How hard is it to knit Kilt hose

**Shanntarra** · 10th August 09, 02:28 PM

On long car trips I like to knit other wise I fidgit. Last 7 hour car ride I did a "jane hat" for my rogue, which he wears with pride. It is so ugly it is cute

And I made baby booties for my new niece. I'm sorry but a girl can only make so many booties before people start asking questions.
If I'm going to be spending several hours stuck in a car going places this fall I might as well do something productive.
I found this pattern Free John anderson sock pattern and thought I might make them. Any advise on making them? Suggested yarn? I don't want to break the bank on them either.

**sydnie7** · 10th August 09, 03:05 PM

I made a pair of kilt hose as my first-ever-knitting-anything project and learned a lot in the process LOL But the second pair came out well and I'm hooked. I haven't made the John Anderson pattern but there's another free one out there, check here. My mother has made up that pattern a few times, it's quite good looking although she said there were a few parts that she had to "figure out." See what they look like here.

The pattern I've used came from a forum member who started a Yahoo "knit along" group, go to Yahoo groups and search for kilthoseknitalong (whew). She isn't selling the first pattern anymore, she said, and if she sticks to that I can't see any reason she would object to my sending you an annotated copy of the pattern, noting the places that I had to "figure out." I put a different cuff on it the second time, here's how that came out. The wool yarn I used for that set is very reasonable and the source is linked in that thread -- as is the Yahoo group, now that I look at it.

She is supposed to issue a second pattern here shortly but has been having family health issues and it's delayed, no ETA. I'm looking forward to it, supposed to be a cable pattern. Meantime I am itching to cast on another set. . . it is addictive!

The only funny part about kilt hose is that you knit the cuff , then turn the work inside out and knit the rest of calf/foot. That way, the cuff can fold over and still show the right side of work. Other than that, it's just a loooooooooooong sock with some shaping in the calf to accommodate difference in circumference from knee to ankle.

There are lots of other knitters on board here, I'm sure you will get more and better info -- but come on in, the water's fine!

**thistlelass** · 10th August 09, 04:22 PM

Kilt hose are fairly easy to knit on the go...John Anderson's are toe up and pretty simple, although they do have cables up the sides and the cuff is cabled as well. If you are comfortable with counting crosses in your cables, this pattern is a fairly easy one to memorize and work on in the car. I've knit a pair of JA's in Knit Picks Swish DK...economical yarn and they wear well. I knit them with a size smaller needle so that they would fit snugly-but that's the way my DH likes them-doesn't like loosely knitted hose. Swish also gives a very nicely defined cable. Another easy one that you can adapt the cuff on...this was the pattern I used for my very first pair of Kilt Hose...is the Toirneach from Knitty Winter 2007. They are super easy to knit-plain ribbed legs and the cuff has a nice pattern which you can pretty much adapt to other kinds of fancy patterns. I've knit these hose twice and DH loves them! BTW there are several Kilt Hose knitting groups on Ravelry.
Good luck with your hose...hope they will help pass the time!

**fluter** · 10th August 09, 06:43 PM

Kilt hose are not difficult (depending on the pattern): their most striking characteristic is that they are long.

Go for it.

My first ever socks were the Toirneach hose. I, too, am fond of the tops. If you're a more accomplished knitter, you could try a more interesting leg than the simple rib.

This was my second pair, the top came from Gainford and the leg is similar to Toirneach.

**sydnie7** · 22nd August 09, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

Kilt hose are not difficult (depending on the pattern): their most striking characteristic is that they are long.

Go for it.

My first ever socks were the Toirneach hose. I, too, am fond of the tops. If you're a more accomplished knitter, you could try a more interesting leg than the simple rib.

This was my second pair, the top came from Gainford and the leg is similar to Toirneach.

Which of the Gainford cuffs is that? It's lovely, I just can't ID it from the few photos in the book.

Thanks!

**fluter** · 26th August 09, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Which of the Gainford cuffs is that?

It's the pine cone top: on page 24, and in the cover photos. There is an imbalance of increase/decrease stitches in round 8, to which I added a yarn-over between knit 5, knit 2 together.

- Ken (I'm also kilted-fluter on ravelry.com)

**sydnie7** · 26th August 09, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

It's the pine cone top: on page 24, and in the cover photos. There is an imbalance of increase/decrease stitches in round 8, to which I added a yarn-over between knit 5, knit 2 together.

- Ken (I'm also kilted-fluter on ravelry.com)

Thanks for the ID and the inside scoop! If CalanaCrafts doesn't issue KAL2 pattern pretty quick, I'm going to cast on some new project, might just tackle these. We'll see.

**string** · 2nd September 09, 08:28 AM

I have knit a few pairs of kilt hose, so I suppose I will put my 2 cents in.

Kilt hose are not particularly difficult if you know how to do all your increases and decreases, including a short row heel. Also if you haven't cabled much you might one to try out one of the 5 bazillion cabled hat patterns out there to practice.

I knit kilt hose as follows.

Magic Cast on from knitty.com 16 stitches. This begins the toe and looks lovely.

k1, inc, knit 14, inc, k1, repeat. Continue to increase at the sides of the toe like this (the number in the center will get bigger of course) until you have enough stitches for the foot. I keep the toe and bottom of the sock in stockinette stitch as its more comfortable. Ribbing on the top of the sock is a nice option, but its personal preference. Knit to about 2"-1.5" from the end of the foot and do a short row heel. Lots of instructions out there on that heel so I won't even try here.

once the heel is complete I typically do ribbing all around with a narrow cable on the outside of the leg. I increase and decrease for the leg shaping at the back, where a old fashioned stocking would have a seam. Expect to count and measure constantly. once you get up to the turn over cuff knit about 2"=1.5" of 1x1 ribbing. That will help it stay up a bit. I then knit the cuff while attaching it to top of the stocking like a edging on a lace shawl is knit. This is heavily cabled and good luck with the gauge.

There is my 2 cents

**vmac3205** · 11th August 09, 05:59 AM

Go for it. I've knitted several pairs of John Anderson. It's a good, tried and true pattern. I also belong to the Yahoo, knityourwonkilthose group and am waiting for the second pattern with bated breath.

**sydnie7** · 11th August 09, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by vmac3205

Go for it. I've knitted several pairs of John Anderson. It's a good, tried and true pattern. I also belong to the Yahoo, knityourwonkilthose group and am waiting for the second pattern with bated breath.

Vmac, I saw one blog that mentioned some typos in the John Anderson pattern. Do you have any errata to share, or have they been corrected in the currently posted version?