Knitting "A Comfortable Comforter"
My latest project was a period scarf or comforter. This very easy scarf is shaped to be narrower around the neck and wider where it crosses on the chest. Both the shaping and shorter length make it a scarf to be worn inside the coat. I had already made my husband a scarf, but thought he might also like one in a light weight that would be more shapeable.
After I completed it, I realized this scarf would fulfill the requirements for the Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge Generosity & Gratitude. The challenge was "about celebrating the generosity of spirit and willingness to help others that makes the historical sewing community great, and giving credit and thanks to those who have contributed to our collective knowledge without expecting payment in return." Scanned on-line books are such an incredible resource to anyone involved in recreating historical items! These references take us from vague imaginings cobbled together from movies and our own fantasies to the nitty gritty of reality. We can really know what something looked like or how it was done!
A friend (Susan) showed me her version of this scarf at the 150th anniversary of Chickamauga and graciously provided the source reference. Since no yarn or needle sizes are given in the pattern, seeing her scarf helped me work through the knitting process. She said she could no longer remember the needle size but agreed that she had used fingering weight yarn. I must apologize to her for making mine in a similar color - it was yarn from the stash.
from The Ladies' self instructor in millinery and mantua making, embroidery and applique, canvas-work, knitting, netting, and crochet-work., 1853, Philadelphia
"Cast on 50 stitches; knit 44 turns plain knitting, decrease one stitch in five, until you have only 40 in the row; knit 6 turns, then decrease again 10 stitches in the row; knit 18 turns, increase 10 stitches in the row; knit 6 turns, increase 10 stitches in the row; knit 44 turns, and cast off."
This is how I chose to recreate the scarf
*Increase 1, knit to end of row
Knit 4 rows more*
Repeat pattern 9 more times. 50 stitches
Knit 44 rows
My husband wanted his comforter to be a bit longer, so instead of knitting 18 rows in the center, I knit 28 rows. The additional rows required a second skein of yarn.
Challenge Questions:Challenge 23: Generosity and Gratitude
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun wool, fingering weight, color - Enchanted Forest
Year: 1853
Historical Accuracy: Except for the 10 extra rows in the neck, as accurate as I could make it.
Hours to Complete: I ripped it out twice (after having knit a good amount) while debating the needle size, so more hours than it should have taken.
Total cost: Yarn was $5.00 for 2 skeins (purchased on clearance); I already had the knitting needles.
After I completed it, I realized this scarf would fulfill the requirements for the Historical Sew Fortnightly Challenge Generosity & Gratitude. The challenge was "about celebrating the generosity of spirit and willingness to help others that makes the historical sewing community great, and giving credit and thanks to those who have contributed to our collective knowledge without expecting payment in return." Scanned on-line books are such an incredible resource to anyone involved in recreating historical items! These references take us from vague imaginings cobbled together from movies and our own fantasies to the nitty gritty of reality. We can really know what something looked like or how it was done!
A friend (Susan) showed me her version of this scarf at the 150th anniversary of Chickamauga and graciously provided the source reference. Since no yarn or needle sizes are given in the pattern, seeing her scarf helped me work through the knitting process. She said she could no longer remember the needle size but agreed that she had used fingering weight yarn. I must apologize to her for making mine in a similar color - it was yarn from the stash.
A Comfortable Comforter
from The Ladies' self instructor in millinery and mantua making, embroidery and applique, canvas-work, knitting, netting, and crochet-work., 1853, Philadelphia
"Cast on 50 stitches; knit 44 turns plain knitting, decrease one stitch in five, until you have only 40 in the row; knit 6 turns, then decrease again 10 stitches in the row; knit 18 turns, increase 10 stitches in the row; knit 6 turns, increase 10 stitches in the row; knit 44 turns, and cast off."
This is how I chose to recreate the scarf
A Comfortable Comforter
modern adaptation by Elaine Masciale
modern adaptation by Elaine Masciale
fingering weight wool yarn (I used one full skein and just a bit more, If you don't add the extra 10 rows, you might get by with one skein)
size 8 knitting needles
Cast on 50 stitches
Knit 44 rows.
*Knit 2 together, knit remaining stitches to end of row
Knit 4 rows more.* (5 rows in the pattern total)
Repeat pattern between * (knit 2 together, knit to end of row, knit 4 rows more) 9 more times - including the initial pattern, for a total of 50 rows, 40 stitches remaining.
Knit 6 rows
*Knit 2 together, knit to end of row
Knit 4 rows more*
Repeat pattern 9 more times. 30 stitches remaining
Knit 18 rows
*Increase 1, knit to end of row
Knit 4 rows*
Repeat pattern 9 more times 40 stitches
Knit 6 rows
Knit 4 rows more*
Repeat pattern 9 more times. 50 stitches
Knit 44 rows
My husband wanted his comforter to be a bit longer, so instead of knitting 18 rows in the center, I knit 28 rows. The additional rows required a second skein of yarn.
Challenge Questions:Challenge 23: Generosity and Gratitude
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun wool, fingering weight, color - Enchanted Forest
Year: 1853
Historical Accuracy: Except for the 10 extra rows in the neck, as accurate as I could make it.
Hours to Complete: I ripped it out twice (after having knit a good amount) while debating the needle size, so more hours than it should have taken.
Total cost: Yarn was $5.00 for 2 skeins (purchased on clearance); I already had the knitting needles.
Comments
Post a Comment