Stockings, Chausses & Hose

Documentation from a project to create linen hose based on an amalgamation of 16th century examples & descriptions.

During the early Middle Ages, what did people in Northern Europe wear over their feet and under their shoes? I examined some illuminati ons, some archaeolog ical finds, and a study of traditiona l hose manufactur e from Telemark, Norway, and hope to shed some light on how hose were made, what they are, and how they were worn.

Basic patterns for an easy T-tunic, a 13th century tunic, a wide-sleev ed gown, a laced gown, a kirtle, ladies' hose, an early hood, a hood with shoulder gores, a basic surcote, and two sideless surcoats.

A summary of accessorie s for outfits for Italian women in the early 16th century.

Patterns for Viking and medieval armor, clothing, and accessorie s.

A pattern for 15th century men's joined hose.

How to pattern and construct 15th century joined hose.

Instructions and a pattern for hosen and women's stockings, as well as instructions for winingas.

An essay reconstructing the clothing (shirt, jupon/doublet, hood/chaperon, and hose/chausses) of Joan of Arc, based on illustrations and artifacts from the 15th century.

A history of stockings, and knitting.

Illustrations of chausses for men and women, with a reconstruction and a line-drawing pattern.

Guild statutes provide precise indications for methods of fabrication of the objects of daily life in the Middle Ages. This webpage provides statutes from guilds for makers of aguilettes (points?), purses, armor, tallow candlesticks, hose, clothing, and writing-tables.

here are various sources showing various ways that joined hosen were made in the 15th century. However, I personaly prefer the single or double seam version as it gives a better fit and it's the easiest way to go, in my humble opinion. These are the two techniques that I'll be showing here: A single seam on the inside of the leg and a seam inside of the leg plus a straight seam on the back of the leg.

Making 14th-16th century stockings using duct tape to create a pattern.

Photos and description of a procedure for fitting hose.

The short version is, take a large piece of muslin, mark the bias by drawing a line along the length, pin it tightly to your leg--the bias line on the front, the pins on the back, cut slits around the ankles for the gussets, pin in fabric to fit the gussets, and trace your foot for the sole.

Patterns for the layers and accessorie s for a man's 14th century outfit, including braies, hose, a coif, a hood, and a pouch.

Tutorial for constructi ng men's joined hose from the 15th-16th centuries.

Archeologi cal evidence from the Norse world is limited enough that, to put together a complete outfit, you may have to mix and match a bit from different times and places. This PDF file is from our slide show, depicting various Norse dress accessorie s. While the class is more interestin g in person because of its discussion format, the online version has lots of nice photos. If you like this link, also check out www.jomsb.org/Sunnifa/Accessories/Norsewidgets.pdf.

Illustrates a 14th/15th century pattern. A 15th century Italian stocking pattern is available at http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/VII_02_01.htm

Provides guidelines for materials, decoration , men's & women' s clothing, headwear, legwear, and footwear for Viking and Anglo-Saxo n England.

A video discussing the Coppergate sock and nalebindin g.

The evolution of hosen from knee-length stockings to the edge of their final fruition as a single garment of joined hosen, before the advent of knitted stockings.

A technique for developing your own pattern for a pair of chausses.

Based on 14th century hose from Greenland.

Look at line drawings from extant artifacts to help you come up with ideas for making your own hose.

Examples of extant stockings from Queen Elizabeth& #39;s Wardrobe Unlock&#39 ;d; a period stocking pattern.

There are several types of stockings known to be from the 14th century. This stocking pattern is based on parts found and published in the Museum of London: Textiles and Clothing. This stocking pattern is also very modern in its leg construction. While the feet in stockings in period were quite fitted, it does not appear that the legs were always. All but one of the leg pieces that I have found so far to date are not shaped to the leg. One shown in the book Woven Into The Earth, does have a fitted ankle and lower calf. Whew! Sometimes the fabric is cut on the bias and sometimes on the straight of grain.

Patterns for hose based on 14th century artifacts. Additional patterns at http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/VI_03_01.htm

Construction of woven stockings based on an extant pair of 16th century stockings.

The Thorsberg trousers are dated between the 1st and 4th century AD. The original are diamond patterned brown twill wool.

A series of videos showing how to measure for and construct a pair of women's footed hose.

An excellent paper on Braes, Hosen/sock s, and shirts from the Maciejowsk i Bible. Contain extant images and in cases multiple possible patterns of constructi on.

Woolen bands for legwraps for early period men's clothing.