How deep do you like your turnover tops to be?

[calanacrafts]

this may be a silly question but I have been having a browse some of your photos and notice in some of the socks that folk like the turnover to be quite deep, I can see different stitch patterns showing from where the sock should end.. I hope that made sense.....Can I ask normally how deep the turnover should be or how deep does one like them to be? I am off to get knitting 8 pairs and think perhaps my tops should be a little deeper.....

[arrg-isle]

Most important aspect for me would be to not cover the flash or the bottom of the knee cap.
If the wearer foregoes flash, the I guess one would want the turndown to stop a couple inches shy of the wide-point of the wearer's calf (at least), without looking too bulky.
Well, there's my tuppence!

[chasem]

I like the look of a deeper turnover, but definitely not enough to cover the flash, as arrg said. I like to leave about 2.5-3 inches of flash showing, which gives roughly the same amount of turnover.

I just don't like the thin look of a shallow turnover. (Nothing against it of course)

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I read somewhere, about a million books ago, that the "ideal" turn over should equal the width of exposed leg from the bottom of the knee cap to the top of the hose when folded or turned over. (Some people have far too much free time in my opinion.) In other words, before folding, the top of the stocking should reach to the bottom of the knee cap, then be turned over enough to cover the garter, but not the flashes hanging down.

It was suggested in another book that although in "olden days" hose came barely above the swell of the calf, "modern" dress suggests that the space between the knee cap and the top of the hose should be about the width of three or four fingers.

Looking at literally hundreds of pre-1950 photographs seems to indicate that there is no "correct" depth of turnover for civililans, although something in the range of 3-4 inches seems to be generally regarded as looking best. How much "flash" of garter is exposed seems to be a matter of personal style.

[Standard]

I usually have a turnover of about half to a little less than half of the length of my flashes.

[MacAngus]

I usually go by the 4finger rule for my formal and day wear but when i wear the military get up it's 3 fingers and you should have a perfect cuff

[Rex_Tremende]

I have a feeling that in many cases, what you see is what is possible, given the shape and size of the gentleman's leg, and the limits of most commercially available hose. I do my best to strike a pleasing balance between the length of the hose, the amount of flesh showing below the knee, the width of the downturned cuff, the visible portion of the flashes, and the amount of time I have allotted to futz with it. It's rarely exactly the same way twice on purpose.

Regards,
Rex.

[Ryan Ross]

I like a moderate turnover of about 3 inches, myself.

Also, if I'm wearing the "traditional style" garters-the wrap around and tie type, with the fringe on the end- I generally only like a little bit of fringe sticking out. Maybe a scant inch. It just looks more understated and sleek to my eyes. It's all a matter of personal taste, really.

[LewdiKris]

I have a feeling that in many cases, what you see is what is possible, given the shape and size of the gentleman's leg, and the limits of most commercially available hose. I do my best to strike a pleasing balance between the length of the hose, the amount of flesh showing below the knee, the width of the downturned cuff, the visible portion of the flashes, and the amount of time I have allotted to futz with it. It's rarely exactly the same way twice on purpose.

Regards,
Rex.

Very interested in this thread. Above from Rex is exactly the same for me.

LK

[The Wizard of BC]

Please remember when making hose that a proper turn-over should fold down over the Garter once and them back up.
This allows the pattern on the cuff of the hose to be the correct side out.

For example my length of leg from the bottom of my heel up to where I wear the top of my hose is 16.5" or 42cm.
I then fold the cuff down over my garters about 2'5" - 3" (6.5 - 7.5cm).
I then fold the cuff back up till the top is equal to the first fold.
This requires a total length of the hose leg from heel to beginning of cuff of 16.5" (42cm) and a cuff length of 5" - 6.25" (12.75 -16cm).
total length of hose from heel to top = 21.5" -22.75" (52 - 57.75cm).

As a side note I just measured the Basket Weave top Kilt Hose I sell here in the shop and the length from heel to cuff is 16", and to top is 26"

The Wool Rich Hose are 16" to cuff and 21" total.

My Heritage Hose are 19" to cuff and 26" total.

note: all these hose are the same shoe size - Med or 9-11 us sizing.