Tartan hose

**Tim Little** · 2nd January 09, 10:44 AM

A quick question for the rabble:

I've been sorely tempted to get (when circumstances permit) a pair of "tartan" argyle hose to go with my Mackenzie modern kilt:

While there seem to be several vendors (e.g., Kinloch Anderson) who will make "bespoke" tartan hose, the cost ($250!) is somewhat prohibitive.

I noticed that the Scottish Tartans Museum carries "full Argyle" Hawick hose in a limited range of tartans, for significantly less (although still not an insignificant sum).

I think that the "National Scot" (below, left) would certainly work well enough with the colors in the Mackenzie tartan...

... that I wonder if a pair of custom hose -- knit to specifically match the Mackenzie tartan -- could possibly justify the extra cost?

**McMurdo** · 2nd January 09, 10:50 AM

I would say the full Argyll hose would look great, no need to spend the extra.

**piperdbh** · 2nd January 09, 10:55 AM

I agree with McMurdo. However, if you want a special cuff on them, or anything different, you need to have them made. I've not made tartan hose before, but there are others here who have who could advise you.
I like that tartan. It's kind of like my Lockhart.

**WARPIPER** · 2nd January 09, 11:30 AM

The base tartan of many of the hunting tartans and much like the Mackenzie have added additional stripes. The hose that you spoke of would go well for that reason. I have a Hunting Robertson and wear an Argyll hose with out the white stripe and they look very nice. I am however looking at the same National Scot hose to get a bit closer to my tartan.

**thescot** · 2nd January 09, 11:39 AM

You can get what you need at J. Higgins: http://www.jhiggins.net/catalog/hose_argyle.html

I can assure you that you'll be happy (I have a pair), and that it'll look really good matching your kilt. For 45 bucks, I don't think you can beat it. Mine match my Robertson tartan, very similar to your MacKenzie.

**ForresterModern** · 2nd January 09, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by thescot

You can get what you need at J. Higgins: http://www.jhiggins.net/catalog/hose_argyle.html

I can assure you that you'll be happy (I have a pair), and that it'll look really good matching your kilt. For 45 bucks, I don't think you can beat it. Mine match my Robertson tartan, very similar to your MacKenzie.

Hate to be a wet blanket but I saw this several months ago when I was considering and researching custom tartan hose and thought the same thing--what a great price for such a custom piece of apparel. Well, it is too good to be true, as I called them up and asked about it and these tartan custom hose no longer are in their arsenal, although they do carry diced hose in various color combos for $60. Seem that even though you can open this web page through your link, it is a link to their old catalogue, and if you open their newest website ( jhiggins.net ) directly then go to "products" then "hose and ghillie brogues", you no longer find the inexpensive custom tartan hose as an option. Bummer, I know.

**thescot** · 2nd January 09, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by ForresterModern

Hate to be a wet blanket but I saw this several months ago when I was considering and researching custom tartan hose and thought the same thing--what a great price for such a custom piece of apparel. Well, it is too good to be true, as I called them up and asked about it and these tartan custom hose no longer are in their arsenal,. . . Bummer, I know.

Yeah, big bummer. Thanks for passing on that info. I've been using an old "favorite" to go to their site, and I didn't know that had a new site address.

Sorry, folks. Just glad I got mine when I did.

Best try out the very capable custom knitters here among the rabble. Whatever they charge, it appears that it's worth it. Personally, I think that nothing complements a dressy outfit like tartan hose.

Thanks, ForresterModern.

**vmac3205** · 2nd January 09, 11:52 AM

Our very own Unaspencer hand knits tartan hose. You might check with her. Her client list is verrrrry long, so patience is a virtue, if she can do them. The benefit is that she can do any color you want.

**fluter** · 2nd January 09, 02:41 PM

Tim, the National Scot would look great with your modern McKenzie. You'd be hard pressed to find a better match. An alternative is diced hose, which cost about the same.

If you know any highland dancers, start asking around for future reference. You may eventually find a custom hose knitter, since the advanced dancers are required to have tartan hose. The tartan hose don't actually match your kilt's thread count, but have matching colors in Argyle patterns that are similar to the tartan.

Here are two of the sharpest examples I've seen (the Arctic and Antarctic tartans). Post from Barb T.

**Tim Little** · 3rd January 09, 08:00 PM

Thanks for all the feedback and recommendations. Too bad about J. Higgins -- that was sounding like a pretty good deal.

Originally Posted by fluter

The tartan hose don't actually match your kilt's thread count....

So, it sounds like I could (theoretically) get hose that truly match the tartan rather than just matching colors.... Good to know! (I wasn't sure how much difference there would be between, say, the National Scot and hose knitted to specifically match the Mackenzie tartan.)