"First Crack" Kilt Hose

[guitarmatt]

Here's my first attempt at kilt hose. I based them off of this pattern with a few changes of my own. I knitted toe up instead of top down, shaped the toes for left and right, worked a short row heel and changed the ribbing pattern. The original calls for one rib going up the back of the leg with the calf increase causing new ribs to pop out of the first, forming what look like knife points down the back of the calf. Instead of that I put one rib on either side of the ankle and worked the increases from the middle of the knit section, causing the ribs to meet in wide Vs down the back of the calf. I used Jamieson's of Shetland Double Knitting weight wool yarn, which isn't really appropriate for socks, but I have a thing for thick, scratchy wool so it's ok. They're very warm, definitely winter socks.



Nice and fitted. They stay up just fine without garters.



Calf increase.



The pattern on the cuff didn't show up really well with this mixed colour yarn, but it still adds nice body and texture.

This pair took almost exactly 6 skeins of yarn, by which I mean I had 5 inches or so left over at the end. I actually had to cut the tails off of the inside of each toe and felt them to my working yarn just to be able to bind off.

[sydnie7]

Those are very nice, love the color(s). I have yet to tackle that pattern but my mother has worked it a few times.

[svc40bt]

Very nice work.

[RB51]

Beautiful work...thanks for posting.

Laurie

[Mrs. Farlander]

Lovely hose! Well done. I've knitted socks with Jamieson's with not the best results. I hope you knitted some nylon into the heels and toes, as the Shetland wool won't last well if you wear them much. If not, I suggest you darn some in now, before they felt and you can't see the stitches.

I need to knit another pair of kilt hose, since my poor sweetie has only one pair and they're getting ragged. He's a leeetle bit spoiled and doesn't like to wear machine made ones.

[piperdbh]

You've done a good job with those hose. I hop eyou're very proud of them.

Make sure you wash them carefully, so they won't shrink!

[guitarmatt]

I hope you knitted some nylon into the heels and toes, as the Shetland wool won't last well if you wear them much. If not, I suggest you darn some in now, before they felt and you can't see the stitches.

That's a good idea. I didn't reinforce these because they were only the third pair of socks I've ever made, and I still wasn't very confident about my short rows. The idea of trying double wraps with double yarn was a little too intimidating this time around.

[Packhound]

Seeing this has been very helpful to me. I am working the same pattern from the toes up and wondered how to do the increases on the calf. You did a great job!!!!

[fluter]

Well done!

[ali8780]

very handsome indeed. I'm impressed!