Knitted Garters

The Workwomans Guide, 1840 - pg 255

These are chiefly worn by females, and are merely narrow strips of knitting, of three quarters of a yard long, and a nail, more or less, wide.

They are made of worsted, cotton, or soft wool; the latter is most elastic and pleasant.

For garters, set on from twelve to twenty, or even thirty stitches, according to the fineness of the material.

Knit backwards and forwards till of the proper length, when fasten off. some persons prefer a loop at the end; for which purpose, when near the end, divide the stitches equally upon two pins, and knit each pin about ten ribs, after which connect them together by binding them in fastening off.

Garters are sometimes knit by putting the material, which is fine, twice around the pin at every stitch letting the pin be very thick.

Garters are some times ribbed, at others knit, in a succession of squares of different patterns.

The Elastic Rib.

This is very suitable for cuffs and garters, as it clings or contracts to the form.

 

**

The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book, 1840

Pg 112

Garters

Two needles No. 14, and German lambs'-wool

Cast on 18 stitches. Knit in double knitting backwards and forwards until the garter is long enough. End with a point.

**

The Ladies' Work-table Book, 1844

Pg 128-9

Elastic Rib

This, as its name implies, is the proper stitch for garters, or any kind of article which is wanted to fit easily, yet firmly. You are to set on any number of loops you please, and knit one row plain; the next is pearled, the two next are plain; then one pearled, and so on alternately to the end.

Knitting for the Soldiers - Union poem

Fremont journal, (Fremont, Sandusky County OH) December 13, 1861 - Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. LOC

From the Cleveland Herald

Knitting for the Soldiers.

One eve I sat beside the grate, the time I well remember

The winds were moaning round the house, for it was bleak November,

And queer, quaint shadows, large and small, upon the walls were flitting:

And I sat by this fireside, for I was busy knitting.

And I was happy! Golden hours! Ah, fondly memory lingers,

I think of that soft, woolen yarn, fast slipping through my fingers,

A soldier’s sock, of fine grey yarn, my hands were quickly forming,

And round the house with dreary moan, the wintry winds were storming.

I thought, as fast my fingers flew, and formed the stout grey stitches,

Of our brave soldiers in the camps, on breastworks and in ditches:

Of sickness, hunger, fight and death, of TOES so cold and frozen,

(I do not think our ladies could a better task have chosen.)

I thought as on the needles flew, of where the socks were going;

Would they be on the battle-field, where the life-tide was flowing?

Or would the wearer, brave and young, dead on the field be lying;

When his brave comrades charged the foe, and sent them all a flying.

Perhaps a prisoner he’ll be, in a dungeon dark and lone,

Or, in a crowed hospital, he’ll breathe his last death moan,

Or, on a slow and weary march, o’er hill and stream he’ll go;

Or, on a level plain, he’ll stand, prepared to meet the foe.

The fire burned brightly, and I thought of these poor soldiers sitting

Around their fires, in camp at night, thankful for our knitting;

As I bent my head to seam, I thought how nice ‘twould be,

If I could know whose feet would wear, the socks t’were knit by me.

But then I thought, perhaps the foe may strip our noble slain,

And all the socks they take from them, we ne’er shall see again;

“Secesh” will have them! dreadful thought! my Union sprit rose,

I WILL NOT spend my precious time, in warming “secesh” toes.

And thus I sat, and knit, and thought, my sock kept growing longer,

And love for these poor soldier boys was meanwhile growing stronger;

God bless the many fingers that are busy in the land,

A working by their firesides, to clothe our soldier bands.

They’ve left their homes, and all that’s dear, this Union fair to save,

To keep for us our happy homes, or find themselves a grave;

And we, in peace and plenty now, are by our firesides sitting,

Can we not clothe their weary feet, with socks of OUR OWN knitting !

Union song about knitting for the soldiers

The Smoky Hill and Republican Union (Junction City, KS) August 8, 1863 - Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, LOC

A young lady in New York State sends us the following new version of “John Brown,” which is quite popular in that region. The words are pretty, and the sentiment the best we have seen adapted to this popular piece of music:

To the Ladies of the Blue Stocking Club.

