DIY Kilt Hose

[cacunn]

They are called floats

Thank you - Don't get old stay young and pretty.

Floats went through my mind just before starting the post and I didn't put my finger over my ear and it wasn't there when needed it.

[ThreadBbdr]

The only problem with knitting colorwork that has such long floats is that they tend to catch on thing - like toes. To avoid that, you have to 'weave' the carried yarn into the back of the stitches as you go. It's hard to maintain tension with that technique. Fair Isle and Norgi sweaters use very short floats or 'interspersed stitches' to avoid having to weave. With the large diamonds in argyll socks, you won't have a choice.

Hints from JC's "Call them pirates" hat, which is the last colorwork I did that needed to be woven.

1) make the floats looser than the front yarn - a LOT looser.
2) use 100% wool and preferably one with some 'fuzz' to it. You want the floats to ever so slightly felt to the back of the fabric. I used Nature Spun sport weight. It's good for heavy socks.
3) BLOCK the very dickens out of it. You seriously need sock blockers if you are going to do this.
4) Catch the float every four stitches or so. You don't have to catch it every one, though some people do.
5) Learn to knit with both hands - carrying one color in each hand. Seriously. It's not that hard to do, though you'll feel like you are learning to knit all over again, dropped stitches and all. That way you can make the float lie above or beneath the main yarn as needed.

Let us know how it works out.

[Knitknut]

Ok, I've been very slow in posting pictures of the hose I knit for my son Eric (Thebigeman77), sorry! Here goes:

Knit these as his first pair for his Prom outfit:




Knit these as his high school graduation gift:




More info and pictures on my socknitting page, if interested.

Next I think I'll be knitting some gray hose, and hopefully a hat to match in a style that he's been wanting (new pattern I just saw at Knitty.com this week, check out "Morgan").

Dawn
www.dawnadcock.com
More of my knitting www.3gcs.com/adcock/knittingmain.htm
Ravelry ID for you other knitters out there: dawnsdreamdesign

[fluter]

You rock, Dawn! Those are both gorgeous; I can't decide which is my favorite of the two. I think the recipient likes them, too.

[string]

I love the manly lace insert on the red pair.

PS added you on Rav. it's stringthing there.

[djmacnyc]

New here. Hi all. I made these from my homespun yarn - Shetland Wool 4 ply for a good friend who's a piper. I spin, knit and weave in a small Manhattan apt in NYC.

Regards,
Doug

[Pleater]

Those are gorgeous - I think the tops are particularly impressive. I love the picot edgings.

Anne the Pleater

[Friday]

knitknut those are really nice hose and I agree with string that I like the lace work on the red hose. I think it just the right amount of lace.

djmacnyc how long did it take to knit those?

Good work thanks for sharing both of you.

[Knitknut]

Wow Doug, that are wonderful, with beautiful handspun, too! I also spin and knit (weaving is on my list), but haven't spun for kilt hose use yet.

I know you said you made a 4 ply, but what weight equivalent/wraps per inch did you spin the yarn to? I've been contemplating doing some hose spinning, but debating the ply and wpi for it.

And Welcome! Hope to see more of your work soon.

Dawn
www.dawnadcock.com
www.3gcs.com/adcock/knittingmain.htm

[Knitknut]

Sheesh, sorry...

Was going to say "that is beautiful work", but brain made a u-turn and switched mid-sentence to say "they are wonderful", but mixed up half-way and I didn't proofread...

I should just go knit some hose instead of trying to type, I guess!

Dawn