Sock Stretchers

[Riverkilt]

I noticed on Steve's Freedom Kilts website he mentions sock stretchers as a way to dry his Heritage Hose line.

No clue what sock stretchers are, I did some googling...okay, that makes sense.

What I'm wondering is, back before I knew what I was doing I ran my wool kilt hose through the cold water gentle cycle of the washer (I hand wash now). Of course the kilt hose that went through the washer shrunk.

My understanding is that such shrinking is a one time process. Its over, done, no way to make them big again....but is a sock stretcher capable of stretching wool kilt hose after they've shrunk, or does it just help keep hand washed hose from shrinking?

All the info on these babies seems to be in the antique world. Any input appreciated.

Ron

[Yaish]

Wool shrinks only when it gets wet AND warm. Wet wool dried with no heat does not shrink, and dry heated wool doesnt shrink either.

Now, if you already have some wool that is shrunk, it can still be reversed. The wool fibers shrink because they lock together in the presence of water and heat, but you can use that against them too.

Wet the garment in some warm water with woolite or similar wool safe detergent, and let it thoroughly soak. Then gently stretch it out, and allow it to dry in the absence of heat in its stretch condition. The sock stretchers sound just perfect for that application.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks,

Thought I'd read somewhere that the agitation of the washing machine felted them and shrunk them.

Gonna give your method a try. Thanks!

Ron

[The Wizard of BC]

An addendum to Yaish's comments it's heat and agitation that shrinks wool.
The hairs of wool, and all hair for that matter,have scales that overlap. Think scales on a fish. When you warm the hairs the scales relax and open. If while relaxed you now agitate the hairs the scales slide over each other and make the hairs shorter and fatter. This is known as felting. If you cool the wool the scales lock down and stay there.
Never, ever put wool in the dryer! Always wash in cold water. You don't have to hand wash but that is the best method to clean all natural fibers. A gentle massaging is all the agitation you need.
By heating the wool back up you can recover some of the original shape, but never all of it. If shrunk to the point of felting they are there for ever more. Period. Done. Game over.

Sock stretchers simply hold the hose in shape while they air dry. I make mine from a thick wire. About twice as thick as a coat hanger. I spot heat the wire with a propane torch and bend it over a piece of pipe held in a vise. Never thought about offering them for sale. Guess I should.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Steve,

My kilt hose felted up in cold water in the washer. Not real bad, but they lost an inch or two in length so its obvious they're too short when I wear them. They seem to be tighter and more difficult to put on too.

So, now I use them to scrunch down with boots. Replaced them and now only hand wash as you recommend. No more problems.

Couldn't hurt to subcontract out sock stretchers...gotta be custom sized though.... with a hanger, so they can dangle from the shower curtain rod or clothes line.

Ron

[irishrob]

My Mom and grandmother used to knit my Dad's wool socks back in the early '50s. They always used a wire sock stretcher when drying. I have seen them on ebay as "antiques." There must be something wrong if an item from my youth is labeled as an antique!