Tartan hose vs plain hose

[Bugbear]

Again Ted, you are right on the money. The cuff should show one full repeat of the patern.

Thank you, and that too seems like it would look best. I guess the hose would have to be carefully designed to be just long enough to do all of that and still end up at the right place below the knee...
which was... your original point about the hose being too short in the picture.

* The sett of my tartan measures 5 and 7/8 inches. I wasn't sure what that is in relation to kilt hose cuffs, so I mesured the cuff of my Lewis kilt hose. (The cuff is designed to turn down once.) It happens to be almost exactly that same size. Was a little worried that might be too large just in case I have to go with the cadadh option. *

[M. A. C. Newsome]

* The sett of my tartan measures 5 and 7/8 inches. I wasn't sure what that is in relation to kilt hose cuffs, so I mesured the cuff of my Lewis kilt hose. (The cuff is designed to turn down once.) It happens to be almost exactly that same size. Was a little worried that might be too large just in case I have to go with the cadadh option. *

The pattern in the Argyle hose does not exactly recreate the sett of the tartan. I imagine that would be a knitter's nightmare for many tartans. Rather, the Argyle hose are made in a fairly standard "tartan-like" pattern that incorporates the colors of the tartan of the kilt. It's meant more to mimic the look of the tartan than to recreate it. So whether your tartan has a large or a small sett shouldn't have any bearing on the size of the pattern in your hose.

[Friday]

xxxxx

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Why? I have always heard that this is clothing, not a uniform (military excepted). Perhaps this is where the wearer find his hose and flashes most comfortable, perhaps it is later in the day and after walking all over Stone Mountain his hose have slipped a bit. Perhaps he prefers to wear his kilt at the top of the knee and not the middle or bottom of the knee.


Will the kilt police please direct me to the manual of wear that dictates these requirements and cite the page/paragraph where these requirements are listed?

Hey, Friday, go back, re-read my post, and take a second look at the photo.

I didn't say anything about how far up the leg hose should be worn.

What I pointed out was that he was wearing hose that are too short to begin with.

The design on the cuff needs to meet up with the design on the leg of the hose, not have a 3 inch three gap as is the case with the hose in the photo.

So, go back, re-read my original comments, look closely at the photo, and I think you'll understand what's being discussed.

[svc40bt]

Generally, tartan hose are custom made to fit the wearer and to match the colors of the kilt. That is the main reason they are so expensive. I got mine second hand at an excellent price, but the original owner posted various measurements so I could be sure they would fit. These included the length of the foot, the height from the heel to the top of the cuff and the calf circumference they were designed for. When folded the pattern continues onto the cuff. Here is a close-up showing what MoR is talking about.



At least on mine, the outside of the top, that is behind the cuff is solid, while the argyle pattern is on the inside of the top. There is also a constriction where the fold for the cuff occurs. I don't have a picture, but I can take one this evening if anyone is interested. There is quite a bit of engineering in a pair of tartan hose.

[Phil]

Yes here's mine



which shows the pattern in the cuff almost merging into the remainder of the hose as I think MOR is trying to point out. I find my tartan hose are a little shorter than some of the other styles anyway and I wonder if that gentleman has pulled his up a bit too far at the back although I don't actually see any matching pattern on the rest of the hose even if the cuffs were longer.

[Phil]

You have the back seam twisted around to the inside of your leg..

Sorry but are you replying to my post?

[piperdbh]

If one really wanted "tartan" hose, he would have to make them form tartan, like Dr. Newsome's photo shows. As has been previoulsy posted, the pattern in knitted won't exactly match the sett of the tartan, although that can be done.
I would like to see Argyle/"tartan" hose with a solid color cuff instead of continuing the diamonds and rakers.

By the way, are "self-colored" and "solid-colored" the same thing?

[Phil]

By the way, are "self-colored" and "solid-colored" the same thing?

Yes - the same.

[Bugbear]

The pattern in the Argyle hose does not exactly recreate the sett of the tartan. I imagine that would be a knitter's nightmare for many tartans. Rather, the Argyle hose are made in a fairly standard "tartan-like" pattern that incorporates the colors of the tartan of the kilt. It's meant more to mimic the look of the tartan than to recreate it. So whether your tartan has a large or a small sett shouldn't have any bearing on the size of the pattern in your hose.

I'm sorry Matt, I was talking about having "cadadh" made from the same tartan fabric as a kilt of my tartan in that part and it got mixed up with the rest of the discussion.

I do know people, through the SCA, who have made hose in the cadadh style, and I was considering that as an option. However, I am glad you pointed that out because I was worried that my asymetrical tartan would not take well to knitting. I am growing fond of the idea of having formal hose in my tartan, rather than just generic dicing, though.