Tartan hose book

**DWFII** · 1st February 11, 04:22 PM

Check this out...unless I misunderstand, it purports to be a full scale instruction manual on how to knit tartan hose.

**Spartan Tartan** · 1st February 11, 07:01 PM

Hmmmmmmm...

**piperdbh** · 1st February 11, 08:02 PM

I'd like to read it, but it seems a little over-priced.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 2nd February 11, 06:27 AM

Yeah, I showed it to my wife who was also interested until she saw the price tag...

**DWFII** · 2nd February 11, 07:09 AM

OK...I have no connection to the author or publishers...no dog in this fight, as who should say. But...

Think about this...maybe more folks than I realize (or than is readily apparent) already know how to knit tartan hose, and how to adjust for heavy or thin calves (not so straight-forward with tartan patterns), and how to do all this without floaters inside the hose...but for as long as I've been a member here I've seen people asking for patterns and advice.

And I've followed up on the links provided and the suggestion without much in the way of help.

Nor do I see many people here knitting tartan hose...my wife does mine but I have chicken shanks and little adjustment is needed.

And after some searching among all the extant literature neither myself nor my wife have been able to find any book or detailed information in the knitting literature on how to do this.

So...what is a book like this worth in real terms? If you gain the knowledge to knit tartan hose that look and feel professional; perhaps even the ability to knit tartan hose for others (making a reasonable profit)...what would be an acceptable price? If this book can add to your knowledge in such a way that you gain proficiency not only in tartan hose but other projects, what is it worth?

If you gain something that will stand you in good stead and profit you for the rest of your life...what is a reasonable price? Amortized over a lifetime?

???

And one final thought in passing--why does a pair of socks...just one pair...cost upwards of $150.00? We all know why but think about it compared to the cost of the book...

My wife thinks it's a bit spendy as well but then so is a loaf of bread at $3.29--it's all relative.

Respectfully disagreeing...

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 2nd February 11, 07:14 AM

The thing is not what is it really worth. It's how much will the market pay for it.

They are welcome to charge any price they want for their book but imagine if this thread came along and the book cost $20 I am guessing they would have sold at least a dozen already vs. none?

**DWFII** · 2nd February 11, 07:22 AM

Even if you only make yourself one pair...you've saved money compared to buying commercially. If you make yourself two pair you've saved even more. And if you make yourself three pair....!!!

For people who do knit, check out the webpage and the link to the "Table of Contents"--that's what convinced my wife.

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 2nd February 11, 07:33 AM

But you have to realize as well that there are free patterns online which show how to make diced or argyle socks and which are easily modified by an experienced knitter to lengthen and shape them around the calf.

I have done so myself although I have not been knitting very long. The pattern works but I haven't had the time to finish a pair yet.

Now I'm sure that the info in the book is quite helpful but I think the pure economics will show that a lower price would be far more agreeable and earn more for the publishers in the end.

I mean, kiltmaking is more intense than learning to knit intarsia, and they sell that book for $35, less than half of what these people want for this instruction manual on a simpler subject.

And you'll only save money if you order soon (while they still ship yarn with the book.)

Now if they came out and called it a kit and said this price includes enough yarn to make a pair and always will. That would be a different matter entirely.

As soon as you have to buy the book and yarn separately you lose the margin of savings and you have to devote hours to assembly.

**DWFII** · 2nd February 11, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by Hothir Ethelnor

But you have to realize as well that there are free patterns online which show how to make diced or argyle socks and which are easily modified by an experienced knitter to lengthen and shape them around the calf.

I have done so myself although I have not been knitting very long. The pattern works but I haven't had the time to finish a pair yet..

You are to be congratulated...my wife (in her late 50's) , and her mother (80's) have been knitting most of their lives. Neither could figure out how to increase or decrease the size of the calf more than a little without changing needles and/or yarn or, more importantly, throwing off the shape and precision of the diamonds.

Now that's no sign that it can't be done or figured out by someone who is smart or more experienced but the point I'm making is that those answers...or maybe, "good" answers...aren't readily available in one place as easily understandable and easily modifiable instructions. We have the downloadable, free, instructions that came with the Folklore patterns but again it wasn't really "all that."

Check it out...do a search on this forum for photos of tartan hose...especially in the DIY section. Not many...and several of those are the one's my wife made for me.

Good luck on your tartan hose...sincerely...I hope to see photos.

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 2nd February 11, 07:49 AM

Well I probably cheated and didn't mantain perfect diamonds.

I knit them flat and simply added a stitch at each end as I went along for the increases.

Then when they get stitched together, the seam at the back will not have a perfect pattern in it although it will still be symmetrical.