My wife makes use of the following references. Designs for Knitting Kilt Hose & Knickerbocker Stockings, by Veronica Gainford (originally published in 1978, reprinted 2006); Knitting Scottish Kilt Hose & Hiking Socks, by Joanne Gibson Hinmon (2000); and Cables Untangled: An Explanation of Cable Knitting, by Melissa Leapman. This last book is not a kilt hose book, but it has lots of great cable patterns that can be incorporated easily into hose.

Of course, it helps if you know the ins and outs of knitting regular socks. She rarely follows a pattern exactly, but ends up modifying it to use some new heel technique she's read about, etc.

I did a recent blog posting highlighting some of the hose she has knit for me:
http://kiltmaker.blogspot.com/2008/0...o-my-wife.html