Suzy Beggin, Shepherdess

                                                                                                                                            Suzy@SuzyBeggin.com

 

 

 

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Other Fun Links:

 

1858 Historic Ball

A historic dance in celebration of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debate to take place on August 30, 2008.

 

Suzy's Doozies & Suzy's Musings

My book and weekly articles.

 

Galena Historic Dance Society

A fun group to practice and learn 19th century dance.  We meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the ARC in Galena.  All are welcome!

 

Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair

A marvelous celebration of fiber.

 

 

 

Text Box: How Much Wool Yarn Do I Need?

Text Box: A Mystery . . . While vintage patterns don’t give a needle size, many times they will say what kind of needle to use.  For example, in A Workwoman’s Guide, By A Lady (1838) the author instructs to “use ivory pins” in some patterns but “use steel pins” in others.  My assumption is that steel needles were  smaller than ivory needles.   My two-ply, medium weight yarn is comparable to what a commercial yarn would call worsted or sport weight yarn.  I knit six stitches per inch with this yarn using #5 needles.  Each skein is 50 grams, approximately 100 yards.   I also have a thinner two-ply fingering weight yarn.  I knit nine stitches per inch with this yarn using #1 needles.  Each 50 gram skein is about 235 yards.    Most projects require medium weight yarn.  However, you'll need fingering weight yarn for vintage sock patterns (most modern sock patterns have been adjusted for medium weight yarn).    Check the chart below to see how many skeins you need for some common projects.         

Text Box:                      

Some averages on how much yarn you’ll need to knit specific projects:

  Number of 50g Skeins

Child’s mittens

1 to 2

Adult mittens

 2 to 3

Wide Winter Scarf, 8 inches (50 stitches) wide and 50 inches long

 4 to 5
Narrow Winter Scarf, 4 inches (25 stitches) wide by 40 inches long 2 to 3

Ribbed stocking hat

2 to 3

Man’s socks, covering the calf but not the knee (Civil War pattern)

3 to 4

Man’s sweater

9 to 10

Woman’s sweater

5 to 6