Clocked Hose?

**longhuntr74** · 15th February 10, 08:02 PM

Anybody every wear clocked stockings/kilt hose with their formal attire? This is more of a curiousity question here. Seems to me that, in the right thickness of material, this might look nice. I recognize that this is not probably a Scottish Tradition, but clocked hose/stockings were worn back in the days when men wore knee breeches. Why not with a kilt?

**Ancienne Alliance** · 16th February 10, 04:19 AM

Can you show us a photo of "clocked stockings/kilt hose" ?

Thank you,

Robert

**Paul Henry** · 16th February 10, 04:24 AM

Clocked hose or sock generally means a design eg a cable worked down the 2 sides of the legs, i.e. on left and right, and the rest of the sock knit in plain stocking stitch.It can add a little bit of decoration, easier to knit that a wholy decorative sock, which in a cable/aran knit will take a lot more time

**Jock Scot** · 16th February 10, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

Clocked hose or sock generally means a design eg a cable worked down the 2 sides of the legs, i.e. on left and right, and the rest of the sock knit in plain stocking stitch.It can add a little bit of decoration, easier to knit that a wholy decorative sock, which in a cable/aran knit will take a lot more time

Thanks for explaining that Paul. That makes two things that I have learned on this site today.

**Sir William** · 16th February 10, 04:43 AM

I only wear clocked hose when portraying a gentleman for my colonial period living history programs.

Personally, I think they would look out of place with a kilt, but thats just my opinion.

**longhuntr74** · 16th February 10, 05:59 AM

As I understand it, clocking originated as a decorative way to cover up the seams on sewn fabric (ie. non-tubular) hose. As already stated and visible in this pic, they are decorative embroidery which extends up the sides of the stocking.

**sockknitter** · 16th February 10, 08:39 AM

Clocks may have started out as embroidery to cover seams, but on a knit stocking, the clocking evolved into a patterned stitch, different from the rest of the leg of the hose. I think clocks now can either be done w/ different colors, or with different stitches. Nancy Bush's book, Folk Socks has an example of stockings w/ clocks where the different stitch starts just below the calf, and extends down to have one split going down to the bottom of heel, and the other fork heading further into the instep.

Bush explains that clocks were "inspired by the country stockings found in many parts of Europe.The clocks....have been created with knit and purl stitches. The silk stockings of the wealthy often had embroidery or fancy patterns at the ankles and the style was adopted for general use."

So, clocks started with the moneyed and landed gentry. It may have been a status symbol, being a fancier dress sock than, say, a hunting sock. And was emulated by the rabble?

**fluter** · 16th February 10, 10:06 AM

I've seen hose with various patterns on the side. For instance, the subtle lace of Gainford's "links of love" is shown in the white pair on the cover of the reprint edition.

I've done a crew sock with that pattern, and intend to do a pair of hose one day. I'd thought it would be a nice touch for a solid, evening-wear pair. If they're hand-knit, they could even be white.

**longhuntr74** · 16th February 10, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

I've seen hose with various patterns on the side. For instance, the subtle lace of Gainford's "links of love" is shown in the white pair on the cover of the reprint edition.

I've done a crew sock with that pattern, and intend to do a pair of hose one day. I'd thought it would be a nice touch for a solid, evening-wear pair. If they're hand-knit, they could even be white.

This is exactly what I was wondering/thinking. A nice accent for a solid pair of hose for evening wear. Was just wondering if anybody did it.

**sockknitter** · 16th February 10, 05:49 PM

I don't know whether the "links of love" is technically a clock? or a fancy rib? But either way, I'm going to make some kilt hose using that rib down either side of the leg to the ankle. I'm just fiddling around with trying out different stitches for the turn-down cuff, and getting a bead on my knitting gauge.

What I have been wondering is how much open-work, or lace-work is too much for man to wear? I've seen some men wear hose that struck me as being somewhat lacey...but they carried it off, to great effect. More open-work would be a good idea for a summer wt. hose, wouldn't it?