This pair of kilt hose was designed for my then-husband, who was never quite satisfied with the tall socks available at the local Scottish shop. His clan, Rose of Kilravock (pronounced “Kill-rock”), has their ancestral castle near Inverness in Scotland. He grew up wearing the traditional tartan but has since discovered the oh-so-practical Utilikilt. I knit these as a means of encouraging him to wear the kilt as frequently as possible. It was those legs, after all, that caught my eye the first time I saw him.

Kilravock starts with a heavily cabled cuff that folds over to hide garters, although they will stay up on their own. A ribbed leg ensures a perfect fit to show off the lad’s calves, and a simple cable adds interest down the side of the leg. When worn, change in the leg diameter creates a shift in the cable: It’s rounder near the top and gradually elongates as it approaches the ankle. Knit from the top down with DPNs or circulars, Kilravock is easily adjusted for different sizes.