Show off those Tartan Hose!

[Phil]

Thanks. I made her a distaff for her spinning wheel so that she could spin flax into linen and straw into gold.

So your real name is RUMPELSTILTSKIN then!

I looked really hard at tartan hose in the lead up to asking her to make these. All I have are this pair, so this is partly speculation, but from what I've been able to determine...from photos, inquiries and talking to several experienced knitters...if they are done correctly the increase in size from the ankle to the calf is done by switching to a larger needle.

From what I have read about machine knitting hose, the tension is relaxed to shape them on a machine so it will have the same effect as bigger needles - bigger stitches.