knitted items??

[daz]

Hi Chaps,After being a member for some time I thought it about time i did a post.I'm looking at knitting my own scarf/gloves etc.
1..What colours would they have been & what patterns would have been incorporated if any at all ?
2..what types of wool would have been used.?
3..what size of needles were common at that time?

many thanks
Cpl Darran "Daz" Wilson
118th Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry(Uk)
"the corncob mess"

[Spinster]

Re: knitted items??

For 'available' colors--look to the wide range of colors from various natural dyes: indigo, logwood, cutch, cochineal, walnut, sumac, fustic; but don't forget the various natural colors of sheep--greys, blacks, browns, whites, and reds.

In looking at that wide range of colors, think also of your portrayal--if predominately Federal, then choose in the indigo-logwood ranges, if predominately Confederate, then choose in the walnut, sumac, undyed ranges. These are just 'rules of thumb though--individual tastes and home production varied on these items. One of my favorite extant examples is a chocolate brown and white striped scarf provenanced to an Ohio soldier.

For stitches---look to the 'warmer' stitches. These folks were smart, and a plain stockinette was normally reserved for --stockings! Use instead a garter or brioche stitch in a fingering to small sport weight, with needles to match the yarn size.

Be generous with yourself here---have plenty of length. Wrapping your head twice with that scarf is very efficient--two light layers will preserve heat much better than one heavy layer of the same weight.

Finally, use 100% sheeps wool. Since you are in the UK, where there are still a wealth of specific old breeds available, I'd go with a nice Linconshire if you can find it. And if you can find a handspinner willing to spin for you, my, what a fine thing that would be. You'll want to tell the spinner that you want some for a scarf and some for gloves---the twist and loft for the gloves will be much tighter.