Stag Head Hose

**Elf** · 28th June 11, 11:07 AM

A bit ago, there was a thread about true tartan hose but a few of us were distracted by a pair of stag head hose depicted in a painting of Thomas MacKenzie.

I had an idea on how to reproduce this based on clox: each antler takes a yarn floating it behind between rows, then when the head is reached one yarn is dropped. The diamond is worked similar to the single line in an argyle. Here are photos of the test patch front and back.

One may note that the lower left diamond is chuckier because I experimented with two stitches per row instead of one. I think the photo speaks against doinig that. Also on the bottom is "corrugated ribbing" taken from an old Jersey pattern: the knits are green and the purl is red, the unused yarn floated behind. I was thinking about the cuff, rather than turning over the stag pattern as in the original. However, now I am thinking about dicing.

Well, there is a lot to comment upon. Any suggestions would be useful. Like my previous hose, this should take three years.

**Kilted Rogue** · 28th June 11, 12:07 PM

Nice job bringing that to life!

**BonnetMaker** · 28th June 11, 12:44 PM

Looking great. Would you work these in the round or flat and seamed? My inclination is usually to knit hose in the round, but I think you'll get a neater finish using your method if you do them flat and seam them at the end?

**tulloch** · 28th June 11, 01:21 PM

Whew! Nice stuff. I would love to see the finished item.

**piperdbh** · 28th June 11, 01:39 PM

These would have to be made flat and then sewn up, Bonnet Maker. The yellow would have to float way too far to be able to work this in the round.

Does the strand "connecting' the antlers not inhibit the stretch of this swatch? I'd be leery of that if worked into a cuff, since it would need to stretch a bit more than the body of the sock.

Also, there's a chance that the stag hose in that painting were not knitted, but could be cadadh made from embroidered fabric. Or they could made from the painter's imagination.

**ChattanCat** · 29th June 11, 03:54 AM

I didn't know yarn floated.

**Remy** · 29th June 11, 05:19 AM

That looks awesome. I love the colors. Would that method of knitting be considered intarsia or fair isle? My wife's a knitter and she knitted our nephew a hat with a cabled stag's head on it. Maybe I can get her to knit me some cabled stag's head hose?

**frolic** · 29th June 11, 05:47 AM

Those are gorgeous. I can see an new hobby in my future. Knitting! Thanks for sharing the lovely work.

**Nighthawk** · 29th June 11, 09:28 AM

DUDE!! If you can pull those off, I want a pair!! I have been trading leather work for knitted goods lately- a beautiful pair of blue hose, and a knitted bonnet- and would happily trade for a pair of those! Or even pay for it!!

**Elf** · 29th June 11, 10:20 AM

Wow, everyone, thanks for all the replies. I hadn't thought about embroidering cadadh, but like the wheel, now that you say it, it makes perfect sense. I was thinking of knitting this flat and seaming the back. The sample was knit flat to practice left hand knitting alternate rows. I need lots of practice on this point. However, if knit round and using a strand for each antler, the greatest a yarn would be carried on the back would be 5 stitches, again if I did it like clox. I knew someone would ding me for connecting the antler yarns at the top. This was for test purposes; I would bury each in the finished work. Finally I must repeat that I expect 3 years to compleat this project. The yarn order hasn't even arrived yet. Again, thank you all for a lot to consider.