cotton kilt socks for ginormous calves and normal humans

[Alan H]

I have ginormous outsized calves, and several years ago on advice I found on this forum, I purchased two of the "O'Marled" over-the-knee socks from Sock Dreams to use as kilt socks. I've now darned the last pair multiple times and the end is in sight, but man, I love those socks.

I've quietly nagged Sock Dreams to stock them again, and their staff keeps saying that "they're looking for a source of the yarn", but it's been years and hope is fading. However, On recommendation of SD staffer and all around awesome lass, Rosalind, I bought two pairs of Sock Dream's M-45's. I've now worn them each, once, and here's a review.

SWEET. Even though the sizing says size 5-10, they fit on my size 13 feet just fine. They're light for hot days. They don't have as nice a roll-over top cuff as the O'Marleds did, but they're acceptable. Here's my only warning..... if you have outsized calves like me, stick to the lighter colors of sock. The M-45's aren't as dense a weave as the O'Marleds were and the weave "opens up" a bit as the sock stretches and your skin tones will show through. That wasn't a problem with the natural cotton color and light gray socks that I bought, but it probably would be with a darker color. Also, when the weave opens up, the white elastic shows through...so again, stick with lighter colors. If you have normal human being calves instead of tree stumps like me, then almost certainly the darker colors will work just fine.

They're great for really hot days or for lads and lasses who don't tolerate wool very well.

Here's the web page at Sock Dreams...don't be put off by the toe'd-in cutesy lasses leg pictures.

http://www.sockdreams.com/products/m45s?t=14079&

[Alan H]

Response from Rosalind...

Sock Dreams : SO glad they're working for you! Another successful sock experiment... And just for future reference, the darker colors are made with black elastic, so while your skin may very well show through, the elastic shouldn't be a jarring white against your dark socks.
-Rosalind

[Llama]

I was just looking through sock dreams the other day, hoping to see the O'Marled again. Mine are still in good shape, though getting a bit thin in the toe. I do wish they'd make more.

I know it probably matters more than I think it does, but I really don't care what kind of yarn they use on the dang thing, as long as they make it around the same size.

I'll have to check these out. Thanks for being the patron saint of tree-trunk-calf-having gents around here, Alan.

[Liam]

I ordered 3 pairs of their hose, liked them so much for Summer wear that I ordered 3 more.

[Jimmy the Celt]

Even though the sizing says size 5-10, they fit on my size 13 feet just fine. They're light for hot days.

So glad I came across this. I was considering a pair to try but was concerned about the sizing as I also have size 13 feet and have found even some big & tall socks to run a bit small.

[JasonMc]

I have ginormous outsized calves, and several years ago on advice I found on this forum, I purchased two of the "O'Marled" over-the-knee socks from Sock Dreams to use as kilt socks. I've now darned the last pair multiple times and the end is in sight, but man, I love those socks.

I've quietly nagged Sock Dreams to stock them again, and their staff keeps saying that "they're looking for a source of the yarn", but it's been years and hope is fading. However, On recommendation of SD staffer and all around awesome lass, Rosalind, I bought two pairs of Sock Dream's M-45's. I've now worn them each, once, and here's a review.

SWEET. Even though the sizing says size 5-10, they fit on my size 13 feet just fine. They're light for hot days. They don't have as nice a roll-over top cuff as the O'Marleds did, but they're acceptable. Here's my only warning..... if you have outsized calves like me, stick to the lighter colors of sock. The M-45's aren't as dense a weave as the O'Marleds were and the weave "opens up" a bit as the sock stretches and your skin tones will show through... so again, stick with lighter colors. If you have normal human being calves instead of tree stumps like me, then almost certainly the darker colors will work just fine.

They're great for really hot days or for lads and lasses who don't tolerate wool very well.

Sorry for the delayed response Alan, but I have a few questions for you if you're amenable. I'm rather tall myself (6'8"), with 15-EEEE feet, so have been trying to figure out what will make good kilt socks for me, and like yourself, call California home. Do you think these would work for relatively larger feet than your own, although its not that great a difference? I'm also 20" from my heel to the top of my calf, which is 17.5", so was wondering not just about the girth of the calf, but if the stocking would be tall enough?

Finally, I've been reading that white hose gets the eyebrow, but what about some of the other light colors; cream, light grey, etc.? I also wanted to ask opinions on the lighter/washed out colors of the 'Lovat' blue or green, as opposed to the darker forest green or navy blue for stockings.

Now that I have my first kilts, I'm trying to catch up on the etiquette, and my copy of "So You Want To Wear A Kilt" is still a day or two away