A LIVING HISTORY BLOG.

18TH CENTURY LIVING HISTORY IN AUSTRALIA.

Friday 27 March 2009

17thc.-18thc. men's woolen knitted frock.

I am looking for a 17thc.-18thc. woollen knitted men’s work frock. It appears that the Guernsey/Gansey/Worsted frock was not produced before the 19th century, but I did find the following information. Can anyone tell me where on the net I can find more information on this garment? Illustrations? Patterns?
“The fisherman sweater has its origins in Brittany. Surprisingly it was not the fishermen that started to wear them, but merchants who during the 18th century travelled to England to sell onions, these merchants wore an item of knitted wool clothing that made them recognizable from a distance, the garments were made with very tight stitching, using a stitch designed for warmth, water proofing, and considerable resistance to the wind”.
“The fisherman sweater first worn by fishermen was a long garment, tightly fitted, designed to protect a sailor's back and keep the body warm. Highly practical, it had buttons on the side to aid quick wearing and removal, and was made from unwashed sheep wool, which still contained the sheep's natural oil, the very same oil that had protected the sheep from the elements; this oil is removed from modern wool, as it can smell a bit”.
http://www.yourgoldweb.com/malls-shopping/article6222.htm

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