Men's Stockings

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I did a search for information on Men's Stockings and it came up for naught. It gave me links to old threads in the civilian folder that I could not access.

What I want to do some research on is what are the correct type of stockings for a man of modest means in the 1850's and 1860's. I have primarily done Military Impressions and the understand the different types of stockings available to soldiers and the more common folk.

I built an impression of a Bank Cashier for the Westville event in 2008 and I am continuing my research and expanding my man, methods and materials to support that impression in the future. Any assistance or direction for my research is appreciated.

[BishopLynch]

Re: Men's Stockings

The Columbia Rifles Research Compendium has a section on civilian dress which describes each article of clothing that was worn by various men of different means. I dont have a copy with me at the moment, maybe someone else could post it for you.

[KarinTimour]

Re: Men's Stockings

Dear Sir:

Well this thread made my day! I couldn't be more thrilled to hear that you're interested in men's hosiery of the 1850s and 1860s.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have, or point you towards resources. I've traveled to 14 states to study period socks and stockings, and done extensive library research on the paper documentation for socks, hose, manufacture of, materials made of, machinery, etc.

I wrote the chapter on "Federal Issue Stockings" in the Columbia [I]Rifles Research Compendium, 2nd Edition [/I]and most recently published an article in the March/April issue of Piecework (a magazine on historic needlework) on Civil War men's socks and stockings.

Where would you like to start?

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Mary Warren]

Re: Men's Stockings

I know this doesn't quite fit the topic, but I'd like to find a period pattern for ladies stockings. Any suggestions?

Mary Warren

[KarinTimour]

Re: Men's Stockings

Dear Mary:

The "Workwoman's Guide" is available for free online at Google Books. It has guidelines for making stockings for women, men and children. If memory serves, they're right around page 253 or 254. Granted, she's written it in 19th century knitting language, so you need to puzzle it out a bit. One clue that I figured out is that when she's talking about the "breadth" of the stocking, she means half the circumference at the top -- the measurement of how wide the stocking needs to be, if it were lying flat on a table. NOT the circumference of the entire stocking.

It's best to attempt it after you've knit a couple of modern socks, top down, so that you've got a grip on what the various steps of the process are. If you've not knit a modern sock before, I recommend starting with Nancy Bush's "Folk Socks." There's a section in the middle that breaks down the process of knitting a sock to almost a line by line experience. Sort of "Sock Knitting for Dummies." I taught myself how to knit socks and knit my first pair following those instructions.

Hope that's helpful,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: Men's Stockings

Greg and Karin,

I had forgotten to reference the CRRC before I posted this thread, thanks. I did reread it and took a look at my existing socks. Of course there are several that are not correct. I do have two pair of correct hand knitted wool socks that serve me well when I am in the line of battle.

I guess I need to explain what I see as my situation better and perchance you can point me in a direction for better research.

In building my Civilian Wardrobe, I am focusing on a town dwellering business man's attire. One of the additions is a pair of low quarter shoes vice ankle high shoes, brogans or boots. The shoes fit well if I use a thin sock, the ones I have are thin undyed cotton and of a modern pattern. I know the pattern is not correct... but what about the material and color?

In modern business attire, it is considered correct to have socks that match your trousers so there is no disruption in your appearance if the trousers ride up and show your stockings. Is the same appropriate for the 1850s and 1860s? Granted most common folk would not concern themselves with such problems either wearing ankle high shoes or boots normally.

Karin, from your well written article I take that civilian stockings were made by machine with hand finishing in a variety of materials (wool, cotton and even silk) as well as types (socks versus stockings). Now what I am getting at is that I take away from that discussion that a gentlemen of some means would probably have store bought stockings in colors appropriate for his wardrobe.

The question that such discussion like this always boil down too is... where can a man buy a quality set of correct cotton or silk stockings in dark color that won't clash with his business attire?

Thanks for the help and any guidence or suggested reading on the subect is appreciated...

[KarinTimour]

Re: Men's Stockings

Dear Pat:

I'm sorry to be late getting back to you -- real world work has kept me tied up too much to be on the boards recently.

With regard to your question about your current socks, which are undyed cotton made with a modern pattern, certainly the color and material would have been common in our time period.

You make a good point with regard to current fashion -- that the color of a businessman's stockings needing to coordinate with his trousers. I haven't researched whether this was true in the period or not, but it's a fascinating question. There's also the point that some of today's businessmen, wanting to make a subtle point about being a "snappy dresser" also wear patterned socks, and even socks in wild colors, like yellow and baby blue. But I gather you're more interested in conveying the "up-and-coming reputable established man of sense" impression?

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I'm currently making 11 different documented civilian men's socks/stockings, dated from 1837-1862. These are different socks than those I'm making for either Confederate or Federal miliitary impressions. Stockings can be either mostly machine made (with hand made heels and toes) or entirely hand made. These are knit of thin wool and I suspect they'd easily fit in your new shoes. I've not made reproductions in cotton or silk, but we could certainly discuss that.

If this is something you're interested in discussing further, let's take it off line -- drop me an email at ktimour@aol.com.

In any case, thank you for the opportunity to discuss socks!

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Re: Men's Stockings

Karin,

Thanks for the elaboration and I did receive your email about documentation on stockings and socks.

Missus Lawson and I had a short discussion this past weekend about my questions concerning what a Gentlemen of means whould wear and your comments have been very helpful. You are correct in your assumption. My intended impression is of a solid and reputable businessman. In that vein, I intend to avoid the wildly colorful trousers and vest seen in some male civillian impressions.

You will be hearing from me... Thanks.