Embarking on cable-knit kilt hose

[Heming]

The cable pattern looks fabulous!

But if I understand you correctly, you want the cables _only_ on the outside of the calf. In that case, you'll have quite a challenge placing it accurately on the side, as the cable pattern will be much narrower than k12p3 ribbing with the same yarn and needles (as your swatch shows). Basically, the centre back and centre front of the sock will warp outwards towards the cable unless there's an equal amount of tension on both sides of the centre. (This is why single cable hose usually have the cable centre front)

I've not done this, so I don't really know how, but it must be possible to figure out how many more stitches you need on the cable side compared to the stockinette side to ensure that the centre back and centre front are straight lines. The easy way out is of course to put a cable on each side ;)

Btw are you doing toe-up or top-down? I prefer toe-up with cable patterns, I feel the cables look upside-down if knitted from the top down. But as I've previously stated, Im anal...