewarm water if navy blue or black.
Rinse all other colours in a second lukewarm water. Unless the
colours are very bright, vinegar need not be used as the dyes of worsted
are as a rule firmer than those of coloured flannels.
Fold evenly by seam at back of leg, pass through the wringer. Peg
to the line by the toes. Hand-knitted socks or stockings can be folded or
rolled up when dry, or they can be finished by mangling. . . . "
Do I have an agenda here? Why yes, most certainly.
Over the last year, I've seen an inordinate number of fine pairs of hand knitted period socks that have been ruined by machine washing and drying. Sometimes the unfortunate soul catches the error before it hits the dryer, but usually the damage is already done.
Normally the conversation starts something like this.... "Miss Terre, I got these socks and they have shrunk. Can you do anything about them?
And the Answer usually is : No, son, I can't. :cry_smile
Here's why: Wool, combined with hot water, soap and agitation, relaxes a bit, opens up the scales on its individual strands, and fluffs up. As the agitation continues, the strands begin to matt together. Then, a cooler rinse hits the wool, and everything closes back down quickly, matting together even more tightly. Depending on how long the agitation went on, those fine hand knit socks that once fit your size 13 pontoons, will fit, at best, my dainty size 6's and at worst, your GI Joe Action Figure.
If you will mix soap in warm water, soak your socks, hand wash them carefully, press the suds out, refill the water and soak to rinse, then reshape the socks (preferably on wooden sock boards, but at least stretch them out), then they will behave themselves and give you good service for a long long time.
Oh, and don't wash them to death either. Wool releases a good bit of odour--not all, but some. Air those socks out, change them, turn them---follow that foot care manual posted on another thread. You won't need to wash them nearly as often.
If any of this is not clear to you, go talk to your Mama or your Grandmother and ask her to teach you how she hand washed her one pair of silk stockings during WWII.
Finally, if you do mess up and ruin a pair---be honest, own up to your mistake. Don't try to pass it back to the knitter as some sort of defect in her product-----like one feller who tried to tell one of us that the socks 'shrunk on his feet' and had not been washed, when they were less than 5 inches long.
Most of the knitters in the hobby are wayyy too ladylike to call bull on that to your face---but the lady knows you are woofing her.
Here's why: There are a handfull of known knitters in the hobby who produce for the public. Then there is a second tier who knit for their family and unit. They rely on the continuing body of research and period patterns, both those in print publication, and those shared through specific list serve.
None of these knitters hie themselves over to Walmart and snatch just any old yarn off the shelf and go to knitting. Each has her own specific yarn brand that she is partial to--Karin Timor uses Cardolet Farms, Robin Stokes uses Brown Sheep, Nancy Troxel and Sister Willis use my yarns, and I'm not sure what Kim Caudell uses, but know she's been on the same stuff for at least 5 years.
Each knitter knows how her choice performs, what her gauge is, how it affects sizing, how much yarn to use............................and she sure as heck knows what it looks like if someone has washed it in the machine.
Now, a lot of you boys think you are paying a heck of a lot for a pair of hand knitted socks. You are not. Considering time on task and materials cost--these gals rarely make even the bare minimum wage for their work.
So, to sum up:
(1) Well made, well researched period socks ain't cheap.
(2) You would not put your dandy uniform in the washer.
(3) If you do, take the consequences of your actions on your own self.
Making them is a long, difficult process. I once watched Karin Timour knitting a pair using her tiny size 0 wooden needles and promptly understood why she and Terre charge $65. Its a heck of a deal actually.
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