Stipey Stockings Dilema

[Swashbuckler 1700]

Machine knit, c. 1720

Found: http://www.german-ho.../Bild10_06a.htm

Make note: most of the striped cuff stockings I am coming across are Italian or German, not English, or Colonial. They are also silk. So some stripes, but nothing all over in the 17th century or early 18th century as of yet.

Here are similar ones in 1720

1740

I think that is just the way of coloring things with stripes so popular in the period note e.g the landscape is colored with the stripes.

[Hawkyns]

Is there any possibility that those stripes at the top are a stretchy stitch, like garter stitch, to aid in holding them up?

Hawkyns

[jendobyns]

Is there any possibility that those stripes at the top are a stretchy stitch, like garter stitch, to aid in holding them up?

Hawkyns

That was what I was trying to get to on the other thread. Could be a structural thing, but without examining the garments themselves, how can we tell?

Hmmm, will to see if they show up in any of the new books I brought home from Ft. Fred and haven't read thoroughly. Could take a bit, they're on the other floor and I'm on one leg at the moment.

[jendobyns]

Nope, no details in the books upstairs. However, I did ask about this last summer at one of the CW tailoring weekends when someone on this forum asked me, and either Neal or Mark said stripes aren't appropriate. And since they cover Jamestown as well as CW, it's not like their info is OOP.

[peglegstrick]

might they be a lether garter? on the fig 18 picture the guy in the chair's stockings flair out at the top.

[Capt. Sterling]

Odds are there is some sort of garter whether leather, silk or some other type of cord...and his stockings are pulled up over the knees of his breeches, a popular style at the time, and not tucked under the ends. I wear my stockings in such a way and get exactly the same look.

[peglegstrick]

I don' use but one stocking but I do use a leather garter w/buckle to keep it up.....can't say that i'm period correct though...really not trying to be period correct though .....because I'm using a modern socket on my pegleg. Scared to try a period one...looks like they would hurrt like hell.

[Capt. Sterling]

Is there any possibility that those stripes at the top are a stretchy stitch, like garter stitch, to aid in holding them up?

Hawkyns

Good questions, was reading a quick bit about ribbed cuffs to help hold them up, will go back and see if that has an answer and what the actual dates were for that section.

[Grymm]

Vertical striped stockings are in fashion for the Macaroni/Incroyable types at the end of the 18thC

Prob'ly frame knitted and silk as these chaps are Dandies..

The 'motley' as worn by landsknecht types in the 16thc, like this blokey doing nasty things to St Catherine here

is made of bias cut cloth sewn together and a right pain to do and to get it to fit closely to the leg, especially with knackered steel pinned ankles like mine.

=o)

You do get hoops on some fancy boothose from the early 17thC (1640's)

And the hooped pair here are 1860s

But as yet I've not found any for the late 17th or early 18thC

Edited May 11, 2012 by Grymm

[oderlesseye]

This web site claims Striped socks existed in the 1600's

http://www.ravelry.c...riped-stockings

The Sock Museum is here ~

http://www.sockmuseum.com/socks/striped-stockings

Edited May 18, 2012 by oderlesseye

[Mission]

Is the question whether striped socks existed during the GAoP (1690-1725)? It seems like as much a question of fashion as it is of existance - if they weren't in fashion, few, if any, people would wear them.

By way of example, parachute pants exist, but how many people do you see wearing them these days?

[michaelsbagley]

Another point to bring up, is that both of those links are to private web site and have no citations. It's the equivalent of saying something existed because so-and-so said it on their blog. Had either of the authors of the web sites included some bibliographical reference, or anything more solid to base that assertion on, cool... but right now it reads like we say so because we heard it somewhere, so it must be true.

Positive proof backed by solid references is one of the accepted norms for historical interpretation.

[oderlesseye]

Had either of the authors of the web sites included some bibliographical reference

It crossed my mind to ask for their references as it seemed stated that stripey socks were popular

during the years of GAOP . However with out any substantiation to provide any historic proof.. Therefore Eye

do conclude that it would have been a most rare thing for a Pirate of the GAOP to wear stripey socks.

Eye have been unable to find proof as much as my heart would like. Therefore eye will side with you that they most likely

did not exsist. One thing eye will say going down this road is that this wreaks of Agnosticism at its best.

Eye did -e- mail the one web site and await an answer from them..this is what eye wrote to the 'Sock Museum"

"As A member of the reenactment community that portrays pirates, We have been unable to substantiate your claims to stripey socks being period to Pirates of the Golden age of Piracy. 1630-1720's . We are interested in your historical references you used to make these claims. Thank you."

Edited May 19, 2012 by oderlesseye

[Ivan Henry aka Moose]

Not GAOP but of note... Mid 1700s - John Collet

[jendobyns]

The thing to note here is the direction of the stripes. Not sure if the artist is taking some license here by adding color or not. Otherwise, this can be done as a sort of ribbed knitting pattern.

[oderlesseye]

Eye just got a book called "The Chronicle of Western Costume" by John Peacock

On page 105 it clearly shows an illustration of an Englishman in 1600 wearing stripey socks, Horizontal

like the ones eye wore in the "You and Your Garb" thread. Again..NO real evidence to support whether the

author or artist took licence or not. All the other illustrations show no Stripey socks what so ever During GAOP. (1670 -1730)

In 1670 June 1st

English king Charles II and French king Louis XIV sign anti-Dutch treaty

..We all know what that lead to.. And 1671 January 18 "Pirate" Henry Morgan defeats Spanish defenders, captures Panama January 27 "Pirate" Henry Morgen lands at Panama City

[jendobyns]

Well, sure, it's not evidence of their actual existence in the time period. It's a costume book by a theatrical costumer, and therefore evidence of someone's imagination and creativity within a historic framework. Actual evidence comes from primary sources in the form of artifact (an item that can be dated to the time), written description by someone who lived at the time, or artwork of the period (not illustrating the period, but by an artist _from_ that time period) when it is clear the artist isn't taking too much license with the subject. Art work can be tricky that way, and it's necessary to be aware of fashion trends in art work, too.

You can do much better if you are looking for historic clothing books. Not as cheap, but you usually get what you pay for in these cases.

Jen

[Swashbuckler 1700]

What about checkered stockings used by Scottish... Paterned stockings at least....

Here 1746 painting but I know earlier pictures of the Scottish with checkered stockings

[Grymm]

Cloth bag hose, cross/bias cut cloth, to give some stretch, in tartan. Prob'ly seamed up the back like muddyevil hose with a seperate vamp and sole.