Kilt hose sizing

**frank_a** · 5th January 15, 06:05 AM

About all I can follow here is the shadow on the wall part.

I get the idea though, and will look forward to Stitchwiz editing the original post, then have my wife explain it to me...

Boy, I just "googled" sock forms and trust me, there is no need to make your own out of wood. Take a look at these for example: http://www.knitpicks.com/accessories...kBlockers.html

Frank

**Stitchwiz** · 5th January 15, 07:24 AM

Great idea, Frank. The only problem is that they aren't high enough for the calf of the hose to be laid flat all the way to the top. My family has very athletic shaped calves (genetical gift only), the regular forms are still too slim. The beauty of the form is that you can shape the hose to fit so it is not tight anywhere after it has dried.

**frank_a** · 5th January 15, 07:28 AM

I'm going to make my own out of fine plywood or maybe sheet plastic that will allow the entire hose to be laid flat. More to come. Besides being a working stiff, I have a number of other projects at home I need to work on, get done, etc. No rest for the weary!

Thanks!

Frank

**frank_a** · 5th January 15, 03:47 PM

Okay. I thought I had some plastic sheet around from another project, and came home and found it. (Brand name is Lucite-Tuf.) So now I need to make a template. When I just set the hose next to my foot, it's an inch short, even though it fits perfectly. So make the template an inch longer at the toe for gentle stretch after washing? Make the template same width as the hose all the way to the top, or a little larger?

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Any ideas greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Frank

**Stitchwiz** · 5th January 15, 06:10 PM

The reason my dad used the form was to make sure that the socks didn't shrink while drying - he has a large muscular calf.
Your foot template looks very good. Lucite is a great idea for your hose form! - very low maintenance.
IMHO, if your hose fit well, I would make the form the same size as the hose, if you aren't sure, add the extra and try them. You can always trim them smaller but you cannot make them larger very easily.
Make sure they are long enough for the entire hose with no fold over. Then add extra length to give you room to add a hole so that you can hang them up easily without interfering with the hose while they dry.
If your hose tend to be tight, I would make the calf part of the form wider so that you can gently stretch them out while they are damp. The wool content in the hose will actually help hold the shaping that you add after the hose have dried. (See Anne's comment above about how wool reacts to heat, friction etc.)

Anne, your knowledge base is awesome! We all can learn from each other. Thank you for your contribution to this 'outside of the box' idea.

Frank, keep us posted and would love to see pictures of the finished product!

**frank_a** · 6th January 15, 06:51 AM

Some progress before work this morning. First, a pic of my foot in the hose...

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Next, a pic of my paper draft template laying on top of the hose. It includes an extra 1/2" or so on top for hanger holes, and still includes the stretched foot part, out about 1". I'm wondering if I should cut that down to 1/2" so that it remains tight? As you can see, the template is a bit larger than the hose dimension all around.

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This piece of Lucite I found in my shop is large enough to get two hose forms from as long as I'm careful. Darn stuff is pricey!

I look forward to hearing what you think. Thanks!

Frank

**McElmurry** · 6th January 15, 07:12 AM

If the drying form ends up being a little too big you can always trim it down. It would be more difficult to make it larger. My tendency would be to try it as it is and see how the hose turn out.

**Randy McIntosh** · 6th January 15, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by McElmurry

I am in the same boat. I have considered attempting to shrink just the foot in hot water but haven't got up the courage to attempt it yet.

I have the opposite problem. Trying to stretch my feet to fit the hose! I'm constantly trying to shrink the hose to fit and when I do they don't last too long after that.

One size does not fit all!!

**Father Bill** · 6th January 15, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Randy McIntosh

One size does not fit all!!

I think the saying about the Quartermaster's clerk is "Which size do you want; too big or too small?"

**Stitchwiz** · 6th January 15, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Randy McIntosh

I have the opposite problem. Trying to stretch my feet to fit the hose! I'm constantly trying to shrink the hose to fit and when I do they don't last too long after that.

One size does not fit all!!

IMHO - There is no such thing as 'One Size Fits All' - they only want to make one size. The size they make is the size the largest percentage of the population wears. They are just too cheap to design and make the sizes that are needed. Anyone smaller or larger is out of luck unless you want to go to a more expensive manufacturer who is willing to invest in order to provide the best products for their customer.

It shows that we get what we pay for. If we don't buy the good stuff, it will eventually disappear because there is not enough demand for their products. So folks, we need to buy good quality products whenever we can so that it will be there when we need it. This applies to everything, not just hose.

(...Now...if we could take what you and McElmurry don't need...and add it to my dad's, perhaps you would all have hose that fit.

)