Old school hand-knit hose

**haxtonhouse** · 25th November 12, 08:08 PM

I knit two socks at a time on circular needles (that way they will be exactly the same length), and they go really fast with a worsted weight wool yarn. Either plain or cabled takes about the same amount of time. I have often thought about getting one of those machines for the leg, but I am re-thinking that now!

**Spinderella** · 29th November 12, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

The Shetland lace weight from Scotland is one ply thickness - usually made threefold, that is with three threads twisted together to make a dense yarn which looks like sewing thread. It is quite alarming to some when they first see it.

There are traditional happ shawls made in two ply, the patterns used are usually different and the shape is more scarf like, rectangular rather than square.

This morning I found a hole in the sole of some brown hose - the yarn has acrylic rather than Nylon in it, obviously not a good choice. They can be repaired, but the yarn flattens under pressure. I think that all wool or wool/Nylon is the best choice for hose. Sometimes adding a separate thread of Nylon can reduce the life of hose by cutting through the wool fibres. I think it is best to try to keep the threads from wrapping around each-other. Having them running parallel stops the cutting action. You can do that on some knitting machines, it is called plating, by putting the yarn and thread through different feeders.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Yes, three threads twisted together is what I mean, Anne. And yes, other spinners look at my singles in awe, as they are the width of a single human hair ;-) (shameless bragging, hehe)

I am getting proficient enough now that I can spin this on the drop spindle, in addition to my high-ratio Quebec/Canadian Production wheel and on my Louet S90 by adjusting my technique for each tool.

Mother and I don't add a nylon thread or weave it in, we use the 75% wool/25% nylon blend yarn from Briggs and Little for the heels and toes if we haven't used that yarn exclusively for the whole sock.

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my explanation.

**Spinderella** · 29th November 12, 05:57 AM

Great pics!!
I tend to knit my socks/hose in a knit 4-purl 1 pattern as it gives a little ribbing for an adjustable fit for various size legs, and then the socks stay up.

It would be interesting to know when the wearing of flashes began.

As a textile museum employee, I have access to a knitting pattern book from the mid 1800's which has patterns for garters and garter ties. I notice these socks in the book do not have ribbing or ribbed cuffs, which explains the need for those.