HSM Challenge 9 - my Christmas stockings

The HSM Challenge 9 was the following:

September: Hands and Feet: Create a fabulous accessory for your hands or feet.

Back in the beginning of the year when I saw the challenge I figured that I would probably do some kind of gloves or mittens. When September rolled along I realised that it would be a good opportunity to make a pair of hose for my late medieval/early 16th century ensemble.

Women's hose in the time only went up to the knee, so it's not the full length hose that men wore, which also make them easier than a pair of long hose. I had my friend Linnea help me create a pattern. The main piece of the hose was simply a piece of fabric that I pinned along my calves and down to my toes. I then cut two triangular gores out of it to make the ankles easier to bend.

Yes, this is what my calf and foot look like, and it's also a good illustrations on why perfectly symmetrical patterns rarely fit that well.

For the fabric I once again used my bolt of red wool twill. I also cut out a sole piece and two triangles to make the gores. My first sole piece was patterned very tightly after my foot, and when I had sewn it to the maine hose, the whole thing felt too tight. I made a new bigger one, but that ended up way too big.

The solution was to turn the hose inside out, and then pin it tight to my foot, and sew a new seam.

As you can see there's a really big difference between the old and new seam. I actually think that my first sole that I cut out wasn't too bad, but I was unused to the fit and remade it.

The hose are sewn together with backstitches and then felled with waxed linen thread.

They do not stay up by themselves, so I will need to get some kind of garters to make them stay up. I have already asked my mother to knit a pair for me, but it would be more correct to use leather or a woven band.

I am happy with the fit, except for the heels, there is a bit too much fabric there. I also don't think that it will be possible for me to fit the hose in the shoes that I use, and when I finally buy a pair of proper historical shoes I will probably have to upsize to take the hose into account.

As for the name, well when I brought them with me to our Tuesday cosplay/costume meet the first reaction was that I had made a pair of Christmas stockings, and that Santa Claus would be able to fit a lot of presents in them.

The HSM facts

The Challenge: 9 - Make something for your hands or feet.

Material: 0,5 of red wool twill

Pattern: Drafted on my body.

Year: late medieval early 16th century

Notions: waxed linen thread

How historically accurate is it? I think around 75%. The more I've worked with this fabric the more I feel that it's not a really historically accurate fabric.

Hours to complete: 5

First worn: I'm home sick with a cold, and it's been really nice to walk around in a long pair of woollen socks. I'm planning to  properly wear them on an even next weekend.

Total cost: From my stash, but the fabric would have cost $10 new.