Next stab at kilt hose

**fluter** · 25th May 09, 06:15 PM

I believe that the British in general use 5 double-pointed needles.

For myself, I am learning to use 2:

**sydnie7** · 25th May 09, 06:35 PM

I've read about the "knit both hose at once" method, thanks for the pic! Think I'll stick with what I know for now. . .

And the U.S. needle sets I've purchased do have 5 needles, I've thought of working on four but again that's for a future project.

Have one leg down nearly down to the heel flap, and they are a bit tight -- should have gone up one size with this yarn -- but again, wearable, and it's all a learning experience!

Time to quit knitting for a few days, have a Size 5 groove worn in my right thumb. . .

**Dan R Porter** · 25th May 09, 06:59 PM

This explains the crazy costs of handknit hose. Not so crazy after all

**sydnie7** · 25th May 09, 07:34 PM

Looking at that pic again, of two hose knitted simultaneously on two flex needles. . . it looks as if there would be a lot of strain on the "seam" of the hose, that is, the inner area where the knitting crosses over to the other needle. I haven't read up on this method, but am just wondering if you could cross the needles in the center. . . work stitches up to the overlap point, then jump and work on the other needle. . . hard to describe, but would make the needles come closer to each other in the center, and ease the strain on that area of hose. Or perhaps I should quote Ted Crocker here. . . "But what do I know". . .

**Avonlea22** · 25th May 09, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Looking at that pic again, of two hose knitted simultaneously on two flex needles. . . it looks as if there would be a lot of strain on the "seam" of the hose, that is, the inner area where the knitting crosses over to the other needle. I haven't read up on this method, but am just wondering if you could cross the needles in the center. . . work stitches up to the overlap point, then jump and work on the other needle. . . hard to describe, but would make the needles come closer to each other in the center, and ease the strain on that area of hose. Or perhaps I should quote Ted Crocker here. . . "But what do I know". . .

Wow...was that in English, because I didn't understand a lick of it.

**fluter** · 26th May 09, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

I haven't read up on this method, but am just wondering if you could cross the needles in the center. . . work stitches up to the overlap point, then jump and work on the other needle. . .

I just mentally made a giant snarly ball of yarn with 2 circulars embedded in the middle.

I've made about 3 pairs this way, and the jump between cables seems comparable to where a pair of DPN's cross. As with the double-points, I just make the first 2 stitches of each section a bit snug.

My challenge at the moment is making a short-row heel without a diagonal line of holes up each side.

**sydnie7** · 26th May 09, 07:07 AM

Having slept on the issue, I've decided to undo my work back up to the garter area, add stitches there where they can't be seen, and enlarge the calf circumference to fit better. The cuffs and garter fit fine, not sure why the calf is so tight, but no use finishing these as they are. At least knitting is easier to undo than most hand or machine stitching!

[I know -- it's called frogging, as in rip-it, rip-it. Spare me.]

Out of town for a few days so I'll face that on my return!

**ali8780** · 26th May 09, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by sydnie7

Having slept on the issue, I've decided to undo my work back up to the garter area, add stitches there where they can't be seen, and enlarge the calf circumference to fit better. The cuffs and garter fit fine, not sure why the calf is so tight, but no use finishing these as they are. At least knitting is easier to undo than most hand or machine stitching!

[I know -- it's called frogging, as in rip-it, rip-it. Spare me.]

Out of town for a few days so I'll face that on my return!

sorry about that, I hate to undo my knitting!

**sydnie7** · 22nd July 09, 09:30 PM

Brace yourselves, folks, I'm about to create my own zombie thread!

Yes, I've dusted off the needles these last few weeks and nearly have this pair worked off. There's at least two pairs worth of knitting in them -- undid both from ankle to garter, added stitches and took one back down to the ankle, decided it was too big this time, took it up to the garter again, finally found the "Goldilocks" point.

Got one done this evening, except for the seam at end of toe, and the other lacks only another evening's work. So look for finished hose and pics by Sunday!

**sydnie7** · 24th July 09, 01:54 PM

Took the second hose off the needles last night! Still need to get Bob to model them, but here they are atop the closest thing he has to a matching kilt -- a lovely length of tweed that I will get to, one of these days. . .

The pin is a little "souvenir brooch" from my last UK trip, sporting a piece of serpentine rock from The Lizard.

And how to know when you have been knitting for too long at one time. . . the No. 5 thumb groove!

"On the hoof" pics to follow in a day or so. I'm trying to convince myself now to go back and make my first pair, the grey ones, wearable. Just a matter of reknitting the feet. I've already done it in my head, just have to do it for real now!