Finally, hose I'm happy with!

**sydnie7** · 31st January 12, 01:00 PM

I was going to wait and post pix of both hose "in wear" but I am just chuffed, to steal a word from English Bloke, with my latest attempt at knitting kilt hose. I used the toe-up, two-at-a-time method for the first time and love the results. They came out well enough that I got brave and finished off with a 2-color cuff, also my first time doing a multicolor pattern (it's the large Shepard's Check from Gainford book). I put them onto DPNs to finish the cuffs, so one is done and I've got an evening's worth of work to finish the second. Then weave in ends, block, and Bob has new hose to go with his XMarks kilt!

I'll update this thread with pictures of them being worn. The question: are these suitable for wear with black tie? I see Matt Newsome wears the all-over Shepard's Check (patterned leg and cuff) with black tie, but what about this solid leg/patterned cuff with the outfit below?

Dressy enough, or not? Too much grey imbalancing the black jacket?

**Thomas H** · 31st January 12, 01:09 PM

Great Job ,

**piperdbh** · 31st January 12, 01:11 PM

Yes, Sydnie; those will be fine with black tie. They'd also be spiffy with tennis shoes. I like them a lot.
What yarn are they? They look like Paton's,a nd I'm guessing you used size 5 needles.

Congratulations. I'm sure Bob is well chuffed with them, too.

**sydnie7** · 31st January 12, 01:14 PM

Yes, Paton's on size 5. The lady at local yarn shop tells me I need to step up to a better yarn. . . maybe when I think my knitting skills are worth it

**piperdbh** · 31st January 12, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

maybe when I think my knitting skills are worth it

Go ahead and start thinking it.

**James Hood** · 31st January 12, 05:00 PM

Wow. Magnificent.

**Spartan Tartan** · 4th February 12, 03:02 PM

Those are great! I just started learning to knit. I will soon be taking a class to learn how to knit socks. I found a pattern for some cabled hose that I really like. I hope to be knitting my own hose by the end of summer.

Those loom really good with the kilt. Very nicely done.

**sydnie7** · 4th February 12, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Spartan Tartan

Those are great! I just started learning to knit. I will soon be taking a class to learn how to knit socks. I found a pattern for some cabled hose that I really like. I hope to be knitting my own hose by the end of summer.

Those loom really good with the kilt. Very nicely done.

Thank you! I just dove in and kind of taught myself from internet and Knitting For Dummies-level resources. Started on double-pointed straight needles because that's how my mother always did it.

My first pair was a disaster, second pair look and fit great but don't really go with any of Bob's current kilts (duh. . .). Third pair too long, fourth pair too short. . . This is my fifth attempt and I really recommend the toe-up on circulars format as it makes them way easier to measure and try on as you go. Keeping two skeins of yarn from becoming one tangled mess is my biggest challenge now.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 31st January 12, 01:39 PM

Those look really great! Fantastic job!

Me, personally, I don't think patterned top hose work all that well for black tie. To me, they have more of a country wear look and I think they look fantastic for day wear. But for black tie, I'd ideally suggest either Argyle or diced hose (all over pattern), or barring that a nice solid color dress hose.

**creagdhubh** · 31st January 12, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Those look really great! Fantastic job!

Me, personally, I don't think patterned top hose work all that well for black tie. To me, they have more of a country wear look and I think they look fantastic for day wear. But for black tie, I'd ideally suggest either Argyle or diced hose (all over pattern), or barring that a nice solid color dress hose.

I agree, Matt.