Fixing Baggy-Knee in Chausses?

[Carl H]

I'm in need of assistance from tailors more experienced than I. I've made several attempts at chausses in both linen and wool. While I'm happy with the fit on my feet and calves, I have a problem beginning at the knees (i.e just above the garters), with the chausses becoming increasingly baggy over a day's wear.

I'm planning to change the position of the holes for the laces. Does anyone have any other suggestions that might help me a achieve a more snug fit about the knee.

Many thanks.

[James B.]

Do you single point them? I use points in the front and the side of the hip and I have not worn garters for a few years now.

[brewer]

As the fabric 'warms up' and is worn, it stretches. It's like jeans: when I pull my jeans out of the dryer and pull 'em on, sometimes it can be a struggle to fit my fat ass into the 501s. Over the course of the day they stretch and become more comfortable. When I finish my afternoon 'constitutional' they're easy to don.

The same thing is happening with your chausses. It happens every single time I don my 1470s kit - by mid-afternoon I have to adjust things to keep the hose from sagging, because the wool has warmed up and stretched. That's a combination of doublet and hose stretching.

As far as I can tell, there's no getting round it, other than fiddling with suspension over the course of a day. I look at it like wearing a bow tie: A gent doesn't tie his bow tie and go through his entire day without touching it. He adjusts, tweaks, sometimes completely re-ties a bow tie.

You dig?

Bob