Getting hose the right length

[JonathanB]

My hose are sold according to shoe size, not leg length. When I put on my hose, they come up some inches above the knee.

The garters with flashes fit at the top of my calves, some inches below the knee.

If I turn down the top of the hose, they either cover the flashes, or they come up to and partly cover the bottom of my knee. In cold weather I don't mind that, but I'd rather show a bit of leg. I can double up the hose from the bottom, or I can turn over the hose-above-the-garters to provide a three ply thickness.

Now I'm quite tempted to get hose with a design (lion, saltire) at the top.

If I turn over the hose, won't the design be mucked up?

[Grizzly]

Jonathan seriously don't do it. IMHO hose with motifs are naff. Solid colour hose are much more appealing especially with garters in a contrasting colour. Hose should be turned down to 3 or 4 fingers width below the knee. By all means have jazzy garters which are so much better looking.

[JonathanB]

By jazzy garters, do you mean flashes (since the garter, bicycle clip is covered by the hose) or a pair of those knitted and patterned things to go round the top of the hose as modeled by HRH the Duke of Rothesay? They look a bit too colourful for my taste.

How do I get the hose three fingers below the knee without covering the flashes - given my hose is the length they are.

[Paul Henry]

Jonathan, When we get to meet up i'll show you!

[Grizzly]

Yes the flashes, self tie ones are the best bet. House of cheviot make some lovely ones, however EBay will throw up a selection including elasticated if you prefer. Hose can be turned down easily 3 times. Google pipers hose as most people have to turn those over several times.

[Grizzly]

Sorry post crossed with Paul. Follow his advice and you won't go wrong.

Incidentally Paul makes garters too. And by garters I mean flashes. The man is a genius.

[JonathanB]

Thanks. I'm not sure about tassels on my flashes, but I'll think about it. And promise not to get decorated hose with logo.

Hang on, just thought. If the hose is above my knee, turn it over to mid-knee, and then turn the turning over again?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I think there is some confusion in terminology here.

Garters are the things that hold the socks up. They can either be the traditional woven or knit bands which are wrapped around and tied, or they can be modern day elastic garters; either serves the same purpose.

Flashes are the colored ribbons that are attached to elastic garters. These are meant to emulate the ends of the tied knot of the traditional garters. So it is not correct to refer to traditional self-tie garters as "flashes." They neither have nor need flashes.

HRH the Duke of Rothesay does not wear fancy garters over top of his hose. I always see him with very traditional plain red garter flashes. I think what you are referring to are the check patterned top hose he is often pictured wearing. This is not a separate item worn over his hose -- rather the pattern is knit into the hose themselves.

As to what to do with too-long hose, this depends a great deal on the hose in question, and just how long they are. There are many different styles of kilt hose. Some are designed to be worn with the tops turned over multiple times (such as the pipers hose already mentioned). This is intentional, to give a top with 3 or 4 layers of thickness. Other hose have a pattern to the cuff that would not show properly if it were folded down multiple times. This does not necessarily have to be an embroidered motif or a knit color pattern; it could be a cabling pattern or some other pattern in the knit. In this case it is best to put a little accordion fold under the cuff -- folding the hose down, up, then down again so that the proper pattern of the cuff shows.

Some kilt hose are designed with a longer or shorter cuff (turn down) to them, as well, which means that more or less of your garter or flash may be showing. You can also adjust your garter if needed.

Really none of this is rocket science. Just fiddling with it for a few moments to get it looking the way you want it to is generally enough. But there will not be one solution that works right in all instances, due to the different make of hose and garters out there.

Good luck!

[rsvpiper]

My hose are sold according to shoe size, not leg length. When I put on my hose, they come up some inches above the knee.

The garters with flashes fit at the top of my calves, some inches below the knee.

If I turn down the top of the hose, they either cover the flashes, or they come up to and partly cover the bottom of my knee. In cold weather I don't mind that, but I'd rather show a bit of leg. I can double up the hose from the bottom, or I can turn over the hose-above-the-garters to provide a three ply thickness.

Now I'm quite tempted to get hose with a design (lion, saltire) at the top.

If I turn over the hose, won't the design be mucked up?

Jonathan try this approach with your hose
065.jpg
pull em up as high as they go
067.jpg
turn them down to your chosen distance below the knee
069.jpg
Then pinch around half way down the turn down and pull it upwards
068.jpg
Ta-Dah!, you can then put your flashes/garter ties as you wish

P.S don't go with the logo style hose there tourist style tat imo

I hope this helps

[Spartan Tartan]

Jonathan try this approach with your hose
065.jpg
pull em up as high as they go
067.jpg
turn them down to your chosen distance below the knee
069.jpg
Then pinch around half way down the turn down and pull it upwards
068.jpg
Ta-Dah!, you can then put your flashes/garter ties as you wish

P.S don't go with the logo style hose there tourist style tat imo

I hope this helps

That is exactly how I do it with a very similar style of hose.