Hand Knit Hose from Kiltmart

**CMcG** · 28th February 13, 06:34 PM

I see that Kiltmart has some very reasonably priced ($30), 100% wool, hand knit, kilt hose listed on their website. Does anyone have any experience with these? LINK

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 28th February 13, 08:34 PM

I have a few issues here. One is the price. Being married to a knitter I know how most handknits are typically priced. A common calculation is the cost of the yarn plus $.10 to $.30 per yard, depending on the complexity of the stitch. When one takes into account the retail mark-up no doubt included in the price, I don't see how the cost of materials is even covered.

The second concern I have is their description of them as "one size fits most." That sounds to me like it is a shot in the dark as to whether they will fit well. And we are obviously not talking made to measure.

I suspect one of two things. Either they came across a stock of handknit hose they were able to acquire at a deep discount while stock lasts, or they are having these made in a country where people expect far less pay for this kind of hand work.

You may be getting a great pair of hose at an amazing price. But you know what they say... If it looks took good to be true.....

**CMcG** · 28th February 13, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I have a few issues here.

<snip>

You may be getting a great pair of hose at an amazing price. But you know what they say... If it looks took good to be true.....

I am all too familiar with things looking too good to be true and all that it entails. Thanks for your comments, Matt.

I'm still hoping, though, that someone on Xmarks has actually handled a pair of these hose? My feet are a medium, so I might have a good shot at "one size fits most" actually fitting. And my birthday is coming...

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 1st March 13, 05:35 AM

Well, for $30 you can try risking it and check them out for yourself. If they fit you'll have a happy birthday! If not, well, lesson learned. Either way you can review them for the rabble here.

**Tobus** · 1st March 13, 06:10 AM

I've no experience with them, but Matt is right on all counts. It sounds too good to be true, but for $30 there's not much risk. I'd venture to guess, though, that when they say "hand knitted", they mean "hand made on a sock-knitting machine".

Sadly, when I see "one size fits most", I know it is guaranteed not to fit me, since I'm not even close to being average size on anything.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 1st March 13, 05:45 PM

I showed the pictures to my wife and she agrees with me that there is no way they are being hand knit for $30. She says the gauge looks really loose on these and her suspicion is that they are being knit on a sock loom, and not a very good one. The heavy-duty industrial sock looms usually take a finer yarn and knit on a pretty tight gauge. But there are lower-cost (generally plastic) sock looms that are readily available from many retail craft stores and these generally take a thicker yarn and knit on a looser gauge, as these socks seem to be.

This is just her opinion after looking at the photos on the web site.

**kakkui_1037** · 20th March 13, 10:20 PM

I absolutely think they are worth it, especially for the price. I used to work at Kiltmart several years ago and am the one who introduced these to the business since it wasn't a product we carried before. They will fit most adult sizes. I compared them with some hand knit hose from a competitor that are twice the price and these are more comfortable.

**CMcG** · 21st March 13, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by kakkui_1037

I absolutely think they are worth it, especially for the price. I used to work at Kiltmart several years ago and am the one who introduced these to the business since it wasn't a product we carried before. They will fit most adult sizes. I compared them with some hand knit hose from a competitor that are twice the price and these are more comfortable.

Finally, someone who has actually seen them! Thanks for that.