true tartan hose (not diced+lines)

[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.

[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.

[room2ndfloor]

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.

Knitting is naturally stretchy and wovens are more firm. Sewing hose from tartan would be, in my opinion, a game not worth the candle. You may get get something to cover your legs and feet, but how is it going to stay in place as you walk and flex your foot and leg? I have seen pictures of these woven leg coverings; they appeared to be held in place by sinew-lacings all up the leg. That would dig into the flesh wickedly after a couple of hours' walking.

There's a reason these argyll patterned hose are rare and expensive. They are devilishly difficult to make.

[Nighthawk]

I considered it, Nighthawk, but I feel the lack of "springiness" in the worsted wool cloth wouldn't feel or look quite right. I'm also concerned they'd look a bit too much like a reenactor's costume rather than modern evening wear. (I don't have anything at all against reenactors, quite the opposite; I simply feel that some elements of the more historical costume would look out of place at a modern black-tie event.)

Yeah, you're probably right about that! Being a reenactor, that never even occurred to me! It just kinda seems normal in my mind...

Knitting is naturally stretchy and wovens are more firm. Sewing hose from tartan would be, in my opinion, a game not worth the candle. You may get get something to cover your legs and feet, but how is it going to stay in place as you walk and flex your foot and leg? I have seen pictures of these woven leg coverings; they appeared to be held in place by sinew-lacings all up the leg. That would dig into the flesh wickedly after a couple of hours' walking.

There's a reason these argyll patterned hose are rare and expensive. They are devilishly difficult to make.

First off, you simply use tied garters; not the elastic ones that are so common today. The tied ones, I've found, are much more comfortable, anyway! Second, if the hose are made correctly, they're actually really comfortable. I had a pair once that I wore out. I need to make another. You're right about the lack of stretch, though. The sewn hose do need to be a little loose, and not skin tight like we're used to in modern woven hose.

[Ryan Ross]

First off, you simply use tied garters; not the elastic ones that are so common today. The tied ones, I've found, are much more comfortable, anyway! Second, if the hose are made correctly, they're actually really comfortable. I had a pair once that I wore out. I need to make another. You're right about the lack of stretch, though. The sewn hose do need to be a little loose, and not skin tight like we're used to in modern woven hose.

Right on. Cadadh don't even have to look all that loose, depending on the foot shape of the wearer and how good the pattern they've made for themself is. Lamar Britt, for example, learned to make them from Bob Martin and makes the very best fitting ones I've ever seen. I swear, you can't even tell they're not knit.

I promise you, these things are cadadh:

[David White]

Here is a pair I made some years back.
I don't know why the colors in the photo are so bad-they are actually red and black, but you get the idea

[Cygnus]

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.

I considered it, Nighthawk, but I feel the lack of "springiness" in the worsted wool cloth wouldn't feel or look quite right. I'm also concerned they'd look a bit too much like a reenactor's costume rather than modern evening wear. (I don't have anything at all against reenactors, quite the opposite; I simply feel that some elements of the more historical costume would look out of place at a modern black-tie event.)

[macwilkin]

I considered it, Nighthawk, but I feel the lack of "springiness" in the worsted wool cloth wouldn't feel or look quite right. I'm also concerned they'd look a bit too much like a reenactor's costume rather than modern evening wear. (I don't have anything at all against reenactors, quite the opposite; I simply feel that some elements of the more historical costume would look out of place at a modern black-tie event.)

Hear, hear.

T.

[Pleater]

The cloth ones are cut on the bias, which makes a bit difference to how the fabric feels - it also introduces elasticity.

Dressmaking on the bias is an interesting experience and can result in garments several sizes too small as the dimensions when flat are not those of the garment when worn or hung up. This means that cloth stockings can be put on and feel loose but when pulled up and secured they narrow to the shape of the leg. To get a close fitting fabric sock it would probably be easiest to use concealed zips.

The easiest way to knit a fancy colour pattern in stockinet would be to use the intarsia carriage or function of a knitting machine, make the leg and top of the foot strip on the machine and then sew up the seam and create the foot hand knitting using double pointed needles, and to make a fancy outside part for the top of the leg if wanted. There would not be any floats then.

I have made a punchcard pattern to knit a four colour argyle, two colours of diamond and two colours of lines, in the jacquard technique, which means that it is knitted with a ribber and has no floats on the back.

The technique is usually restricted to four colours as most colour changers can only hold four yarns, though it is possible to work with five as long as you concentrate.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: