Alpaca yarn?

[sarahbear922]

I had a quick question! I'm a budding knitter, and I want to be as authentic as possible when I make myself and others knitted goods. I've only used wool yarn so far, but I know alpaca yarn is available as well.

However, as much as I've looked, I can't quite tell if alpaca yarn was ever commonly used during the Civil War by civilians or soldiers.

Any help/suggestions?

Thanks!

[Spinster]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

One would think, as alpaca dresses and suiting was ubiquitious. I can't find it either though.

An additional word of caution too. I prefer cold weather reenacting. I am most content in the 20-50 degree temperature range. I believe in multiple layers of wool clothing and knit goods.

I have a most beautiful alpaca knit hood. I insisted on it despite being cautioned to the contrary, because the color was so lovely. It's fine, light and impeccably made.

And it's so warm I can stand it on my head for about five minutes.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

Hallo!

Not alpaca yarn but:

From the US Quartermaster Manual:

"Chapter Tenth: Materials Required to Make Clothing

Uniform Coat: Medium Size

1 3/4 yards of 6-4 dark blue cloth or 3 1/2 yards of 3/4 cloth, 1 inch of sky blue facing cloth, 5/8 yard of black alpaca 30 inches wide, 7/8 yard of unbleached muslin or cambric, 3/4 yard of 24 inch canvas, 1/8 yard of buckram, 1 sheet of black cotton wadding, 3/8 yard of muslin, 2 1/4 skeins of black silk, or same quantity of black linen thread No 40, 1 yard of 12 strands silk twist or same quantity or black linen thread No 40, 5 skeins of black linen thread No 40, 1/2 skein of W.B. thread no 35, 11 coat buttons, 4 vest buttons, 1 black hook and eye. For musicians add 5 yards 3/8 worsted lace, and 2 skeins of thread."

Curt

[sarahbear922]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

The warmth is what I'm looking for, because the majority of events I do are also very cold. Same with my fiancé, which is who I'm really knitting for the most. I suppose I'll continue my search! Thanks for the info. An alpaca hood sounds devine!

[KarinTimour]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

Dear Sarah:

Welcome to the ranks of CW knitters! Thank you for asking this question -- unfortunately it does appear that alpaca yarn isn't to be found in our period. This is a topic that comes up fairly regularly on the CW needleworkers yahoo group, and there are quite a few of us who have been hoping to find some documentation of it's use.

We'd be very interested if you find such documentation, but currently, in it's absence we're regretfully not knitting with it.

If you've not yet discovered us, please come and join the discussion! It's primarily knitting and crochet, with the occassional question on tatting, embroidery or lace work.

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

[col90]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

Hi...to add to what Karin said...I have yet to see a period reference to knitting with alpaca at all...alpaca cloth, yes, as has been noted, but not using it to knit with. And if we stray into using it simply because we DO know they had the cloth, we get dangerously close to the "if they had it, they would have used it this way...." area.

If you are wanting warmth, you would be surprised at how very warm two layers of lace weight thread turn out to be....definitely documented for the period, and from personal experience, I can tell you it is surprisingly warm. Polly Steenhagen did an experiment for a dissertation a few years ago and tested how long it took an ice cube to melt when placed into a pocket made of two layers of lace weight as opposed to the heavier worsted weight, and found that the two layers was far more insulated than the other...a testimony to its insulation, and thereby warmth.


Colleen Formby

[Spinster]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

I think somehow this also speaks to the wicking properties of sheep wool over alpaca. I have an original hood in a worsted weight, made in two layers(the interior a bright golden shade, the exterior chocolate). In trying on this hood in cold weather, it is as warmer or warmer than the beautiful alpaca mistake on my part, but it not have the effect of making me sweat like a dockhand in July--which the alpaca does.

[sarahbear922]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

Aww, oh well. I was so ready to buy some of that yarn, too! But thanks so much for the information.

By the way, I joined at CW Needleworkers yahoo group a little bit ago, which sounds like a lot of fun. I've been wanting to make more than simple scarves, but a lot of period patterns are a little confusing to me (well, even modern patterns throw me off a lot, too).

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Alpaca yarn?

Aww, oh well. I was so ready to buy some of that yarn, too! But thanks so much for the information.

By the way, I joined at CW Needleworkers yahoo group a little bit ago, which sounds like a lot of fun. I've been wanting to make more than simple scarves, but a lot of period patterns are a little confusing to me (well, even modern patterns throw me off a lot, too).

If you have joined the CW Needleworkers group and find a period pattern you like, ask questions about the confusing parts and someone there should be able to help you. In the files, there are quite a few period patterns that have been converted into modern terms.