Hose question (nothing to do with gardening!)

[Father Bill]

I'm at the point where my collection of kilt hose is really looking pretty good, but as I often do, being a picky son-of-a-gun, I'm looking for what is apparently (but mildly surprisingly to me) impossible.

I have a beautiful pair of bison-coloured, Orkney-knit pattern hose which have turned out to be even more serviceable than I imagined when I bought them as a "discontinued" line. I'd love to have their twin brothers in claret, but it seems that it's a strangely difficult task.

I'd be willing to take an Arran pattern in claret, but do prefer the Orkney. I'd even be pleased to have a knitting pattern if somebody knows where to find one, since I do have some very talented knitting friends. (Not me, I've never begun to knit let alone something that skilled!)

Anybody have any inside information or ideas to share for the good of this project?

Father Bill+

[Steve Ashton]

A picture to give us an idea of what you are looking for would help.

[Pleater]

I'm afraid that there is a lack of information - what one vendor might blithely label up as 'Orkney pattern' or 'Orkney hose' might well be 'Mrs Jones pattern' in knitting circles, just as all those 'family' patterns in Arran knitting were just what someone ordered from the knitters there in cable combinations that looked good together.

There's an awful lot of rather wishful thinking when it comes to knitting patterns.

There's also a lot of glancing casually and making notes about other people's knitting which has a long tradition - so perhaps it would be possible to get a photo or two of the ones you have and have them recreated - or give them to a knitter and they could even count the stitches to make an almost exact copy.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Father Bill]

Good one, Steve and Anne! The Bison are the ones I was sold as Orkney, the Green are the Arran knit.

[Pleater]

Diamond lattice cable with rice stitch filling - a square profile heel and stockinet foot - possibly a rib stitch heel strap.

It should not be difficult to make a good copy, with any adjustments required to cope with different yarn. Any competent knitter should be able to cope with the work.

So that is the colour of a bison - I guessed darker than that.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Father Bill]

Thanks Anne! Most bison I've met are indeed darker than that, but again, that's the name I was given for it. Most bison are pretty nice people too!

[tulloch]

Diamond lattice cable with rice stitch filling - a square profile heel and stockinet foot - possibly a rib stitch heel strap.

It should not be difficult to make a good copy, with any adjustments required to cope with different yarn. Any competent knitter should be able to cope with the work.

So that is the colour of a bison - I guessed darker than that.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Bison are pretty much two-toned. Darker when wet. Did you know their fur is very nice? I have not had my hands on any yarn but I'd jump at some as well as musk ox if I found it.

[Pleater]

Is it the fibre called quiviut?

I had heard that it was hollow and highly insulating. It must be gathered up when it falls out, I suppose, as sheering a bison doesn't seem like an easy proposition.

Now I have an image of a line of bison going through a device like a car wash to comb out the loose fibre - with shower caps over the horns to stop the brushes getting caught....

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Tarheel]

There is a Bison park in Tupelo, MS (forty miles east of my house). I'll be going over soon to visit friends and I'll check on the shedding, colors and temperament of these creatures. I'll take the camera and also ask about the automated washing, combing and shearing devices (in case there are any). I bet the community of Amish folks that live near the park will have some great insight also. Their baked goods are renown in this area. Maybe they use Bison milk? Dubious at best.

[mookien]

... So that is the colour of a bison - I guessed darker than that.
Anne the Pleater :ootd:

Bison lighten up after you hand wash them in cold water, rinse them with a slosh of vinegar, and ...

Dunk and squeeze, do not rub or wring. After the final rinse, squeeze out the water draw out the bison to its proper shape when laid on a towel, roll it up - like a Swill roll, then put it on the floor and stand on it - preferably barefoot for the sake of the towel and your personal safety if you do not live alone.

The "personal safety" part is the most important. Bison are large, potentially dangerous animals.