Show off those Tartan Hose!

[piperdbh]

If you try to knit these rascals in the round, you need to follow the directions posted by Fluter. Otherwise, the "stranding" across the inside of the sock will make it too tight to wear, and you'll catch a strand of the yarn on your toenail as you put the sock on, which will either cause a stretch in the sock or a pain in the toe.

Mark, may I suggest if you make another pair of those VERY handsome hose that you work the cuff in a solid color? I think that would "finish off" the top of the sock, and you won't have a half-diamond showing when you fold the top over. Did you make them in the round or flat, by the way?

[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.

[Highlander31]

OK here are the ones I knitted

Nice hose Mark. Did you knit them using straight needles, or the circular needles where the backs are connected together?

[Mark Keeney]

Mark,

What is the tartan you are wearing? I'm a sucker for anything blue. I need to add that to my list, right after the US Navy (Edzell) and the 8 yard Anderson and the Polaris Military... Yes, I guess I'm suffering from (enjoying?) a common affliction.

Yes it is one of my favorites. Unfortunately it is a fashion tartan loosely based on Royal Stewart as best as I can tell.

[Mark Keeney]

If you try to knit these rascals in the round, you need to follow the directions posted by Fluter. Otherwise, the "stranding" across the inside of the sock will make it too tight to wear, and you'll catch a strand of the yarn on your toenail as you put the sock on, which will either cause a stretch in the sock or a pain in the toe.

Mark, may I suggest if you make another pair of those VERY handsome hose that you work the cuff in a solid color? I think that would "finish off" the top of the sock, and you won't have a half-diamond showing when you fold the top over. Did you make them in the round or flat, by the way?

The actually are a complete diamond. I just put them on quickly to take the picture and didn't get the turn over straight. They are knitted flat using the Folkwear pattern. There is no stranding because it is done with yarn bobbins.
I did make a mistake and used the yellow on the cuff instead of the red.