Historical Knit or Crochet Patterns?

Hi Everyone,

We have a pioneer farm that shows what life was like in the 1800s for the settlers who came here. I'd like to make maybe some shawls to donate so the "interpreters" can wear them. But I don't know where I can look to find historically accurate patterns for that time period. I just assume they would've crocheted or knitted at that time but I was wondering where I could find out all this information.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks, Bonnie (not in San Angelo) :-)

Reply to
mdemama
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It is my considered but unprofessional opinion that any sort of shawl you make will be appropriate. Most of the European migrants who came to the US brought their clothing styles with them - arrival on foreign shores wouldn't cause them to abandon known construction methods and styles. I would caution the use of "plain stitch", either stockinette with a garter border, or 100% garter stitch; workday shawls would've been plain, with ends long enough to tie behind one's back. A Sunday go-to-church shawl would have been fancy, and probably any color except white.

On Mon, 05 Dec 2005 18:00:50 GMT, "mdemama" spewed forth :

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

Reply to
Wooly

People took their craftwork with them when they went west, so the styles could depend on where they came from as well as what was available. One mountain man is recorded to have bought a guernsey sweater and a "Scotch hat" at a trading post, so imported things were occasionally available too. I'd look at Weldon's Practical Needlework, Vol.1, published in facsimile by Piecework Magazine, and Therese de Dillmont's Encyclopedia of Knitting. I know there are some facsimiles available on the net, too. "Handwork" I think is available on a Canadian website, and I think Mrs Beeton's needlework book is on project Gutenberg.

The 19th century was more or less when modern crochet was invented and it was wildly popular.

There are also re-enactor websites for very specific periods - you might try the US Civil War re-enactor sites to start with.

=Tamar

Reply to
Richard Eney

Hi Bonnie - Try these links, also use "vintage knitting patterns 1800's" as a search term; also, go to

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and search for v. knitting patterns - that is a good search engine.

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Reply to
Soozergirl

Another thought: email one of the major yarn/thread companies - I'm sure they'll have some resources or send you in the right direction. (Butterick? Bear Brand?) Susan K

Reply to
Soozergirl

Try this - has knitting shawls circa 1897 (maybe too late?) - Butterick.

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Reply to
Soozergirl

I have a pattern for a shawl on my website. The pattern comes from

1891, I just made one and wrote it out in modern terminology.

Go to

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, scroll down to section IIIand click on "Shoulder Shawl".

Reply to
knittingand

You have some very nice patterns on your site! I think I will be spending some time there this weekend :-)

Sandra Rose

1891, I just made one and wrote it out in modern terminology.

Go to

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, scroll down to section IIIand click on "Shoulder Shawl".

Reply to
Sandra Rose

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