Vintage Yarns

It can be difficult to find substitutions for long gone yarns so I have listed those in the patterns along with the era as some companies reused the name or the yarn changed along the way. 

I've also added any tension or gauge, if it's in stocking stitch, to make it easier for you to find substitutions.

All of the wools are pre-1971 (when the UK went decimal) but some might have continued to a later date

Bairnswear
1930s

• Baby Wool 3-ply - 7.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
• Gossamer Lustre Wool
• Lambs Wool 3-ply - 7.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
• Lambs Wool 4-ply - 7 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
• Sweet Briar Lustre Wool 3-ply - 7 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles

1940s

• Femina Botany Fingering 3ply - 7 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles

1950s

• Femina Double Knitting - 9.5 stitches to 2 inches using 4.5mm US 7 needles
  

Copley's

1930s

• 2-ply "Excelsior" Super Fingering - 8.5 stitches and10.5 rows to 1 inch using 3mm US 2.5 needles
• Franchlaine
• Super Shetland 2-ply
  

1940s 

• 2-ply "Excelsior" Super Fingering - 8.5 stitches and10.5 rows to 1 inch using 3mm US 2.5 needles 
  
• 3-ply "Excelsior" Wool - 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
  

Emu
1940s

• Emu Unshrinkable 3-ply Botany Wool
  

1950s

• Carousel Double Botany (double knit weight)
• Scotch Double Knitting

1960s

• Bri-Nylon Double Knitting
• Double Crepe
• Fanfare - 4.5 stitches and 5.5 rows to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 needles. Looks to be a boulce type of yarn. 
• Filigree - 4 stitches and 5 rows to 1 inch using 5mm US 8 needles
• Plumage - 4 stitches and 5 rows to 1 inch using 6mm US 10 needles
• Romany Double Knitting
• Scotch Double Knitting

Greenock
1930

• 3-ply Super Fingering
  

1950s

• 4-ply Super Fingering
• Abb Wool 2-ply (looks to be a double knit)
• Double Knitting - 6 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles

1960s 

• Double Knitting

Greenwoods

1940s

• Mercer Crochet No. 2 - 8 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
  

Hedge Nook

1940s

• G***y knitting 3-ply - 7.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm needles 
  

Jaeger
1950s

• Feather-fleck - 7.5 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
  

Ladyship
1940s 

• 3-ply Ladybel
  

1950s

• Chubby Wool (Double Knitting) - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
  

Lee Target

 1950s

• Campanula 3-ply - 8.5 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Target Dunraven 3-ply Knitting Wool - 8 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles

Lister's
1940s

• 3-ply Lavenda - 13 stitches and 17 rows to 2 inches using 3.75mm US 5 needles
  

1950s

• Lavenda 4-ply - 6.5 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm, US 5 needles
  

1960s

• Bel Air Double Crepe - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
• Bri-Nylon Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles 
• Can-Can - 4 stitches and 6 rows to 1 inch using 5.5mm US 9 needles
• Crimplene Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Lavenda Double Crepe - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
  
• Lavenda Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needle
• Lavenda Double Six - 9 stitches and 11 rows to 2 inches using 5mm US 8 needles
• Lochinvar Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles 
• Velora Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles

Marriner
1940s

• 3-ply Hertiage Shrink-less Knitting Wool - 7 stitches and 9 row to 1 inch using 3.75mm needles
  

1950s

• 3-ply Heritage Shrinkless Knitting Wool - 8.5 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles

1960s 

• Bri-Nylon 4-ply - 8 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Crepe 4-ply - 8 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Croftspun - 6 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm needles
• Heritage 4-ply - 8 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Mainsail 4-ply - 8 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• New Double Knit - 6 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm needles

Patons
1930s

• Leonora
  
• Super Fingering 3-ply
  
• Super (or Beehive) Scotch Fingering 4-ply - 8 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles

1940s

• Beehive Fingering 3 ply
  
• Fair Isle Fingering - 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm, US 3 needles
  

1950s

• Beehive Fingering 3-ply - 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles, 8 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Beehive Fingering 4-ply - 6.5 stitches to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Moorland Double Knitting - 4.75 stitches and 6 rows to 1 inch using 5.5mm US 9 needles
• Purple Heather Fingering 4-ply - 7 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles

1960s

• Beehive Baby Wool - 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
• Beehive Fingering 3-ply - 8 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Beehive Fingering 4-ply - 7 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
• Bracken Tweed Double Knitting - 4.5 stitches and 6.25 rows to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 needles 
• Brilliante 3-ply - 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
• Double Quick Knitting - 5 stitches and 6.5 rows to 1 inch using 5mm US 8 needles
• Four Seasons - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
• Moorland Double Knitting - 5 stitches and 6.5 rows to 1 inch using 5mm US 8 needles
• Nylox Knitting 3-ply - 8 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Nylox Knitting 4-ply - 7 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
• Purple Heather Fingering 3-ply - 8 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles
• Totem Double Knitting - 5 stitches and 6.5 rows to 1 inch using 5mm US 8 needles
•  

Pingouin
1950s

• Aplin 3-ply - 7.5 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm US 2.5 needles

Poppleton 
1960s

• NippyKnop Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 7 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles

Prismar
1960s 

• Double Knitting - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
  

Robin
1960s

• Bri-Nylon Super Crimp - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Classic - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Colorama - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Conella - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Crepe - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Glengarry 4-ply - 6.5 stitches and 8.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
• Golden Link Chunky Knit - 3.5 stitches and 4.5 rows to 1 inch using 7mm needles
• Rhythm Chunky Knit - 3.5 stitches and 4.5 rows to 1 inch using 7mm needles
• Service Double Knitting -- 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles
• Sportswear (Bri-Nylon Blend) (4-ply weight) - 6.5 stitches and 8.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
• Super Crimp Courtelle - 6 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch using 4mm US 6 needles

Sirdar 
1940s

• Kasha Wool 3-ply - 7.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
• Majestic Wool 3-ply - 7.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles
  
• Super Shetland Wool 3-ply

1950s

• Majestic Wool 3-ply - 8.5 stitches and 11 rows to 1 inch using 3mm needles

1960s

• Double Crepe Wool - 5.5 stitches to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 needles
• Double Knitting Wool - 5.5 stitches to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 needles
• Golden Pullman - 3.5 stitches to 1 inch using 6.5mm US 10.5 needles
• Pullman Wool - 3.5 stitches to 1 inch using 6.5mm US 10.5 needles
• Starfleck Double Knitting Wool - 5.5 stitches to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 needles
• Super Nylon Double Knitting - 5.5 stitches to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 needles

Templetons
1930s 

• 4-ply Ayrbeam Super Scotch Fingering - 7 stitches and 8.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 needles

 1960s

• Fisherknit - 10 stitches to 3 inches using 6.5mm US 10.5 needles
• Hi-Ply - 10 stitches to 3 inches using 6.5mm US 10.5 needles

Twilleys

1950s

• Lyscordet Soft Knitting Cotton 
  

Viyella 

1930s

• 3-ply Knitting Yarn
• Ramada 4-ply Wool