Work/knit shirts

[Mutt]

Evening all,

So I'm getting deeper into developing my civilian impression - laborer, worker, possibly farmer. I was a "dandy" of sorts at Perryville (sidenote - there's a pic of me in "Civil War Historian" in the tavern :)) I've been mulling over what type of outer garment would be a good choice. I have a beautiful unlined linen sack coat, but of course it isn't warm nor extremely durable. A "Sunday's Best" article or spring/summer wear at least. I'm therefore looking for an alternative.

I did a quick search on the forums for "work shirts" and it led me right back to where I thought it'd take me, the fairly recent post on farmers clothing. I also noticed, again, the mention of knit shirts as an outer garment.

I was curious if an "overshirt" would be just as good a choice until there is a knit outer shirt being made by a vendor? I'd assume it would be simple, although I've seen an exceptions to that on the market now and in photos.

Thanks for any and all help.

Best,

[Pvt_Jack_Bauer]

Re: Work/knit shirts

N. ************ makes a nice workshirt...picked one up a few months ago....also I believe skillet licker actually has a knit "undershirt" avalible for around $80...check them out...i can send you a pic of my workshirt if you want.

[Mutt]

Re: Work/knit shirts

Thanks much for the info Brian. I had forgotten about ************'s knit shirt. Got a nice PM about one available as well! Too much going on in my real life lately to remember everything going on in this life haha.

I have found several vendors making wonderful looking over-shirts, work smocks, battle shirts etc. I'd really like to make my own, but if I'm as busy as I have been, a few more bucks shelled out for a ready made might be the best path anyhow.

I had also forgotten to mention that before the posting on "farmers' clothing" I had purchased a red flannel undershirt from Corner Clothiers. Comfy. :) I suppose my question isn't just "is there anyone who makes knit shirts and over shirts" but more "how's an overshirt sound for the impression I'm going for?" Always like to double check, even after researching. Plus I love feedback and convo.

Thanks and Best Regards,

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Work/knit shirts

Matthew,

Take care when selecting reproduction knit undergarments. Many that have come onto the market in the past five years have been different from originals I've viewed in that some are too simply made or made from materials I have yet to view in an original.

What you do want to look for is a garment made of knit wool rather than silk or cotton. I don't think I need to expound the virtues of woollen cloth as compared to any other. Every original knit garment I have viewed featured pretty standard features; hand or machine-felled seams, or French seams, centered or off-center placket, no collar, extra-large body hem (upwards of 2" in some examples), placket cut from white silk or polished cotton, M-o-P buttons, rib-knit cuff sewn to the sleeve or knit as part of the sleeve, or a hemmed cuff (not unlike the cuff of the "Louisiana shirt" in a few examples). Original civilian style knit shirts ARE out there!

As far as knit over-shirts go, I haven't seen one. I don't know what would qualify as a knit over-shirt though; the extant examples I've viewed were all made from light to medium weight machine knit wool yardgoods. There seem to have been heavier knit wool outer garments such as sack coats and jackets, but there is little information about those and may have been used only as lounging or comfort items. I think a good example of this type of garment were the gray rib-knit wool "Aspinwall" sack coats purchased for the 7th N.Y.S.M. in 1861. Check out some images of that regiment on the Library of Congress for a good look at the knit coats!

Probably the best collection of images showing honest-to-goodness workmen can be found here: http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-b...s;med=1;c=lysh There are several images showing common laborers donning knit shirts in various stages of wear and tear. Plus check out the black wool mule-ear pants most are wearing.

Brian White
Wambaugh, White, & Co.

https://www.wwandcompany.com

[Spinster]

Re: Work/knit shirts

Well Mutt, I was hoping you'd seen that picture of yourself in Darling Daughter's semi-respectable den of iniquity. Mr. Morgan has not seen it, though I left a message for him today to tell him the two of you were now famous for laying about a tavern in the daytime.

[Mutt]

Re: Work/knit shirts

Mr. White,

Thank you so much for the specs of original knit garments. I was just mulling over, after posting last night, how great what is out there really is. For one, I'm not really looking for an undershirt anymore. ************'s QMD knit undershirts look nice, but they're QMD, military issue, military specs, etc. I had actually based my idea of a knit outergarmennt on the images from the link you provided. It is and has been and invaluable resource for me in my research. The fact that there isn't much variance in what all are wearing is a great aspect to consider.

While a correctly made knit outergarment would be perfect, I still am wondering on a work shirt. Especially since they are out there and if I so choose I can attempt to make my own.

Mrs. Lawson - The best part of the image being in the latest issue is that it is also the first issue my father has received in his subscrption which I purchased for him as a Chiristmas gift. :) I knew I could "get famous" if I just sat around and waited haha!

[Silvana Siddali]

Re: Work/knit shirts

Here's an image of a knit shirt found aboard the Steamboat Arabia.