Old school hand-knit hose

[Tobus]

Steve, thanks for the reality check and background on CSMs. That sounds more realistic than the rosy description I read. It appears that the quality and condition of the machine makes all the difference. I own an antique leather sewing machine and can definitely identify with the struggles of working with old technology that requires constant maintenance and fiddling! I have a similar 'drip tray' that we use under that machine to catch the oil that constantly makes its way through the parts. In one sense, it's a pain in the rear, but there's also something really neat and satisfying about working with old-world tools and equipment.

So, uh, are you going to be selling custom hose made on your machine (or a new model) any time soon?

[JohntheBiker]

Another possible option from RKilts:

"RKilts Edwardian Kilt Hose
Hand made RKilts Edwardian Kilt Hose are knitted by Hendrik Pel on a circa 1890 Auto Knitter circular sock knitting machine.
The sock pattern is a 1/5 ribbed triple cuff based on patterns from the Edwardian period."

Apparently one has to make the distinction between hand made and hand knit.

[Llama]

Steve, thanks for the reality check and background on CSMs...

***
I was thinking about buying one, too - after a quick ebay search. Thanks for the great info.

[piperdbh]

I read somewhere that a Scottish minister invented the sock-knitting machine after watching his wife invest hours of time in hand-knitting stockings.

This discussion of "hand-made" vs. "hand-knit" is like the requirement that Harris tweed be woven on hand-powered looms, even though some of those looms are rigged up to stationary bicycles and are, in fact, foot-powered.
"So, is that Harris tweed you're wearing?"
"Why, yes, it is. It's foot-made Harris tweed."

[creagdhubh]

It would be great to own some in this style, but only if they're nice and thick instead of thin and cheap like most plain hose on the market today.

House of Cheviot's and Almost Unwearoutable's line of kilt hose, country socks, and shooting hose, are definitely not "thin and cheap." Especially if you go the bespoke route and specify 8-ply. I highly recommend them.

Cheers,

[Tobus]

House of Cheviot's and Almost Unwearoutable's line of kilt hose, country socks, and shooting hose, are definitely not "thin and cheap." Especially if you go the bespoke route and specify 8-ply. I highly recommend them.

Cheers,

But House of Cheviot doesn't offer plain hose with a plain turnover, do they? I can't find anything of theirs that doesn't have a decorative turnover. I do own a pair of HoC hose, and I agree that they're good quality, but the problem here is that they just don't offer the type of hose we're talking about in this thread. At least, not that I've been able to find.

I just looked at Almost Unwearoutable. Most of what they offer is decorative too. But it looks like their Shooting Stockings might do the trick, especially if the 8-ply option is as you say.

[Pleater]

If you need any information about the flatbed knitting machines and ribbers - I have about 50 machines of all kinds and forty years experience of using them. I bought the first one new and regained the money in about 6 months

They were designed originally to make stockings, a pair at a time side by side with two lots of yarn. It ensured that they were exact pairs - it was remarked on recently that commercially made hose could be different sizes/lengths.

I also teach machine knitting, and it is obvious that the women are easily grouped into naturals, teachables, and the God help us. Perhaps there is a gene for practicality - the groups having two, one and none respectively.

The CSM hose are knitted with needles out of work to make the grooves. A flatbed machine and ribber can do the same or make real purl stitches in a flat piece of knitting which is then sewn into a tube.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[piperdbh]

A flatbed machine and ribber can do the same or make real purl stitches in a flat piece of knitting which is then sewn into a tube.

How ironic! My DPNs do the same thing!

[creagdhubh]

But House of Cheviot doesn't offer plain hose with a plain turnover, do they? I can't find anything of theirs that doesn't have a decorative turnover. I do own a pair of HoC hose, and I agree that they're good quality, but the problem here is that they just don't offer the type of hose we're talking about in this thread. At least, not that I've been able to find.


I just looked at Almost Unwearoutable. Most of what they offer is decorative too. But it looks like their Shooting Stockings might do the trick, especially if the 8-ply option is as you say.

Tobus,

You can ask Almost Unwearoutable to make a bespoke pair to your specific requirements. They are all about custom jobs. You are correct in regards to House of Cheviot's line. The only style of hose of their's that comes close to the very plain, simple style in which you speak of, are the Glenmore. And they are basically their "economy" style hose, so I am sure they are not as chunky and heavier knit as some of the other styles. I've got my eye on the Sandringham style at the moment; beautiful colours this season!

Cheers,

[piperdown]

Is this sort of what you had in mind?



These are hand knit on a circa 1880's circular sock machine.

I have four pairs of these (from Steve) in different colours and they are the only ones I wear right now. They are an excellent choice and I love them.