Knitting Kits

 

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Men's Patterns
Sanitary Sock Kit
Chester County Sock Kit
Gentelmen's Neck Warmer
Union Sock Pattern
Confederate Sock Pattern
Cache-Nez Pour Homme (Muffler or Scarf for a Man)
 Night Cap - French Pattern
Gentleman's Neck Warmer

Women's Patterns
Norwegian Morning or Bonnet Cap
Under-Sleeves
Under Petticoat
Ladies Knitted Vest
Ladies Knitted Scarf


 To place an order go to our  Contact page.

Men's Patterns

Sanitary Sock Kit - $17.50  

 It is one of the most thoroughly documented sock kits available. Not only would they make a wonderful addition to any reenactor’s wardrobe but provide a great opportunity to demonstrate this important skill at a living history both for women’s war efforts at home and down time for men in camp. This kit contains 100% sport weight wool, the original United States Sanitary Commission Bulletin pattern, and a modern translation to make things easier for today's knitter. While the pattern is of Northern origin, it is typical of mid 19th-century woolen socks and can be used for folks portraying either side. Kits are available in the colors listed below. 

 
Chester County Sock Kit - $17.50

  Chester County, Pennsylvania knitters developed these patriotic tops for the 1864 Philadelphia Sanitary Fair. This sock kit comes complete with every thing you will need, to make the pair of socks pictured on the left. This kit contains 100% sport weight wool, a copy of  the original     “Chester County” flyer, the original United States Sanitary Commission Bulletin pattern, and a modern translation to make things easier for today's knitter. Not only would they make a wonderful addition to any reenactor’s wardrobe but provide a great opportunity to demonstrate this important skill at a living history both for women’s war efforts at home and down time for men in camp. Kits are available in the colors listed below. 

 
Confederate Sock Kit - $32.50 

This pattern is from the “Macon Daily Telegraph and Confederate” 1864. This sock kit comes complete with every thing you will need to make the pair of socks pictured on the left. This kit features Vegetable dyed yarns from Terre Lawson. The yarns were custom dyed and exclusively for these sock kits. It is fingering weigh 100% wool, a copy of the original article, and a modern translation to make things easier for today's knitter. Kits are available in Indigo, Pomegranate and Logwood (shown)
Union Sock Kit - $17.50

The following pattern is of socks titled “Socks for Soldiers and Others.—The Government or Army “Regulation” Pattern” published in “The American Agriculturist” – December, 1861. This pattern has been newly discovered by me and is not available anywhere else. It has the earliest known date of any sock pattern specifically for knitting socks for soldiers during the American Civil War. The information is from my personal collection. This sock kit comes complete with every thing you will need, to make the pair of socks pictured on the left. This kit features Jagger fingering weigh 100% wool, a copy of the original article, and a modern translation to make things easier for today's knitter. Kits are available in Indigo, Dark Gray, Medium Gray, Light Gray, Blue Gray and  Brown.
Night Cap - French Pattern - $17.50  

Taken From “The Ladies Knitting & Netting Book – Second Series”, Miss Watts, circa 1850 . If you are concerned about keeping warm in the winter this is a period-correct way to do it. As you can see it also works great for this century. Due to the unique way this cap is constructed there are 4 layers over the ears! This kit also includes directions to knit this cap using the modern "Magic Loop" technique. This is a great first pattern for knitters learning how to use double-pointed needles. Kit contains fingering weight 100% wool, the original pattern, a pattern modern knitters can understand, . Our model (my son Henry) is shown in Scarlet. Kits are also available in the colors listed below. 

Gentleman's Neck Warmer - $14.50  

Taken from the December, 1862 Godey’s Lady’s Book and Magazine, this is a period-correct way to keep the man in your life warm when the temperature drops.  This is a great first pattern for knitters learning how to use double-pointed needles. Kit contains fingering weight 100% wool, the original pattern, a pattern modern knitters can understand, and copies of both the original etching and a photo of the reproduced neck warmer. Our model is shown in Natural. Kits are also available in the colors listed below. 

Cache-Nez Pour Homme (Muffler or Scarf for a Man - $27.50  

Taken from the January, 1864 La Mode Illustree, Journal De La Famille, this Scarf would make a wonderful present for the reenactor in your life.  This pattern is an easy one for beginners but offers enough challenge to keep an advanced knitter going. Kit contains sport weight 100% wool, the original pattern, a pattern modern knitters can understand, and copies of both the original etching and a photo of the reproduced neck warmer. Our model is shown in Natural/Charcoal. Kits are also available in the colors listed below.

  

 

 

Women's Patterns

Norwegian Morning or Bonnet Cap - $22.50

The "Norwegian Morning or Bonnet Cap"  appears in the "Godey's Ladies Book and Magazine" in February, 1861.  This kit contains the original source pattern, a modern translation and a copy of a carte d’visite picture (CDV) with two women posed with a similar cap. The original color called for in the pattern is Cerise and White. Our model is done in the color Bougainville which is what we suggest as a close substitute. Kit contains fingering weight 100% wool yarn and 100% silk ribbon needed to complete the garment. Available in the colors listed below.  
Under-Sleeves - $17.50  
First pictured in the January 1859 issue of Peterson’s Magazine, these under-sleeves will help keep you warm for those chilly events. Kit contains fingering weight 100% wool, the original pattern, copies of two carte d’visite pictures (CDV's) of women wearing knitted under-sleeves and pattern translation modern knitters can understand. The original pattern suggested Red/Brown. Our kit comes in Scarlet/Roasted Coffee which is seen our model at the left, They are also available in the color choices below which have been mentioned in other undersleeve patterns of the period.
Ladies Knitted Scarf - $47.50 
 The following pattern is  for a scarf titled appropriately enough “Scarf” published in “The Ladies Knitting & Netting Book – Second Series” 1840 . This surprisingly modern looking scarf kit comes with a special treat…more of that yummy vegetable dyed yarn from Terre Lawson. She dyes the wool at living history events using mid 19th century materials and processes. The color you see is Cochineal yarn which is dyed in progressively lighter shades as called for in the original instructions and exclusively available from “Robin Stokes”.  The 100% wool yarn is the type that is called for in the original instructions.
Under Petticoat - $52.50  

Pictured in the December 1864 issue of Godey’s Lady’s Book and Magazine, this petticoat will keep you cozy in freezing temperatures. It is my personal favorite and surprisingly easy to knit. It is especially wonderful for early spring or late fall events – even Remembrance Day.  When combined with the under-sleeves above, you’ll be toasty. The original color combination is of Scarlet/Natural. Kit contains sport weight 100% wool, period-correct natural rubber elastic covered with 100% cotton, the original pattern, a pattern modern knitters can understand, copies of both the original etching and a photo of the reproduced under petticoat.  

Ladies Knitted Vest - $22.50

The Ladies Knitted Vest first appears in the “The Ladies’ Treasury: An Illustrated Magazine” from London ,  in November 1860. The next appearance is in "Godey's Ladies Book and Magazine" in January, 1862. The Godey's source includes only the illustration and the title of the Garment is changed to "Another form for a Sontag". This pattern contains both original sources and a modern translation. Kit contains worsted weight 100% wool yarn. Our model is knitted in Plum Line, the original color called for in the English version is either gray, white or any other color. Suggested colors are listed below or you can choose from our color chart. 

To place an order go to our  Contact page.

This web site is maintained by Robin Stokes, and was last updated 01/13/2009 . All text and images are copyright 2006 by Robin Stokes, who is solely responsible for the content and reserves all rights.