Frustrated by the Lewis Kilt Hose Colors

**Tobus** · 13th February 12, 07:21 AM

They do change their color offerings from time to time based on what has been selling well, and also yarn availability.

That seems to make sense, Matt, but I can't imagine how it would explain "dusty pink" and "teal". Unless there is a large contingent of people wearing those colours which have never been photographed or seen in public, I have a hard time believing those colours are selling well!

**Riverkilt** · 13th February 12, 07:26 AM

What he said....

I would guess that tan/khaki sells well for inexpensive hose vendors.

**MacMillans son** · 13th February 12, 07:40 AM

Ron,

Perhaps you could post a photo of the color that you are calling TAN and see if you could generate enough interest here for Matt to request a batch from Cheviot, or another vendor of quality hose?

**ForresterModern** · 13th February 12, 07:45 AM

Ron

Not Lewis hose or even by Cheviot but the Piper's hose come in a color variously called oatmeal or stone by different vendors. Here are a few sites I have used (I have these hose), and the first one (and third) has actual pictures of the color of the hose:

http://www.hendersongroupltd.com/Car...idProduct=2716

http://www.scottishlion.com/shopping...iper-Kilt-Hose

http://www.scottishtradingcompany.co...oducts_id=1333

Sorry, no pics of me wearing mine as they see relatively little light of day compared to my other more colorful hose. I do have an older pic of me wearing a more basic tan pair that are only slightly lighter in color than my "tan" pipers.

jeff

**MacBean** · 13th February 12, 07:52 AM

What is this obsession that Arizonans have with tan?

Tan cars, tan houses, tan socks! Just try finding your tan car in a parking lot of tan cars!

**Riverkilt** · 13th February 12, 08:02 AM

We have WHITE vehicles in Arizona so the raven poop doesn't show...

Not a good pic, but the sun's on them.

These are the inexpensive tan/khaki hose...I know many inexpensive vendors make them. I've been spoiled by the House of Cheviot's quality....

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 13th February 12, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

That seems to make sense, Matt, but I can't imagine how it would explain "dusty pink" and "teal". Unless there is a large contingent of people wearing those colours which have never been photographed or seen in public, I have a hard time believing those colours are selling well!

Keep in mind that the Highland wear market is but one aspect of what they do. They sell quite a bit in their country/shooting sock range, as well. In fact, I would say this was the lion's share of their market in Europe. And the colors that are popular in that market are different than what typically sells in the Highland wear market.

Though that does mean that if someone wants a pair of pink or teal hose, they are in luck.

Just delivered a pair of teal Rannoch hose to a retailer last week, as a matter of fact! :-)

And Ron, I do thank you for your feedback.

**fluter** · 13th February 12, 08:45 AM

Ron, you might be surprised about the ecru Lewis hose's ability to take a dye. I freely admit that it'd be an expensive experiment, but I recall someone was buying the hose or garters in ecru to dye---perhaps before the yellow was available??? Matt would probably remember particulars.

I have two pairs of the Gaelic Themes cream hose which have been dyed to a tan/oatmeal shade with walnut. As you'd expect, they did not come out an even color, but they have a subtly appealing marbled/mottled effect. They are just under 50 percent wool, and poly/acrylic/nylon for the rest; so the blend is not unlike the wool/acrylic of the Lewis hose.

My fiber expert informs me that the natural walnut dye does not require a mordant; making it easier to deal with.

Anyway, I'll make a point of posting some pix of the GT hose since POIDH. I just got them back Saturday.

One must admit that House of Cheviot offers more colors than GT or anyone less expensive. We can pay more and get more choice, as always. The colors that may strike us as odd are also used for ladies hose, shooting socks, country hose, and so on. They seem to tweak the color offerings every year or two, so we can also inform our wholesaler what we'd like (thanks, Matt), and wait & see.

Finally---Ron, you believe in being nice to your feet. Isn't it time you just broke down and commissioned two pairs of custom hand-knit tan hose from one of our resident knitters? You know you want them.

**fluter** · 17th February 12, 08:42 PM

As promised, here (in the center) are two pairs of cream hose that have been dyed with natural walnut. On the right, a pair in the original color. On the left, the oatmeal color from the same source (Gaelic Themes).

Click twice for an enlarged view:

WalnutDyed
I think they were quite successful, and I'm sure I'll wear them.

Now the oatmeal pair are wool+nylon, 80/20 I believe. The cream were about equal parts wool and acrylic, with some nylon and polyester thrown in. The ones USAK lists now are 25 percent each wool+acrylic, but i think these are closer to 40. GT also shows some on their Web site at 40%wool, 40% acrylic, 20% nylon. However my memory says these had some polyester, too. They are at least 4 years old.

so with that interesting blend, it's not at all surprising that the color is a bit marbled. I like the effect, but it probably won't be noticeable from any distance. They were dyed separately (just in case the first one turned out terrible), so they aren't quite the same shade.