Kilt Hose I've Knit

[thistlelass]

So...I'll ask the million dollar question: does anyone have a decent pattern for argyll kilt hose?

I know this has been asked before...and I've followed every lead that I can find posted on the net...but nothing really satisfactory has come out of it. My wife is a good knitter (and spinner)...maybe even expert...and she's willing, but it would make it a lot easier if there was one reliable pattern.

I've just begun knitting Kilt hose, so Argyle is way out of my league at this point...in fact, not sure that I will ever tackle them...however, there is good instruction in Designs for Knitting Kilt Hose & Knickerbocker Stockings
by Veronica Gainford, as well as kits used by dancers which can be found at
http://www.highlandisland.com/patterns.html. Their "kit" includes the pattern as well as enough yarn to make the hose. I've not seen the actual pattern for sale by itself. I believe the yarn the use is Jagerspun, which does have all the nice marled colors that one would need for Argyle hose. I suppose an inquiry to the company might be beneficial to see if they cusomize the kit or if they are the standard dancer's kilt hose in the standard colors.

[Highlander31]

Those are nice looking hose Thistlelass.

[DWFII]

Thistlelass,

Thanks for your response.

It is my understanding (although I have not actually seen it) that Gainsford's book does not include instructions for argyll hose. From what I have learned (I am not a knitter, so this comes from my wife) argyll patterns are especially difficult because if you are to preserve a consistent size for the diamonds and rakers the entire length of the hose, you cannot just add stitches willy-nilly as you increase for calf size or whatever. [I guess that comment makes it doubly clear I'm not a knitter ]

And the kit you mentioned is for childrens sizes only and it is a tube sock (if that makes any difference). At first, I thought the kit was the ticket. The finished sock is as professional looking as it gets. But I talked to the manufacturer of the kit and not only will they not sell just the pattern, or modify it for larger sizes, but they do not have the colour combination I need for my kilt--Scotland's National.