By Charles Puffer.

Where the starry banners of the Union army stand,

Over hill and valley, and along the Dixie strand,

Soft appeals are coming to the ladies of the land,

For the brave, brave Volunteers.

Glory, glory, Hallelujah, &c.

Valley Forge remember, and the ashes laid below,

Tell the brave old legion of the foot prints in the snow,

Then merrily click the needles, as the echoes come and go,

For the brave, brave Volunteers.

Loving eyes are dewy as they ripple o’er with tears;

Gentle hearts are thrilling with a thousand shadowy fears;

Fairy hands are knitting for the brave Volunteers;

Tenderly we’re dreaming of the long, long ago,

The lady of her lover, and the lassie of her beau.

But every one is dreaming of the faces that we know,

In the brave, brave Volunteers.

Far away in Dixie land, when the soldiers fall,

Many a grateful tongue upon your names will call,

Breathing a farewell, and a blessing for you all,

From the brave, brave Volunteers.

Then from the Atlantic to the wide Pacific shore,

Ladies, with your loving fingers knitting evermore,

Labor for the army, as your mothers did of yore,

For the brave, brave Volunteers.

Women at War

I'm currently reading Women At War: A record of their patriotic contributions, heroism, toils and sacrifice during the Civil War by L.P. Brocket, M.D. (reprint)

Union Knitting Army.

I'm finding some interesting stories about knitting socks for the army/soldiers.

Cleveland mourning leader (Cleveland OH) October 19, 1861 - Chronicling Historic American Newspapers LOC

Union Knitting Army.

                The ladies of the O.S. Presbyterian Church, at Pleasant Ridge, Hamilton Co., have formed themselves into what we hope may be the advance guard of a grand Knitting Army. They have pledged themselves, each and every one, to knit four pairs of woolen yarn socks, or stockings, by the first of January, 1862—two pairs by the first of November, and the remaining two by the first of January, 1862.

                Appealing to their sisters elsewhere, they say: “Let each lady pledge herself to knit four pairs by the time specified, and thereby manifest the interest and sympathy we feel for the gallant defenders of our homes and firesides, by enlisting for the war in the Union Knitting Army.”

More on Patriotic Socks

Daily Ohio statesman, (Columbus, OH) April 05, 1862 - Chronicling Historic American Newspapers LOC

Gifts of Yankee Lasses.

            Our brave western boys have won the hearts of the Yankee girls as well as victories over the rebels, and the St. Louis Democrat thus speaks of the cheering gifts “for the braves;”

            We have in our office, a contribution to the Sanitary Commission’s relief stores, which is a curiosity worth inspecting. It was sent here with other articles by ladies of Massachusetts, though from what precise Yankee town or village of the Bay State, we do not know. First, a pair of soft wool hose, in top of each of which is knit the flag of the Union, with its thirteen stripes, and blue field and the stars, and the flag extending down nearly to the ankle. Attached to the hose is a slip inscribed thus:

            “When hearts are true and fingers warm

            Who can resist our Yankee Boys?

            Not any base and rebel swain,

            That Freedom’s noble work destroys

            When women knit and Yankees fight,

            Who doubts the triumph of the right!”

            The other, a flannel shirt, eagle gray, of fine soft, but substantial fabric, on the body of which is wrought with the needle, the following stanzas:

            Soldier brave, will it brighten the day,

            And shorten the march on the weary way,

            To know that at home, the loving and true,

            Are knitting, and hoping and praying for you?

            Soft are their voices, when speaking your name,

            Proud are their glories when hearing your fame,

            And the gladdest hour in their lives will be

            When they greet you after the victory.

                                                                        C.S.M

            The workmanship is neat, but the address’ “For the bravest,” might be, if such a thing could occasion contention among men who are not only brave but generous, a source of strife for the title of it, like the mythologic apple of  discord.

Starving The South

While on a vacation to visit our son and grand-dogs ...I read Starving The South: How The North Won The Civil War, By Andrew F. Smith and enjoyed it very much, it was an aspect of the war I had not considered.

http://www.amazon.com/Starving-South-How-North-Civil/dp/0312601816#