I'm pleased to announce that we now have available a new line of kilt hose through the Scottish Tartans Museum gift shop.
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/hose.htm

These are the Lewis Hose, made in Hawick, Scotland, by the Cheviot Sock Company. They retail for $45 and are worth every penny!

These are a higher end hose that you'll want to get if you really want to give your feet a treat. They are made from 50% Merino wool, and a 50% Acrylic blend, which makes them very comfortable, and also very easy to care for. They are machine washable in cold water (on the gentle cycle). I have a pair that I've washed several times now and they are still in brand new condition (in fact, I've become so enamoured with the pair that I bought a few months back that I had to hunt the company down so we could offer their hose in our shop!).

The foot of the sock is specially reenforced with some kind of elastic blend yarn (they tried to explain the details to me but it was over my head). The point, though, was to make the sock especially strong in the places that most hose wear out first, the heel and toe, in order to make this a very long lasting sock.

What I'm especially excited about, though, is the color range. You'll have to check them out for yourself on our web site, but you'll see quite a few colors that are simply not normally available in kilt hose (purple, anyone? How about orange? Or bison?) Of course all the standard colors are there, as well.

Notice also that we are now offering traditional garter ties from the same company, in the same wide range of colors. These garters can be worn with any kilt hose -- not just the Lewis range. I've had mine for a couple of weeks now, and I haven't worn elastic garters since. I find these much more comfortable, especially at the end of the day -- they don't cut the circulation off like elastic garters can.

Anyway, I've sung their praises enough. Just check them out. I mainly wanted to let everyone know that they are now available and I'm pretty excited about them!

Aye,
Matt

Matt, I just checked out the link and those look fantastic! I especially like that they are available in a variety of colors. Not sure I would buy the garters, but they are tempting as well. Thanks!

Those look gorgeous!

Fantastic. I may have you throw in a pair (of hose AND garters) when my kilt is ready to ship. :d

Now those are just too cool. I like the hose too--once more, I'm in Houston where it's Habitually Hot and Humid, so heavy hose may be "contraindicated" (one of my least favorite words) but man oh man I do like the garters.

What a great selection of colors too? Thanks for investing in these hose.

I read through the "how to" of the traditional garters and just can't figure out how they keep from working loose just from normal muscle movement while walking around.

Help me understand what I'm missing here....thanks.

Ron

I bought 3 pairs of this hose from a supplier in Scotland and they are really good - I recommend them! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kid Cossack

Now those are just too cool. I like the hose too--once more, I'm in Houston where it's Habitually Hot and Humid, so heavy hose may be "contraindicated" (one of my least favorite words) but man oh man I do like the garters.

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Kid,
Actually, they are a lot less bulky than they look. The nice cable knit top suggests a bulky appearance, but it's really not overly thick, and the sock itself is what I'd consider standard for kilt hose. If anything the lower wool content makes these a bit cooler than our standard hose.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Riverkilt

I read through the "how to" of the traditional garters and just can't figure out how they keep from working loose just from normal muscle movement while walking around.

Help me understand what I'm missing here....thanks.

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Ron,
This actually suprised me, too! When I first started wearing these, I thought they were too short because I was trying to tie them into the style of knot I use with my yard-and-a-half long woven garters. But then they explained to me that you don't actually have to tie these. There is enough elasiticity in the weave that the garters stay up by their own tension. And you don't even have to have them that tight to allow it to work. I think its a combination between the tension of the garter, and then also the texture of the hose helping them stay up. All I can say is they work! I've not had to readjust them once during the day since I started wearing them (and I can't say that about the elastic garters I have).

Matt

I am really looking forward to seeing the pricing and availability of the diced hose from that supplier.....

I really like the color range on these, as well as the garters. I am anxiously awaiting the "full form" hose to be offered.

I am also somewhat intrigued by the upcoming Balmoral hose that are pictured. I'm already contemplating color combinations.:cool: