Argylle Hose advise needed

[macwilkin]

If you are going with argyll hose, I would keep the cuffs the same as the leg. I think the look of a solid cuff with a dicey leg would look like the knitter ran out of steam. It really isn't so difficult to line up the diamonds. It might take all of ten seconds!

Have you considered diced hose instead of argyll? Red and green perhaps. And regardless of what your daughter says, you are her father, you are a grown man, and why let somebody tell you how to dress? I'm serious. The "matchy-matchy" advice is sound. I can't imagine why your daughter would have a problem.

I second JSFMACLJR's recommendation of diced hose; I wear red and black diced hose with my Cumming hunting (ancient colours) kilt, and it looks very good, INMHO. Red and green diced hose would also look sharp with the Cumming Hunting in "modern" colours.

Be sure to visit http://www.clancumming.us!

Regards,

T.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

It shouldn't be that difficult for your mother to match the argyle pattern on the cuffs and the hose. If she has the skill to knit argyle hose at all, I think she can handle that aspect of it! Here's a photo as you requested, showing the cuff.


Now, the other option, if she does not want to deal with doing the cuff, is to knit the hose castellated. This presents other knitting challenges, of course, but avoids having to match the pattern on the cuff to the hose.


I agree with those advising against a solid cuff on an argyle hose. This would be very unusual and wouldn't look right to most people.

[creagdhubh]

Superb visuals, Matt!

[Deirachel]

Anne: The idea of changing weights would be thus, for example if needed: the foot and leg of the hose in fingering, the cuff in aran. Does that make more sense?

Matt: Thanks for the image of the castellated hose tops, I'll run those by my little one and see what she thinks.

Diced are a no go, in this case, the daughter can't stand them. And, as this is one of the few things she is wanting very specific, I am going to oblige. This is going to be a sheriffmuir doublet, a skunk full-face sporran (which my Dad is helping me make), the argyle hose, buckle brogues, tam (I've got a large cranium...so balmorals look a bit too small).

But, to consider the look here is an image from Sept 12, 1874 Harper's Weekly of an Ontario baseball team in argyle hose which appear to have a solid tops. Granted, not in kilt, but this would seem to show the is a historical precedent for a solid cuff. (No, I don't think history is the end all be all)



And here is a pair images stolen for another kilt forum (a number of the members here are also members) which show a similar look to what I'm thinking of:





So, I think I'll give it a day or two more for any more opinions and then make up my mind from there.

[xman]

Well I don't quite like it for formal wear. I wouldn't mind seeing someone in such hose at the games, but done up in a coatee and tie ... I just think it would look off.

[davidlpope]

Since you asked for opinions, and since you are having aBpair of hose knit especially for you, I recommend you commission a pair of proper Argyle or diced hose. Why go for something that is neither fish nor fowl?

That being said, one gets to choose how one dresses, so there is nothing stopping you from having any permutation that you might want.

[ForresterModern]

I don't think anybody said the argyle body/solid top hose could not be done, or had not been done, just that they were not really at all anything common or typical or likely to be seen particulalry in a dressy setting, and that MOST folks would not consider it a preferred look. You are free to seek your own desires and whatever floats your particular boat and you (and hopefully the bridal party) think look good, and can find someone willing to knit them up for you. My preferences would still be standard full argyle hose with standard turnover argyle tops, some sort of fancy top (could be argyle or other pattern) with solid body, or just a very nice pair of solid color cable knit patterned custom knitted hose, kind of like those Panache recently showed in his "panache in White Hose" thread---good and bulky, nice bold pattern in the knit, but solid color (just not white).

Good luck with your decision making process, and post some pics of the final product and the wedding when it occurs. It would be great to see the whole kit put together in all its grandeur.

[creagdhubh]

Since you asked for opinions, and since you are having aBpair of hose knit especially for you, I recommend you commission a pair of proper Argyle or diced hose. Why go for something that is neither fish nor fowl?

That being said, one gets to choose how one dresses, so there is nothing stopping you from having any permutation that you might want.

***

[creagdhubh]

Here's an interesting photo I stumbled upon online:



I have never seen 'Argyll' style hose made or worn in this fashion before. I do like the style of buckles on his brogues - a bit like what I did; removed the plain, chrome buckles and replaced (upgraded) them with silver versions with some sort of decorative engraving or embossment - mine are of hallmarked sterling silver and thistle embossed.

Cheers,

[davidlpope]

Here's an interesting photo I stumbled upon online:



I have never seen 'Argyll' style hose made or worn in this fashion before. I do like the style of buckles on his brogues - a bit like what I did; removed the plain, chrome buckles and replaced (upgraded) them with silver versions with some sort of decorative engraving or embossment - mine are of hallmarked sterling silver and thistle embossed.

Cheers,

It looks to me as if the cuff has been "doubled up on itself", hiding the Argyle pattern within the fold. That would also account for the blue gap below the "cuff". Even if the cuff was designed to be plain blue, the bottom edge of the cuff should extend to the start of the Argyle pattern on the leg.