Diced hose....

[Zardoz]

I think about getting some diced hose every once and a while, but one thing kind of puts me off. Whenever I see diced hose in ads or in photos on the forum, they seem to always have what to my eye is a really narrow turnover;

Personally, I just dont care for the look of it. I like to have a big turnover on my hose, generally at least 3 inches or so, it's one of the reasons I like piper hose so much.

So a question for folks that own commecial versions this type of hose;
Are they made in such a way that this is the only way to wear them, like are they sewn down, or does the dicing pattern stop in there? could you have a bigger turnover if you wanted?

[creagdhubh]

That is the style for these type of hose - look at any Regimental piper, dancer, or bandsman wearing diced hose, today. Highland Clans could make a bespoke pair for you with a larger turnover. I have a few pairs of bespoke tartan (Argyll) style hose from them, and they are made very well. Also, Sandy's (JSFMACLJR) MacLean tartan ('Appin') doublet is made by them as well.

http://www.highlandclans.co.uk/Kilt_Hose.html

Cheers,

[Phil]

I don't have any diced hose but these full tartan hose show the probable reason. Unless the whole pattern is made larger the turnover would not continue the overall look if a deeper turnover was made -

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Yes, it is customary for the diced hose to have a narrow turn over. See my own examples below.






They are made to wear this way. If you try to turn them down farther, it will break the pattern, and you will see a solid knit section above the cuff. (In other words, it won't look good).

Any place that sells custom knit diced hose should be able to accommodate a request for a cuff that is twice as large. The STM gift shop sells custom knit diced hose, so we can do this for you -- I'd have to ask our knitters about any possible up charge for the service, but it should be negligible I would think.

However, my personal recommendation would be to leave them as they are, as this is the traditional style. You may grow to like them.

Of course the other option would be castellated tops, which do not turn over at all.

[Zardoz]

They are made to wear this way. If you try to turn them down farther, it will break the pattern, and you will see a solid knit section above the cuff. (In other words, it won't look good).

Thanks Matt, that tells me what I was looking for.
I asked because I was thinking about spending 60 -70 bucks for some ready-made diced hose. I like the idea of getting some custom made, but that's a little out of my budget right now.

[creagdhubh]

Lovely hose, Phil (yours are great too, Matt, need I ask who knitted yours?! HA!)! May I ask who made yours?

[Phil]

Lovely hose, Phil (yours are great too, Matt, need I ask who knitted yours?! HA!)! May I ask who made yours?

The Galbraith hose are from Kenneth Short - http://www.kshosiery.co.uk/ - the Lindsay ones I don't know as they were an heirloom and over 61 years old. Here is the receipt for them -



-and they cost the equivalent of £2.50 (including tax) in those days. That they are still going strong after all that time shows they were a good purchase at the time!

[creagdhubh]

The Galbraith hose are from Kenneth Short - http://www.kshosiery.co.uk/ - the Lindsay ones I don't know as they were an heirloom and over 61 years old. Here is the receipt for them -



-and they cost the equivalent of £2.50 (including tax) in those days. That they are still going strong after all that time shows they were a good purchase at the time!

Kenneth Short is my tartan (Argyll) hose maker as well! Wow, they really were a good purchase back then!

Thanks Phil,

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Another option... these are a bit different in style from the normal diced hose, but when my wife knits this "large shepherd's check" pattern (from the Lady Gainford book), she knits them with a wide cuff, even going so far as to include a decorative pattern in the ribbing.


And there is a "small shepherd's check" version, as well.

[BoldHighlander]

I like to have a big turnover on my hose, generally at least 3 inches or so, it's one of the reasons I like piper hose so much.

***!

Ooooo!!!! I'm so envious of you Matt! I've lusted after those hose from the moment I've seen them!