I was reading an interesting article about the making of socks during the ACW...we tend to think of the BIG things....battles and death, and yet the little things, like knitting socks for the soldiers was a monumental task for American women and girls...both above and below the Mason Dixon line. It was estimated that soldiers went through a pair of socks a week, so we can only imagine the number of pairs that were knitted. In Alabama "every lady in the state is requested by the governor to knit one pair of socks." In Florida, between June of 1861 and 1862, Susan Bradford knitted 100 pairs, and her Aunt Robinson completed 300 pairs! It was said that women from both sides were rarely seen without knitting needles in their hands! "The women of Chester County, Pa knitted stockings with a patriotic pattern of 1 inch, red, white and blue stripes, around the top. The instructions rallied knitters .'let our brave soldiers know and feel that they are remembered and cared for in every household in the land.......ply fast your needles" Sandra