true tartan hose (not diced+lines)

[OC Richard]

We're all familiar with "tartan" hose. I've owned a few pairs over the years. They show up often in The Highlanders of Scotland.

As we know, they don't actually match the tartan, unless the tartan is a very simple one such as Wallace.

Because the "tartan" hose aren't really tartan, but are diced hose with an added single line in each band of colour, done in colours to suggest the tartan of the kilt.

Here they are, in the 1860s:



Nowadays the hosemakers will "split" the diamonds in order to introduce more of the various colours in complex tartans. Here are mine:



But still the pattern is diced with added single lines.

But here in The Highlanders of Scotland are hose knit in such a way as to more closely follow the tartan:



Note, on the figure on the left, the addition of black bands on the hose to mimick the tartan more closely than modern diced+lines "tartan" hose would. (Nowadays the hosemaker would probably split the blue diamonds with black to suggest the effect.)

So it was quite interesting when these vintage hose came up on Ebay the other day. Yes there are the familiar split diamonds but also double lines and triple lines:



Which makes me wonder: does anyone knit hose of this complexity nowadays?

BTW I looked through a handful of vintage Highland Dress catalogues from the 1920s through 1950s and all the "tartan" hose they show are the familiar diced+single lines type.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I don't think you'd be likely to find tartan hose like those listed as a "stock" item from any supplier; but I would suggest that if you contacted anyone who offered custom knit argyle/tartan hose with an image like that and requested specifically that sort of pattern, you may get lucky.

[artificer]

Very interesting question, OCR. and cool eBay find.

Here they are, in the 1860s:



BTW I looked through a handful of vintage Highland Dress catalogues from the 1920s through 1950s and all the "tartan" hose they show are the familiar diced+single lines type.

This is a bit off-topic, but has ANYONE seen a modern re-creation of the positively stunning stag's head hose on the right in the above image?

I know RockyR was looking for a set several months back. I wonder if he found any?

ith:

[Tobus]

So it was quite interesting when these vintage hose came up on Ebay the other day. Yes there are the familiar split diamonds but also double lines and triple lines:

I see seams at the backs. And while the toes and heels seem to be blended into the material, it does seem odd that the back of each sock is stitched together. This may suggest that these were not regular knit hose. And to my (admittedly untrained) eye, the material itself doesn't even look like a knitted pattern. It looks more like jersey material.

How "vintage" were these supposed to be?

[Paul Henry]

I see seams at the backs. And while the toes and heels seem to be blended into the material, it does seem odd that the back of each sock is stitched together. This may suggest that these were not regular knit hose. And to my (admittedly untrained) eye, the material itself doesn't even look like a knitted pattern. It looks more like jersey material.

How "vintage" were these supposed to be?

Traditional knitted hose ARE seamed at the back, that is normal and usual.
These look very much like traditional hose , nothing unnusual about them except perahps the complicated patterning

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

For what it's worth, I was quoted GBP 425.00 (plus VAT) for custom knitted hose in Macmillan hunting tartan... It makes you appreciate just what a bargain the machine made diced or argyle hose are.

[Elf]

This is a bit off-topic, but has ANYONE seen a modern re-creation of the positively stunning stag's head hose on the right in the above image?

ith:

Apologies if this is carrying a tangent too far. Yes, I have also been captivated by the stag-head hose. I have charted a trial pattern and devised a working method based on clox. However, it seems best to knit the alternate rows left handed. I expect it to take at least three years to learn that, and another year to get photographs. Patience grasshopper.

[artificer]

For what it's worth, I was quoted GBP 425.00 (plus VAT) for custom knitted hose in Macmillan hunting tartan... It makes you appreciate just what a bargain the machine made diced or argyle hose are.

I'm so glad I wasn't drinking my tea when I read this.

Apologies if this is carrying a tangent too far. Yes, I have also been captivated by the stag-head hose. I have charted a trial pattern and devised a working method based on clox. However, it seems best to knit the alternate rows left handed. I expect it to take at least three years to learn that, and another year to get photographs. Patience grasshopper.

It's all Greek to me, but I look forward to the eventual pix.
ith:

[Cygnus]

For what it's worth, I was quoted GBP 425.00 (plus VAT) for custom knitted hose in Macmillan hunting tartan... It makes you appreciate just what a bargain the machine made diced or argyle hose are.

I was considering finding somebody that would knit a pair of "true tartan" hose for me. So much for that idea!

A pair of diced hose will do just fine, I think...

[Nighthawk]

I was considering finding somebody that would knit a pair of "true tartan" hose for me. So much for that idea!

A pair of diced hose will do just fine, I think...

Here's another thought. In the olde days- the very olde days- hose were made from tartan- literally. Not knitted to look like tartan, but were sewn from the same tartan as the kilt. Why not buy a couple yards of tartan and have a tailor sew you a pair? You get true tartan hose at the same price as knitted Argyle hose. Or if you have it done in PV, instead of wool tartan, it saves you even more.