first 2 pair of tartan hose

[Jon Lilley]

Greetings from sunny Kent, Ohio! (Yeah, it's actually beautiful here right now!)

I was having issues with the kilt hose on the market right now, because they're all so tight over the calf (I don't need compression stockings yet) and my Gaelic teacher offered to teach me the basics of knitting in order to make something comfortable.

(OK, now that I have figured out the camera, the websites and everything in between, here are my first 2 attempts at kilt hose.)

These are my first attempts at serious knitting. (I call it knitting on a mission!) I needed a pair of warm kilt hose for busking (in the snow) on St. Patrick's Day and these were the result. I'm sorry the photography isn't better, but I'll get it eventually. I haven't attached the tops to these yet, because I need to resize the feet. They're just a bit too short. My teacher says they look like rugs wrapped 'round my legs. How's that for a compliment? Thank goodness they're warm!




The second pair are basically the same thing, but in lighter yarn on smaller needles. The tops are attached and the feet don't need adjustment. (again, sorry for the blurriness!) They're top down on double pointed needles so all I had to do was decrease all the way 'round. I used as many types of ribs, cables and braiding as I could find (and cope with) and it all worked out fairly well. Since I put the patterning all on the sides, the pattern vanishes around the back of the leg. Not terribly impressive on, but they look great just lying there.



I'm working on a third pair in white, but nothing's happening with them right now. It's too warm and too beautiful to be indoors knitting ! ! !

Anyway, I hope someone's able to use these as inspiration, ideas, etc. They were a lot of fun to make and aside from the adjustments, are complete and are/were gratifying projects.