Custom circular sock machine hose - Finished!!!

[The Wizard of BC]

Well folks, I did it - finally.

Last night I finished my first, matched pair, with no mistakes, kilt hose.

I am so very pleased. Total time, start to finish, on this pair of hose was 2.75 hours.



These are in a light gray sport weight yarn that is 80% Wool and 20% nylon for strength. This yarn is the same we used for our previous hose.
I have A LOT of this yarn and need to use up some of it before I think of branching out into different yarns.

These will be called our Heritage Hose and can be fully custom made and sized.

This pair have a 4" double cuff with a 2/1 rib. A double cuff is made by knitting an extra long cuff and then folding it in half and blending it into the leg.
This results in a very nice, thick cuff. What you are seeing in this photo is the cuff simply turned down once.

Here is a detail of the cuff.

This 2/1 rib can be changed to almost an combination of ribbing that is divisible into 72. i.e. All stockinette, 1/1, 2/1 2/2, 3/1, 3/3, 4/2, 5/3, etc.
I will try a basket-weave and colored patterns, aka shooting shocks, soon.



Below the cuff is a band of stockinette or plain stitches so it is smooth under your garters.

The leg is then a 5/3 Rib. This could be changed to almost any combination that is divisible into 72. i.e. All stockinette, 2/1, 3/1 3/3, 5/1,5/3, etc.

I have heard that diced patterns can be done but I have not tried that yet.



Here are detail shots of the heels and toes.





Notice that there are no holes in the heel that is commonly found on commercial heels. Also notice that there is a band of plain knitting at the back of the heel to be comfortable under the back of your shoe.

The toe is closed, by hand, with a Kitchner stitch.


The next step ---- Cables!!!


No, I'm sorry, but I don't feel I'm ready to take orders for these hose yet. I have the measurements of another X Marker and will make sure my sizing is correct.

When I am ready I expect the cost of a pair of custom Heritage to be somewhere between $55.00 and $65.00cdn.

[Couper]

Excellent!

[brewerpaul]

Very very nice indeed. Well done. Now to scrape the money together to get my own machine......... Well I can dream can't I.

[unixken]

They look fabulous, Steve!

[briansbarkery]

Excellent!! How long before you are ready to take orders? I would like a pair in a hunter green color for my wedding in mid September.

[rtown]

Looks awesome. Very nice.

[McMurdo]

Looks great Steve and the price seems reasonable as well. I am sure you will keep us informed I will wait with baited breath until the next update.

[jhockin]

I imagine it is an absorbing process, and intense concentration, for the learning period, but would hope once really learned it becomes more a matter of 'muscle memory'/ almost automatic. They look good, & I'll start squeezing pennies, in hopes they will be as good as the former batch of "Hertiage Hose"(?).
I see, in the background, that you are doing more work for the local Fraser Highlanders?

[The Wizard of BC]

Yea, the learning curve on these machines is a bit involved.
The biggest thing you have to get used to is where to stop the yarn carrier to allow you to set up for the next step.

This pair of hose has 11 separate steps. Each step requires me to stop the yarn carrier in a slightly different place.

There are 6 needle changes where you change from a cylinder needle over to a ribber needle and/or vers visa. Three steps require me to change back to cylinder needles and remove the ribber from the machine. One small misstep, stop the yarn carrier a little too far around, and the whole sock needs to be removed, pulled out and started all over.

You get real used to changing needles and not dropping stitches.

And there is also the need to keep this machine oiled and clean of yarn fuzz debris. As I said in my new toy thread these are old school technology. Just the sort of machine that soothes the 'maker' part of my personality.

I've been wearing this pair all day and they are very comfortable.

[knotty]

Looks good Steve