true tartan hose (not diced+lines)

[CelticSire]

I know nothing of knitting, but I have a very dear friend who knits and has agreed to knit a pair of diced hose for me. (She wanted something to keep her occupied on a long car trip coming up.) The cost of the wool was $76, so it's not surprising that diced and argyle hose are as expensive as they are.

[piperdbh]

That trip must be to the moon and back. Tartan/diced hose take a long time to make, unless they're made from big yarn on big needles.

[creagdhubh]

Very interesting question, OCR. and cool eBay find.



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:

I spoke with a company in Scotland some time ago in regards to having the exact same pair of hose knitted, just to see what they would say, and they agreed to doing so.

[creagdhubh]

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.

Quite right. My Kinloch-Anderson bespoke, fully fashioned 'tartan' Argyll hose were quite expensive. I plan to purchase machine made diced hose, but as for further Argyll style hose on my purchase list, I will fork out the cash for proper, fully-fashioned beauties - simply the best in my opinion for formal attire.

[creagdhubh]

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.

Richard,

You can ask Kinloch-Anderson or Kenneth Short Hosiery (maybe House of Cheviot - not completely sure about them, as they make the machine made diced and tartan hose) - those are good firms that I am aware of.

You really are quite fond of MacLeay's, The Highlanders of Scotland, which is wonderful, as I typically thumb through my own Delia Miller (Haggerston Press) copy almost on a daily basis and have read the passages by Miller, as well as MacGregor, over and over. Superb new topic.

Cheers,

[TheBrus]

My niece knits. If I sweet talk her into it, she might knit me a pair of hose. My question is, what type of yarn would I need to give her?

[piperdbh]

My niece knits. If I sweet talk her into it, she might knit me a pair of hose. My question is, what type of yarn would I need to give her?

Sock weight, merino wool. Unless you want silk. Or alpaca. Or angora. Or cotton. Or a blend.

[sydnie7]

Sock weight, merino wool. Unless you want silk. Or alpaca. Or angora. Or cotton. Or a blend.

Also depends on what pattern she plans to use. Patterns typically tell you what yarn they are sized for. You (or an experienced knitter) can adjust for another type/size yarn, but it's more work.

[CelticSire]

That trip must be to the moon and back. Tartan/diced hose take a long time to make, unless they're made from big yarn on big needles.

It's a two week trip, not sure how much time she will actually have with the needles. But hey, it's worth it, even if she has to finish them after she gets home. I've got time, and patience...

[sockknitter]

Sock wt yarn, or maybe even sport wt, if you need the perfect color match, and in an 80/20 or 75/25 blend of wool/nylon. The nylon adds to the sock's wear-ability. Would hate to have her do all that work, then have your toe or heel wear a hole in her good work.

But you might need to get a 100% wool, to get the right color(s). If that's the case, use something to re-inforce the heels and toes. Some yarn shops sell little cards of 80/20 re-inforcing yarns in a variety of colors? or I think you can use serger thread, called wooly-something? Maybe wooly nylon? Straight nylon can cut through the yarn over time.

Sweet talk her.