How do you store your kilt hose?

[matchlock]

Kilt hose, Lay on each other, then loose overhand knot.
Keeps them together well and won't stretch out the top.

I'm not picky enough to have those beautifully filed sock stacks. Normal use I buy a bunch of exact same dress socks, black blue kaki, don't ever have to worry about pairs or mates until they start wearing out.

[Friday]

I come at this from a slightly different direction since I knit my own kilt hose. For me storing also means displaying my hand knit hose. I am not a great knitter but after all that work your are going to have to look at them even if you do not want to.

After washing I allow my hose to dry flat on a towel until damp dry. I then take a piece of plastic mesh, used as a form for yarn tapestry, to hold the hose open to dry. These come in 12x12 inch (31 x 31 cm) sheets. I roll the sheets in to tiche tube and slide them down the leg of the hose to the ankle. Once released the sheets unroll until they fill the leg of the hose. often a second one is need at the top of the leg. Both hose are hooked to clips on a pants hanger. It is not uncommon for a couple of pair of hose to be drying ant any one time.

My desire is to make some sock blocker for size 12.5 (US) feet and 18 inch calves. I am looking at using gauge 1 or 2 ( about 1/4 inch or 7 mm thick) copper wire to create a blocking form. I am concerned about the flexibility of copper even at this thickness. Not during creation but how easily it will deform when putting hose on and off. Als, how to coat the copper to prevent tarnish/corrosion from staining the hose. If I can work this out I think the copper sticking out of the top of the hose could add to the display of my knitting.