Hose knitting and other knit bits

[Heming]

I don't know if this is the right place for this thread, but now that Jamie's retired, who cares?

Seriously, though, I didn't want to hi-jack this thread, so I answer in a new one:

I'd love to learn. I just don't know anyone who knits that could teach me. How did you learn to knit? From a book, or by someone teaching you in person?

I clearly remember my mother teaching me how to knit socks when I was about six, but she keeps insisting she had nothing to do with it, so it might have been my Nan. Anyway, it's not too difficult to learn basic knitting from Youtube or a book. If you can teach yourself to make a decent kilt, you can definitely teach yourself to knit.

I taught myself all the fancy stuff like lace knitting, entrelac, cables etc. from books and magazines, just trying, failing and trying again. I'm stubborn, so I'm now a knitter of lace shawls, fair isle patterns, Norwegian nisse-hats, kilt hose, sweaters, more sweaters, oven mits, table cloths, doilies, sweaters and sweaters. Did I mention sweaters? The winters here are COLD.

I've recently taken up a new and fancy (for me) way of turning the heel of hose, which means I can now knit toe-up socks with much nicer heels. I prefer toe-up for two reasons: You get the heel out of the way fairly early on in the project, and you can knit free-hand patterns without having to think upside-down.

Maybe the next kilt kamp should include a knitting class? There must be lots of knitters who could teach.

I'd be willing to share tricks and tips (and patterns - unless copyrighted) with fellow x-markers who want to learn, but I don't know how well distance learning works with crafts...

[Pleater]

I've been making hosen for about 40 years, maybe a bit longer, but only recently began to make them from the toe up - though I have never been really happy with the cast off at the toe it does make it so much easier to remake the feet when they wear out or a hole appears. I can work out how to make the same shape either way - just to be clever!!

Most of the time now I make left and right shaped hosen and socks - quite finely knitted, and usually have several pairs in the making at any time - though these days I don't put as much wear on them as I used to - my knees and hips and back simply can't take the strain any more.

One thing that is important - when making the first one try to remember to write down the numbers of st and rows and how to make it, so that it is possible the same thing again for a second time and get a pair.

Crochet is good for plain berets and I have a number of them. They tend not to wear out - though a couple have succumbed to accidents, high winds and moths over the years. Crochet is denser than knitting so it makes a good heavy item without felting.

I have a number of knitting machines which I tend to use where appropriate for the work. They are great fun to use - some of them can be connected to computers and the shape indicated on the monitor and the pattern controlled electronically.

I have got software to generate patterns for some garments, but with socks and berets I tend to make it up as I go - so I have a fair number of sock patterns but non for berets as each one is unique.

I'd be happy to discus making hose or anything - to compare notes with an expert or total beginner, it's always interesting.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Paul Henry]

As another knitter on board, I usually have a couple of projects on the go at any time. Whether or not there is suffiecent interest here, or via Ravelry as some of us are on anyway remains to be seen, but am always happy to talk about stitch related things here!

[Chas]

Hello Heming, Pleater and Paul,

I have a question for you all and would value your opinions.

My mother, who was 90 this year, is a prolific knitter. She always has dozens of projects on the go. (All the premature baby units in the Birmingham conurbation rely on her output for their newborns).

The thing is, I am after a couple of pairs of Argyle hose, but don't want to pay the vast amount of money that is often asked. My mother is willing to be persuaded to knit me a pair - BUT - she cannot turn a heel. She had some bad experiences some 75 years ago and has a mental block to-wards them ever since.

This brings me to the question. Would it be feasible (or even possible) to have my mother knit the leg part of a pair of hose and get her to sew them on to an existing pair of sock feet? The thought being that the leg parts can be transfered to new feet as the latter wear out. Does this make sense?

I only wear cotton or woollen socks and find that I am very hard on the woollen ones. If I had a couple of pairs of Argyle hose I would wear them on a regular basis and not just use them for 'best'. It would be a terrible shame if they wore out in a year or so and couldn't be worn again.

The other thing is that I am sure that once she had made the first pair of 'hose legs', she would make a steady suppy for me.

Regards

Chas

[Pleater]

Yes - perfectly possible.

If your mum knitted the leg, then divided the stitches into two equal parts, front and back and knitted a few rows straight, so as to provide somewhere to sew the sock onto, and to bridge any gap there might be between the ankle and the shoe it should work.

Sock wool is usually 10 or 20 percent Nylon, which makes it more hardwearing, if that is any help.

I have some all Nylon socks which have had decades of wear, though they are not comfortable to wear without cotton ones inside.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Bugbear]

I have a couple of books on knitting with one of those round knitting peg things, and there are instructions on socks... I haven't gotten around to getting the yarn and knitting equipment.

Although, Chas is forcing me to think about footless hose with a strap or something like that. Almost like a sweater sleeve...

[Hothir Ethelnor]

I'd love some advice, I've started with some nylon yarn and learned basic stitches including working with dpn's and two circular needles.

I am interested in toe up tchniques. How exactly do you do it?

[Tobus]

I would be very interested in learning to knit. I truly enjoy hobbies like that, which is why I do occasional leatherwork. It's the kind of thing I can work on when I feel like it, make myself lots of functional and decorative items, and be creative. And especially when it comes to kilt hose, being able to make my own in any color or pattern would be a HUGE money saver.

So yes, by all means, anything you have to share would be helpful! I know absolutely nothing about knitting. Starting tomorrow, I'll be (hopefully) taking two full weeks of vacation from work, and this would be a great time to pick up whatever supplies I need and start tinkering around with it.

[fluter]

I am interested in toe up tchniques. How exactly do you do it?

One way is with what's called a provisional cast-on. Cast on half your stitches to some waste yarn (or a cable?), then knit the toe exactly like a short-row heel. The next round grafts on to the cast-on stitches, and you're off knitting in the round. It makes a beautiful, smooth toe.

[fluter]

For beginners, if possible get someone to show you the basics in person. If you have a local yarn shop, they typically are eager to help newbies. They may have formal classes, or informal get-togethers when people visit and knit. That's a great forum for learning, support, getting help when you hit a problem.

Schools and churches often have knitting groups, too. Guys, women seem to love to help a man who's learning to knit. I can only imagine how a single, kilted man might get along in that environment.

There are lots of videos on line which are quite helpful.