A Hose too long

**auld argonian** · 30th March 11, 08:02 AM

Well, I got a pair of the Gaelic Themes piper hose and they were generally a tad too large both in the foot and length wise...I did order the size suggested for my shoe size...

So....stand by for some sacrilege...I washed 'em in the machine with a regular load of dark clothes in cold water and THREW THEM IN THE DRYER! Not once but a couple of times...they have shrunk a bit and are now a better fit. Bear in mind that these do have some synthetic in them besides the wool and your mileage (and dryer) may vary...I have a "low heat" setting on mine and use that for jobs such as this. Worked well, though. When they get to the point where I'm sure that they're tuned up, I'll start throwing them over the clothesline instead.

Best

AA

**SlackerDrummer** · 30th March 11, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

I did order the size suggested for my shoe size...

In US or UK sizes?

**Spc. Scott** · 30th March 11, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Well, I got a pair of the Gaelic Themes piper hose and they were generally a tad too large both in the foot and length wise...I did order the size suggested for my shoe size...

So....stand by for some sacrilege...I washed 'em in the machine with a regular load of dark clothes in cold water and THREW THEM IN THE DRYER! Not once but a couple of times...they have shrunk a bit and are now a better fit. Bear in mind that these do have some synthetic in them besides the wool and your mileage (and dryer) may vary...I have a "low heat" setting on mine and use that for jobs such as this. Worked well, though. When they get to the point where I'm sure that they're tuned up, I'll start throwing them over the clothesline instead.

Best

AA

Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one who did this!

**auld argonian** · 30th March 11, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by SlackerDrummer

In US or UK sizes?

US...I'm pretty careful about that.

Though, I gotta tell ya...it'd be better if the whole world went over to the Euro shoe sizing system...I've found that I have to buy running shoes and hiking boots according to the Euro size rather than the US size if I expect them to be even close to a good fit.

Best

AA

**NewEnglander** · 30th March 11, 10:32 AM

We need a Gentlemen of Modest Height social group. We can't wear the standard 24" drop of a kilt and all the hose are too dang high!
I ordered a pair of a wonderful Lewis hose from the STM and was very disappointed to find that the beautiful cableknit pattern on the top isn't visible since I need to do the double fold (down and back up).
If I was an optimist I could think that in case of deep snow I'll have a way to keep most of my legs warm if I unfold the hose all the way up. But I'm more of a pessimistic realist...whose considered trying to shrink the new Lewis hose in the drier. I just don't want the foot portion of them to shrink too much. One would think that they could make hose of different sizes for foot AND leg...

**Tobus** · 30th March 11, 10:49 AM

We need a Gentlemen of Modest Height social group. We can't wear the standard 24" drop of a kilt and all the hose are too dang high!

Right on!

I don't know who decided what the 'standard' was going to be on kilt length and hose height, but they need to understand that one size does not fit all. It's incredibly frustrating, not being able to wear a standard drop kilt or a regular pair of hose because they're all sized for "average".

It's the same frustration I get when I go to the store to buy any other clothes, and everything they have is sized for obese giants. There are millions upon millions of people who are my size... why does it have to be so difficult to find clothing that actually fits us?

Chalk it up to the loss of traditional clothes-making. Mass production in our modern world means that they only make what they can sell the most of. If you're not average, you're out of luck and have to spend more for custom.

**Macman** · 30th March 11, 10:58 AM

I have the same problem with standard kilt hose; it's just too long in the shank for my foot size. I wear my band piper's hose rolled over twice, with the heel in my arch! I have to get my regular kilt hose custom made so I only have to roll it over once.
That said, I'm 6'1" and the 24" drop off-the-peg kilt fits perfectly.
Call me "David Short-Shank"!

**Arnot** · 30th March 11, 11:28 AM

I have short legs myself so I also have problems with kilt hose being too long. For hose like the Lewis hose, I fold a bit over from down near the garter. I then fold the rest down over the first fold so that the pattern shows. I am careful to ensure that the whole thing is smooth and not lumpy looking. It seems to work for me.

**AKScott** · 30th March 11, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Arnot

I have short legs myself so I also have problems with kilt hose being too long. For hose like the Lewis hose, I fold a bit over from down near the garter. I then fold the rest down over the first fold so that the pattern shows. I am careful to ensure that the whole thing is smooth and not lumpy looking. It seems to work for me.

So with the hose on and halfway up my thigh, sort of split the differnece between the bottom of the cuff and the top of the garter tie, and pull that midpoint down over the garter tie, then folt the cuff over so the pattern shows?

That would be one layer of hose under the garter tie and then three layers over the garter tie, correct?

**room2ndfloor** · 30th March 11, 02:53 PM

Sometimes, the hose will shorten up a bit after a few wearings and washings.

If your hose are machine-knitted, they can be shortened using a serger machine.

Make a seam below the foldover point, from the inside of the hose.

I'm suggesting this because hose usually cannot be returned to the store because of the health laws.

Even among people of the same height, there's a lot of variation on how high the hose will stretch. It depends on width of the foot and circumference of the calf.