The sign of the unicorn. A fabric shop for 18th century reenactors and historians.

Yarns

Throughout the 18th century stockings, mittens and men's caps were commonly made of wool knitting yarn and knit on bone needles. We have selected these yarns because of their appropriateness to the 18th century.

We at present carry two types of yarn: Fishermans, and Acadian Tweeds. They are available in 2 ply and by special order 3 ply. Special order minimum is 4 skeins

Between 1760 and 1783 it has been estimated that 11% of the stockings in New England were knit of mixed wool. Regardless, throughout the colonies mixed stockings were common.

Fishermans | Acadian Tweeds

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Acadian Tweed

Acadian Tweed

In The Providence Gazette in 1776 "RUN away . . .  a Negro Fellow . . .  had on when he went away . . .  a thick black and white mixed Jacket and Breeches, Stockings much of the same Colour".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Medium Sheep's Gray Natural Acadian Tweed to Cart

Medium Sheep's Gray/Natural
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Acadian Tweed

In Virginia in 1775 "a convict servant" man ran away "who is a native of London . . .  He had on, and took with him . . .  a pair of mixed red coarse sale do. [stockings]".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Garnet Midnight Acadian Tweed to Cart

Garnet/Midnight
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarns

Available in a wide range of colors, including four pure undyed colors: natural, light, medium, and dark sheep's gray. These are put in 4 oz Full Measure (TM) skeins (2 ply and 3 ply) for $7.00 each. Also available in sport weight (1 lb cones) for $26.00 each.

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Fisherman's Yarn

Black was a very common color for stockings. In The Pennsylvania Gazette in 1770, "Run away . . .  a servant girl . . .  had on, and took with her . . .  black yarn stockings".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Denium Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Charcoal
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

Blue was among the most common colors for stockings. In Virginia in 1774, "a servant man named JOHN MASON," ran away. He "is by trade a perukemaker; had on . . .  pale blue stockings."

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Denium Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Denim
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

Surprisingly brown appears less frequently than blue, white and grey for stockings. Nonetheless brown is present as this Virginia ad from 1768 shows, "RUN away . . .  a convicted servant man . . .  a butcher by trade; had on when he run away . . .  brown stocking"

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Oatmeal Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Oatmeal
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

White is probably the most common color for stockings estimated at 24% of those in New England but common in all the colonies. In West-Jersey, within three miles of Philadelphia a servant man ran away in 1776 with "white yarn stockings".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Undyed Natural Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Undyed Natural
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

Grey is one of the most common colors for stockings estimated at around 20% of those in New England but common in all the colonies. In Virginia in 1774, "a stout down looking fellow . . .  born in Wales, and speaks on the Welch dialect . . .  he took with him . . .  several pair of coarse grey stockings".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Light Undyed Sheep's Gray Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Light Undyed Sheep's Gray
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

In Rhode Island in 1772 "a Mulatto Man Servant . . .  had on . . .  Sheep's Gray Stockings".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Medium Undyed Sheep's Gray Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Medium Undyed Sheeps Gray
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

In 1764 from Rhode Island "a Negro Man Servant . . .  had on when he went away . . .  Sheeps Black Stockings".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Dark Undyed Sheep's Gray Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Dark Undyed Sheeps Gray
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

In the New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury in 1776, "Deserted . . .  from Capt. George Anderson's Company, in Col. Silas Newcomb's Battalion of Jersey Forces, now stationed at New-York . . .  Had on when he deserted . . .  .coarse light blue Stockings . . .  he had just received his Bounty for Inlistment".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Cornflower Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Cornflower
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

In Pennsylvania in 1775, "a native Irish servant woman . . .  says she has a husband in the army at Boston . . .  had on and took with her, when she went away . . .  blue stockings".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Midnight Blue Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Midnight Blue
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century historical reenactors and museum interpreters.

Fisherman's Yarn

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Spruce Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Spruce
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Gold Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Gold
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fisherman's Yarn

In The Pennsylvania Gazette an ad described in 1777, "Run away . . .  an Irish servant girl . . .  had on, and took with her . . .  one pair of crimson coloured stockings, with white silk clocks".

4oz. Skein $7.00 2-Ply Yarn

Add Garnet Fisherman's Yarn to Cart

Garnet
Knitting yarn, 100% wool for historical reenactors and museum interpreters.
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Fishermans | Acadian Tweeds

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