Well, it would probably be a natural fiber, cotton or wool. I searched a bit for you but had not too much luck except for this ebay offering, but you really don't know if it is authentic or not.

Could your SIL check with her group? They must have resources you could check. Maybe fabric shawls were more common then than knit/crochet ones.

Sounds like a very fun project.

Here is a link that might be useful: civil war shawl

Thanks for the link! The shawl looks pretty much like 2DC chain a couple, 2DC chain a couple... much easier than what I had planned!

I'm hoping to be able to make this as a "surprise" for my SIL... so I hate to ask...

Thanks again!
Julie

Fantastic surprise! I'm not sure ebay is a good source. I think those Civil War re-enactors like to be quite authentic. If I find anything else, I'll let you know.

Here's a helpful site. Scroll down to the shawl information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Civil War Women's Wear

I have one somewhere that was my great great grandmother's. She crocheted it. She was a fairly young bride during the Civil War.....so likely she made this around 1880.
It is black, triangular, large, about 80 inches on the hypotenuse ( the long leg of the triangle) the pattern is chain the length of the long side....then TC in the 3rd stitch from the end....chain 2 and TC in the chain link 3 away from the last TC. Each row skip the first pattern and quit one before the end of the row.....
This one is finished with a shell stitch....but I have made a couple and finished with a fringe on 2 sides.
Linda C

Linda,

Thanks for the pattern idea! I went shopping last night to buy yarn... came home empty-handed.

The reenactors are supposed to be historically accurate. Turns out that the Wool-Ease yarn I had planned to buy was a wool/acrylic blend. Real 100% wool is VERY expensive, so looks like I'm out of luck at the moment.

Julie

Try going to www.knitpicks.com They have 100% wool that is a lot cheaper than other people have and they come in plain undyed wool as well, so that you can make it a more authentic color.