[guitarmatt]

A bit ago I posted my first pair of hand knitted kilt hose. Needless to say, my wife got jealous. So, two weeks later:



The yarn is Dazzle Apple DK from Natural Dye Studio. http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com I think they're gearing up to release a new batch of colours, so I don't know if this one is still available.



She didn't want a turn down cuff so she could wear these under slim trousers. I think the wide band of ribbing looks pretty good. I put the increases on the inside of the leg to help the lace pattern stay straight on the outside of the leg. Seemed to work, although a measuring goof meant the increases ended up about and inch and a half lower than they should be. It's not a big deal, actually doesn't seem to affect the fit of the socks at all.



The lace pattern was gleaned from the internet. I think it may have originally been from the Gainsford book. I'm still getting a bit of a hole at the top of my short rows in the heel. It doesn't really matter so much with all the holes in the pattern, but I'd like to figure it out anyway.



By the way, my wife is really tall and mostly leg. Here's a side by side with my kilt hose.

[piperdbh]

Those are some pretty hose! Your Mrs. should be very proud of you. That color would work well with ancient tartans, I believe.

About the holes in your short rows: are you wrapping the first stitch at the beginning of the row? That should eliminate the holes.

[guitarmatt]

Yeah, I'm wrapping. The problem doesn't seem to be in the short row itself, I've got that worked out, but rather in the transition back to the plain stockinette carried over from the top of the foot.

[English Bloke]

I think they are marvelous. I prefer a bit of a turn over at the top myself but then again I'm not the tight-trouser type. Superb sockery if you ask me... Nice one! (or two in this case...)

[Pleater]

Originally Posted by guitarmatt

Yeah, I'm wrapping. The problem doesn't seem to be in the short row itself, I've got that worked out, but rather in the transition back to the plain stockinette carried over from the top of the foot.

I need to have a heel strap on my socks/hose - otherwise the entrance to the foot is too narrow and there is strain at the top of the short rowing.

I knit toe up socks - I think from the lace panel that those are done toe up - and I devised a way to create a strap heel.

I can send you the pattern in a PM if you'd like to see it.

Anne the Pleater

[piperdbh]

Originally Posted by guitarmatt

Yeah, I'm wrapping. The problem doesn't seem to be in the short row itself, I've got that worked out, but rather in the transition back to the plain stockinette carried over from the top of the foot.

You might try to k2tog with a stitch from the heel and instep. Hopefully that will take out the holes.

[guitarmatt]

Originally Posted by Pleater

I need to have a heel strap on my socks/hose - otherwise the entrance to the foot is too narrow and there is strain at the top of the short rowing.

I knit toe up socks - I think from the lace panel that those are done toe up - and I devised a way to create a strap heel.

I can send you the pattern in a PM if you'd like to see it.

Anne the Pleater

Yeah, all my socks have been toe up with a short row heel so far. I think I'm going to try top down with a dutch heel on a pair of hose for H, my 2 yo. I'd like to be comfortable with toe up and top down, so if I wanted to flip the lace pattern on the side I could. I'm new enough to sock knitting to have no idea what a strap heel is, but I'm interested to learn, especially if it may help solve some of my problems.

[guitarmatt]

Originally Posted by piperdbh

You might try to k2tog with a stitch from the heel and instep. Hopefully that will take out the holes.

That's a good idea. I've been picking up an extra stitch or 2 between the heel and the top of the sock on the advice of someone on the internet (where I've learned everything I know about knitting) but that only seemed to exacerbate the problem with this pair.

[Pleater]

The heel strap is a straight piece of knitting which is usually half the st for the ankle across.

The standard way to make an adult top down heel is to knit the strap which is long enough to cover ankle to sole. You turn the heel at the bottom of the strap then pick up stitches along one the edge of the strap, and knit across the other half of the ankle stitches, pick up st along the other edge of the strap, and you then have the hole you stick the toes through.

Usually there are decreases each side to narrow the knitting. I usually use smaller needles for the foot than the leg - it is more comfortable to have the smaller sts underfoot, but it reduces the number of rows required for the leg.

For a child the heel is small enough, in proportion, to use the short row turning alone.

Anne the Pleater

[Dixiecat]

Would these be a good example of clocked hose?

Awesome job btw!