View source for Hose

'''Hose''' are a [[period]] item of clothing used for keeping the legs warm. Often made out of a [[linen]] or [[wool]]. 
Hose were bias-cut, so if patterned, diagonal stripes and diagonal check or [[plaid]]s would be most common.  Sometimes hose had [[leather]] soles sewn on to them, so you didn't have to wear [[shoe]]s (you can do this to modern [[sock]]s too).  Various devices including [[garter]]s and attachments to a [[belt]] or upper garment ([[point]]s) were used to stop hose falling down.

During the [[14th century]] and earlier hose would be made of two separate legs. These might be rolled down during hard labour. Later during the [[15th century]] hose became a one piece garment with an attached [[codpiece]]. One piece hose were [[point]]ed to a [[doublet]] or [[pourpoint]]. Hose are depcited as tightfitting, so baggy hose are inappropriate. 

You can also make [[wool]]len [[scoggers]], which are period arm warmers! (Ask [[Mistress Margie of Glenmore]] about these).

==Hose in Re-Enactment==
Hose are typically made of [[wool]] although some use a blend to try to get a more elastic fit. Modern hose typically have a sheen to them that indicates modern materials and thus are frowned upon by [[re-enactor]]s and shunned by [[living history|living historians]].

In [[Australia]] there is a perception that hose aren't very blokey and consequently there are few [[high medieval]] or [[renaissance]] reenactment groups, although this is beginning to change.
 
==Hose in the SCA==
There are some [[modern hose]]-like items that can be worn, and look fairly close to period hose.


== External Links ==
* [[Elizabethan]] [[knitting|knitted]] hose: http://www.dabbler.com/ndlwrk/stocking.html

[[category:clothing]]