How hard is it to knit Kilt hose

[Pleater]

I find it difficult to keep count of the rounds between the crossings of the cables, but if you can overcome that then the pattern should be just fine.

I have to use a brightly coloured contrasting cord and flip it from inside to outside at the centre back on each round - though that only tells me when I have gone too far.

I do the heels on mine slightly differently but the basic idea is sound.

Anne Croucher :ootd:

[fluter]

I wonder what I can get him to do to pay back the favor of making these?

Psst: Rogue! Rub her feet, lad; rub her feet!

[vmac3205]

Psst: Rogue! Rub her feet, lad; rub her feet!

I'd think a nice weekend get-away would be more appropriate.

[piperdbh]

Have you made socks before? If so, I'd suggest that you find some wool you like and make those socks again, but extend the leg to the right length. Also, you don't have to work the cuff and sock as one piece. You can make the sock, then make the cuff (or vice versa) and then use a 3-needle bid-off to connect them. That makes a nice cuff edge and there's none of that turning-inside-out stuff. This method also allows you to make a long cable that wraps around the calf, bind it off, then pick up stitches along its sides to knit into ribbing.

Here's one of the hose I recently made for A_Hay! in exchange for a sporran. I worked the sock and the cuff in two separate pieces:


The cuff is not a true cable, although it looks like one.

One last thing: depending on your yarn/needle size and pattern, you might get by with not working any shaping in the calf. In essence, a long tube sock. 2X2 or 4X4 ribbing works well for this.

Let us know what you decide. We'll help as much as we can.

By the way, get the lady at the yarn shop to wind the yarn into a ball for you. I made the mistake of trying to hand-wind a hank of DK once. Once.

[ForresterModern]

Non-knitting ignoramus here, but I love listening to experts talking about thier expertise using precise but specialized terms like "3-needle-bid-off" to describe a solution to a one off problem as has been done above. Truly fascinating to watch (or here listen) to an artisan at work.

I for one would be proud to wear such a pair of hose in just about any color that matched or complimented any of my kilts. I think the pattern is beautiful, far more so than any standard off the peg kilt hose, and would likely look wonderful in any color under the appropriate kilt. I picked up something similar at a highland games in Strathmore while in scotland last year in a murled purple that beautifully matches my IoS kilt. Sounds like VMAC has an enviable monopoly on this production line though.

Shantarra, I say go for it and do it in whatever color would compliment a kilt you already know from VMAC's collection, then show us in photos the end result. I for one would love to see them in a different color, heck a variety of different colors if you get bored, travel a lot this fall, or simply get disproportionaltey motivated.

[Shanntarra]

I've knitted sock stype slippers before but nothing like this. Besides I like a challange. Now I just need to find a yarn shop. It is hard enough to drag the rogue into a fabric shop, UNLESS it is to buy fabric for me to make HIM something.

[sydnie7]

I've knitted sock stype slippers before but nothing like this. Besides I like a challange. Now I just need to find a yarn shop. It is hard enough to drag the rogue into a fabric shop, UNLESS it is to buy fabric for me to make HIM something.

In my limited experience (and in Southern Calif market) I've found yarn shops to have high prices and somewhat limited sock yarn selection. I really like the Patons sock yarn I used on my second pair, ordered online from Mary Maxim -- all the links are in the thread described in my post above. Unless you are trying to match some unusual color, it's hard to go wrong with bottle green, navy blue, or oatmeal hose.

[NCMC]

I also would be interested in an updated pattern. If it turns up please post. Much appreciated.

[Shanntarra]

Our travel plans have been knocked a little wonky due to us buying a house, but I know of at least 3 big trips coming up. Being stuck by a camp fire listening to bag pipes, drums, and signing of good griends wouldn't be a bad place to knit either.

[Friday]

When knitting cables or any repeating pattern I use a "chain counter" I stopped at one of the craft stores (Micheal's, AC Moore etc.) and picked up a package of split rings a little larger than the needle size I am using and a dangle. If the cable crosses every 5 rounds/rows I put 5 rings on the chain. At one end of the chain goes the dangle. The dangle normally on my ring number one. Each round I advance one ring. When I hit the last ring I cable crossover. If I have multiple cables crossing on different row I have more than one chain. If one cable crosses every 5th round and another crosses every 8 rounds then I have two chains one with 5 rings and another with 8 rings.

No counting. If I put the hose down I know exactly which round I was on for each cable crossover.