hose

[Edwin]

Hose are more appropriate for my persona than trousers. So now I need hose patterns. Anyone have suggestions for where to get 'em? If it helps, I'm only a very modest tailor at this point, but I am getting better.

[James B.]

What kind of hose do you need? What era. Simplicity has a Henry VIII pattern for hose, breeches, and a doublet. I used the hose pattern and its no to bad, just measure to make sure it fits you. You will most likely need to convert the pattern slightly.

Flonzy

[Pietro da San Tebaldo]

I pulled a cheat and made hose from a pair of black sweatpants.

You need to remove the waistband and cuff elastics, then have a friend carefully pin them to a snug fit. Re-tailor to fit, and close the front with eyelets for points. (I reinforced the waistband with canvas where I plan to run eyelets through - sewing eyelets in athletic fleece is futility...)

Also, the codpiece holds my cup in place securely. (Photos to follow someday soon...)

[Hushgirl]

I did what the ancestors would do--I looked at a picture of what I wanted to make and reconstructed it as best I could. Simplicity Patterns hadn't been invented yet.

I wrapped a piece of cloth around the leg and pinned it. It humped up around the ankle, so made a note to cut that part off. The leg wouldn't come out, so I moved the pins and made the ankle bigger. Then I cut off the humpy part that draped over the instep. I cut out a piece the shape of a foot sole, then laid a piece of fabtic over the part of the foot that stuck out and made a big oval piece to cover it. I kept moving the pins until I had something leg shaped that I could get into and out of. Then I basted it and cut off what I didn't need. There's my pattern. Unbaste and trace. Make 2 of everything.

[Gaston de Clermont]

I made a pair following the instructions in an old Tournaments Illuminated article, and they turned out fairly well. The basic idea is to measure from the top of the hose to the bottom, and then around your leg at various points. You can create your pattern from those measurements.

|---Upper Thigh Circumference--|
..............L
..............e
..............n
..............g
..............t
..............h
..............T
..............o
..............K
..............n
..............e
..............e
...|-Knee Circumference-|
..............L
..............e
..............n
...............
..............T
..............o
..............C
..............a
..............l
..............f
....|Calf Circumference|
..............L
..............e
..............n
...............
..............T
..............o
..............A
..............n
..............k
..............l
..............e
...........|Ankle|
I just had to add the dots to make everything line up, I wanted to use spaces. If you center the circumference measurements on your length line your seam will be straight, and it should go in the back of the hose.
Connect the outer points of your circumference measurements (the ones I drew as |) along the outside. Put it on your fabric at 45 degrees to the direction the threads go, and cut. If you use a knit, like T-shirt material it will be more forgiving than something like woven linen. The more circumference measurements you use the better it will fit.

Gwen sells nice hose at Historic Enterprises.

Gaston de Clermont

[This message has been edited by Clermont (edited 05-01-2002).]

[Aelric]

I just buy them from Blackswan/Historic Enterprises. They cost like $30 and have attached feet.

Aelric

[Tim Finkas]

Actually, the $30 hose from Historic Ent are cotton/poly strech hose for the Ren Faire crowd. They are fine if you are only going for a cosmetic effect.

If you want something more authentic and durable, Hist Ent also sells woolen hosen, but the price is $80-$90. Still, that's a great price for what you get. I have 4 or 5 pairs I bought from them---and I am something of an accomplished costumer. They are a pain to make, so I'd rather buy them from Gwen (when I can afford it).

One note about the Hist Ent Hose---the waistline is about the same as where your waistband is on a pair of modern bluejeans. This means they are only suited for the short, unskirted doublets unless you cheat at put the eyelet holes at the waist (of a skirted doublet).

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Tim Finkas<A HREF="http://finkas.home.netcom.com/Forgerie/Index.html" TARGET=_blank>
The Historical Forgerie</A>
Coming Soon: Getting a clue, Getting a real life, Getting priorities in order, Getting a job(?)

[Rev. George]

Here's my hosen patterns for woolen, separate leg hose.
[img]http://members2.easyspace.com/revgeorge/pics/hosen1.jpg[/img]

And here's what a pair looks like on a sexy man like myself (LOL):
[img]http://members2.easyspace.com/revgeorge/pics/Sewing/skinout/hosen.jpg[/img]
If you are interested in having some made, drop me a line. I'm booked up for commissions right now, but i should be clearing out soon.

-+G


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Rev's Rainments
Quality Medieval Clothing at a Fair Price.