Looking for Knitting Pattern

[SouthernMag]

Hi all. I have seen a really neat sontag pattern somewhere from a period lady's magazine for a shawl back sontage with a wrap front. It looks like a rounded shawl in back and does not tie down but the front has the normal cris cross tie situation. I cannot for the life of me remember where I saw it and I cannot find it again after exhausting all the sources I can think of. Does anyone know what I am talking about and how I can go about getting my hands on a copy of the instructions? I can handle period knitting instructions so they don't have to be modernized. Thanks greatly, Maggie Reese

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

Hi all. I have seen a really neat sontag pattern somewhere from a period lady's magazine for a shawl back sontage with a wrap front. It looks like a rounded shawl in back and does not tie down but the front has the normal cris cross tie situation. I cannot for the life of me remember where I saw it and I cannot find it again after exhausting all the sources I can think of. Does anyone know what I am talking about and how I can go about getting my hands on a copy of the instructions? I can handle period knitting instructions so they don't have to be modernized. Thanks greatly, Maggie Reese

This might be what you are looking for. It is from the Nov. 1861 Godey's.

SONTAG, OR WOOLLEN HABIT-SHIRT.


Materials.— Two ounces of double Berlin wool, of any dark color, and one ounce of white ditto. Knitting needles, No. 10.

THIS very pretty and comfortable habit-shirt is intended to be worn under a mantle or cloak; and as it gives great additional warmth, without making the figure at all clumsy, it has many advantages over shawls and other wraps.

With the dark wool cast on five stitches, and knit, increasing one stitch at the end of every row, until eighty stitches are on the needles. This is the back. Then knit only half the stitches, the others being left on the needle (which will be found much more convenient than slipping them on a separate one). Still increase one at the outer edge, in every alternate row, but decrease one at the inner edge, in the intermediate rows, so that forty remain on the needle, until you have done seventy rows, when cast off loosely. Do the other half the same. Then take up on one needle the stitches round the neck, and along these cast off ends. Knit, with white wool, ten rows, increasing one at the end of every row. Cast off loosely. Take up the stitches along the outer edge, and do the same, increasing, and joining to the inner border at the ends, and increasing also at each side of the five original stitches, that it may set square. Cast off loosely, and work small spots at intervals with the dark wool. The ends cross over the bosom.

I think I attached a picture from the magazine but I'm not sure if it came through.

There is another on that looks more like a shawl but the front does not cross over.

[SouthernMag]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

That's it Ms. Mescher, thanks so much!!! I knew I could count on one of the good folks here to understand what I was looking for! Now, off to shop for yarn and all that fun stuff. Maggie Reese

[SouthernMag]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

Well, I thought I was ready to shop but, it occured to me that I am not sure what the modern equivalent would be for Berlin wool. I presume this is a very fine, light wool, so would fingering weight do?

[col90]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

Well, I thought I was ready to shop but, it occured to me that I am not sure what the modern equivalent would be for Berlin wool. I presume this is a very fine, light wool, so would fingering weight do?

Not in this case...Berlin can be fingering all the way up to sport or DK, and this is DOUBLE Berlin, so it will be the heavier end of things...since size 10 needles are close to a modern 4, I would use the lighter sport weight. Keep in mind this is a warm garment, so the smaller needles with the medium weight thread will give you a closeknit, solid garment.

Take a look at the article on www.raggedsoldier.com for help with modern thread and needle sizes. Go to the Needlework, necessities, and novelties link, and then "Everyone his own knitting needles".

Colleen

[col90]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

Here's an image of a young lady wearing a similar one:

[SouthernMag]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

Well that will certainly help make it knit up much faster LOL. I have in hand some fingering weight in white and was planning to knit myself some stockings but, since that will be the project from Hades (size O DP needles--you ladies got me hooked last year doing socks, now I have gotten froggy LOL) I thought I would whip out the new sontage first so it is a relief to know I can use a bit heavier yarn. Thanks so much for the information, now I can go yarn shopping (yes, yarn and fabric addict here). Maggie Reese

[SouthernMag]

Re: Looking for Knitting Pattern

Here's an image of a young lady wearing a similar one:

Nice image, pretty little thing isn't she.