Hose patterns

[Whidbey78]

One of my wife's co-workers had problems with her furnace so was enlisted to take a quick look. The problem turned out to be really simple(I lit the pilot light), I noticed several balls of yarn and an unidentifiable project in a box near the sofa and asked, jokingly, if she'd mind knitting some kilt hose. She let me know that she knits to pass time since she quit smoking a few years ago, and if I buy the yarn she'll make hose for free.

She describes her skills as "more or less intermediate." Seeing some of her work, she is very capable but is hesitant to take on really challenging work. She says she can do two-color patterns now and can combine different parts--meaning she could use one pattern for the body of the hose and another for the cuff.

I started scouring the WWW for patterns, and found several I like (but didn't really go nuts over) including a two-tone herringbone pattern. My problem is sorting through tons of patterns for baby booties and kids socks to find kilt hose and long sock patterns. After many hours I have a small handful of options, but none that I'm excited about(except maybe the herringbone one).

I have sent her a couple of patterns that I like but haven't settled on one. So now I have opted to open this up to the rabble. Simple or crazy, solid or multi-color, diced tops or plain. ANYTHING!! I need ideas!! In the interest of this woman's health, please help. She's been smoke free for over two years and I need hose(badly)--so you're actually doing a good deed for two souls by posting some patterns! Hose toppers would also be great.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[Thomas H]

I do not have a Pattern ,But I too would love to see some patterns, So I chimed in to see if any one out there is going to post any .

[Spc. Scott]

I have just run into a similar situation with a co-worker. She wants projects to do and I'm the only one she know who wears a kilt. She just gave me a few books of patterns to look through. I'll get the names of them to you when I get home from work tonight.

A quick glance at them the other day seemed to show that they were a lot of different cabling pattens but I'll get the titles to you anyhow. Might yield some good stuff.

[Thomas H]

Awesome , I am looking forward in seeing your post .Can you shot some pictures of the hose in the book as well ?

[sydnie7]

If she's up to the challenge, the Gainford book "Designs for Knitting Kilt Hose" (available from Amazon) has many traditional cuff designs that can be mated to any leg pattern you like. It's not a pattern book per se but great for the experienced knitter (or over-eager amateurs such as yours truly LOL).

Full patterns available for free online include the popular Toirneach -- I've used this leg with Gainford cuffs to nice effect.

And if she's an online type, there's a group at Ravelry.com where many of the knitting XMarkers and others discuss kilt hose creation, bounce ideas of each other, etc. Not sure how to post a link to it (without signing in to my account) but if she's interested let us know and we'll help her find it.

Wish her luck and let her know there are lots of other people knitting kilt hose to talk to!

[Whidbey78]

I kinda dig the Toirneach pattern. I'd probably put a different cuff on it, but the design is cool. Thanks.

[fluter]

If this works out, please be sure to do something extra-nice for your knitting friend. One universal characteristic of kilt hose is that they are looooooong and time-consuming.

She can join us at ravelry.com, and look for the Kilt Hose group.

I kinda dig the Toirneach pattern. I'd probably put a different cuff on it, but the design is cool. Thanks.

I used this cuff on the same design. It's from the Gainford book, called Pine Cone.

hosetop-pinecone by arcturus1997, on Flickr

If she is getting into color work, you might both enjoy something like this:

hosetop-check by arcturus1997, on Flickr