Knit Socks & Stockings

A comparison of the stockings of Eleanora of Toledo, Johan III of Sweden, and Duke Barnim XII of Pomerania.

Includes articles on Maghribi and Andalusi costume; Persian and Ottoman clothing patterns; Mamluk textile and costume items; some 9th-14th century Islamic textiles; and medieval Egyptian knitting.

Eleanora of Toledo was a duchess from 16th century Italy. Her burial clothes included these stockings which are one of the first examples where knit and purl stitches were used as decorative elements in the design.

Eleonora&# 39;s burial socks were made in 100% crimson silk, with simple stitches. One stocking was discovered to be inside out, indicating the haste of her preparatio n for burial.

Documentat ion for a pair of women' s stockings in a 16th century style.

Complete instructio ns on how to create a fitted, 17th century style stocking, documented from 17th and 19th century sources.

Documentation and bibiography for a project to create medieval-style Egyptian socks.

These socks were excavated in Egypt at the end of the 19th century and are the earliest knitted items in the V&A's collection . They have a divided toe and are designed to be worn with sandals. The socks are knitted in stocking stitch using the single-nee dle technique and three ply wool. Textile historians often find it difficult to tell whether early knitted objects are made like this, or with more than one needle, as the finished articles are so similar in appearance .

These stockings are similar to the coarser, less aristocrat ic knitted stockings that were made in great quantities in northern Europe in the 16th century. They use a 16th-centu ry type of heel.

I created these instructio ns for a beginning stocking-k nitter's workshop. These stockings are similar to the coarser, less aristocrat ic knitted stockings that were made in great quantities in northern Europe in the 16th century. They use a 16th-centu ry type of heel that I think is easier to understand than more modern types of heels. With this earlier type of heel, it's a lot easier to see how the stocking turns a 90-degree corner between the vertical leg and the horizontal foot parts.

Recreation and pattern for an 11th-14th century sock at the Textile Museum in Washington , DC.