Custom Hose Tops

[Troglodyte]

When you say hose-tops, do you mean the footless type used by the military and some pipebands, or do you mean the turn-over cuff that is at the top of the hose?

There seems to be an abundance of the footless type available as army-surplus, and on the likes of eBay, so you should have no trouble there.

If it is the turn-over cuff, to be worn in conjuction with, or attached to, what you might call ordinary long socks, there are several makers operating.

The Glenesk Folk Museum in Angus, Scotland, has a Flock-to-Sock project which uses the old patterns and styles (some of them that have never been commercially available, as they follow old family patterns originating in the glen) and include the popular Gairloch lattice design, and shepherd-check.

The yarn used is from Scottish breeds, and is sourced and produced in Scotland. They are making a stand against cheap foreign imports, from foreign breeds, and much of their yarn is hand-produced in the old way from rare old British breeds.

Some of their stock is ready-to-wear, but the project is essentially a custom-order service, that knits-up using tartan-matching yarns. I believe the shepherd-check (although available in tartan-matching colours if required) is produced from natural, undyed wool - almost black and off-white as the sheep grows the fleece.

See here - https://www.gleneskfolkmuseum.org/news