Quote Originally Posted by Elf View Post
Apologies if this is carrying a tangent too far. Yes, I have also been captivated by the stag-head hose. I have charted a trial pattern and devised a working method based on clox. However, it seems best to knit the alternate rows left handed. I expect it to take at least three years to learn that, and another year to get photographs. Patience grasshopper.
Wow! You charted the stag's head pattern? Are you knitting it in intarsia or stranded (carrying the unused color in the back)?

I agree that you'd do best to knit the alternate rows left-handed so that you could see immediately that you are still working in the pattern.

Even Lady Gainsford said in her book that the argyll/tartan hose were very complicated. She gave line by line instructions, but did not chart them. Her shepherd's plaid hose are actually stranded.

The stranding method makes the hose double-thick, double-warm, double-heavy. People often do not understand that "those strings in the back" are a necessary part of the pattern. They get careless when putting the hose on and snag toenails on the strands.