Another Pair of Handknit Hose/Can I Be Forgiven...

**thistlelass** · 20th March 10, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by guitarmatt

That's the yarn for the next pair I'm doing, which is for my wife's best friend, although I think this'd be a killer colour for kilt hose. I dyed the yarn myself with coffee.

I work the cuffs attached. I do my socks of all sorts from the toe up, so when I'm done with the leg I do a bit of 1x1 ribbing for a garter, then a few rounds of knit to become reverse stockinette when turn the work inside out and change directions to work the cuff. When the cuff's done I turn the work inside out again and change direction again then do a few more rounds of knit to curl the bottom edge of the cuff in underneath. Does that make sense? In the future I may try doing my cuffs separately to have the option of doing my leg toe up but the cuff top down and vice versa, which would give me the option to work lace patterns either side up on each. Does that make sense? It's getting late over here and I'm about to head to bed.

Makes perfect sense to me! I really like the coffee dyed wool-such a nice caramel color.

**guitarmatt** · 20th March 10, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by thistlelass

Makes perfect sense to me! I really like the coffee dyed wool-such a nice caramel color.

Interestingly, look at the left hand side of the photo where the skien was tied with a different kind of yarn which came out much darker than the BFL did. Just goes to show how different wools take up dye in their own way.

I think I will write up a pattern when I get a chance and ask Ravelry folk to give it a proofread for me.

**thistlelass** · 22nd March 10, 03:33 AM

Originally Posted by guitarmatt

Interestingly, look at the left hand side of the photo where the skien was tied with a different kind of yarn which came out much darker than the BFL did. Just goes to show how different wools take up dye in their own way.

I think I will write up a pattern when I get a chance and ask Ravelry folk to give it a proofread for me.

Looking forward to that, Matt!!

**guitarmatt** · 22nd March 10, 06:19 AM

Do you think people could make sense out of instructions only for the calf increase and cuff? That's really the only part where I've done any innovation, the rest is just a basic toe-up sock.

**thistlelass** · 22nd March 10, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by guitarmatt

Do you think people could make sense out of instructions only for the calf increase and cuff? That's really the only part where I've done any innovation, the rest is just a basic toe-up sock.

I don't see why not-as long as you write it as such and perhaps you could give a link to a basic toe up sock for those who don't have a favorite of their own.

**piperdbh** · 22nd March 10, 06:21 PM

I'll be interested to see that pattern written out, too. There are several of us here who can proofread the pattern for you.

**kilted_brewer** · 22nd March 10, 06:54 PM

Beautiful! I've had a couple of excellent knitters I know (and I own at least one of their Aran sweaters) turn down "the opportunity" to knit some gorgeous kilt hose for me such as the ones you show above, so I am envious! I'd agree that more cuff would be ideal, but those are great! I'm sure it's a tough thing to measure the stretch when no stretch equals best looking, but full stretch is too tight. It's beyond me.

**guitarmatt** · 22nd March 10, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by kilted_brewer

Beautiful! I've had a couple of excellent knitters I know (and I own at least one of their Aran sweaters) turn down "the opportunity" to knit some gorgeous kilt hose for me such as the ones you show above, so I am envious! I'd agree that more cuff would be ideal, but those are great! I'm sure it's a tough thing to measure the stretch when no stretch equals best looking, but full stretch is too tight. It's beyond me.

My method is to knit a tension swatch in the round and pull it over the ball of my foot to see if it stretches to be how snug I'd like. Knowing the ball of my foot is 9.5 inches I can then work out how many stitches I'll need at each point up the leg. My mistake here was not working both cables into the swatch. The travelling stichwork actually seemed to stretch nearly the same as the plain stockinette.

**ali8780** · 24th March 10, 12:02 PM

you've done a beautiful job!

**piperdbh** · 24th March 10, 01:40 PM

My method is to knit a tension swatch in the round and pull it over the ball of my foot to see if it stretches to be how snug I'd like. Knowing the ball of my foot is 9.5 inches I can then work out how many stitches I'll need at each point up the leg. My mistake here was not working both cables into the swatch. The travelling stichwork actually seemed to stretch nearly the same as the plain stockinette.

Some knitters advocate a two-swatch system: work one swatch in pattern, and another in stockinette, then average the "stretch" of the two to come up with the stitch count.