Civil War Era Knit-Along Instructions

 

For those of us knitting the sontag, there is a pattern in PieceWork Magazine's March/April 2009 edition. For those of us that do not have that issue, there is a free pattern at Ragged Soldier. The last time I tried the pattern, I used the period sizing, which was way too small for me. I suggest using the medium sizing that's written in.











 Materials needed: 

• 500 yards of 100% wool in a sport weight or a true DK, but not worsted for MAIN COLOR.
• 200 yards of  100% wool in a sport weight or a true DK, but not worsted for BORDER COLOR. KnitPicks is a great place to find cheaper, high quality yarn, just make sure that it is sport weight or DK and %100 wool.
• Size 7 or 8 needles  (7 for DK wool, 8 for sport weight.)
• This Pattern. I highly suggest printing it. 
• This Pattern for the border. This is the border suggested in the period directions but few people use this border and opt for a double crocheted border instead.  
• Stitch markers. You can buy these or make them by cutting a straw into thin rings. 
• Safety pin. This is used to mark the Right side of the knitting.  

Good luck! It doesn't officially start until August 1st but I wanted to give a little time for everyone to gather their materials. If you don't have a local yarn boutique or don't want to buy online, Joann's Fabrics might have usable yarn, but probably not in a wide range of colors. 

If you want to practice the basket weave stitch that we will be using on some scrap yarn, knit 5 stitches, purl 5 stitches and repeat until the end. On the next row make sure that you purl 5 stitches first and knit the next 5. Keep rotating for five rows and on the 6th row knit 5 first and purl and so on.