Keeping Kilt Hose From Shrinking Too Much

[Pleater]

I've been knitting my own long socks for about - Oh my - 40 years.

It's actually quite a pleasing thing to do - a small project - well OK most of us would need to make two small projects.

Woollen yarn can be got in a machine washable form which does not felt or shrink and it is usually well worth seeking out and paying extra for.

However, the untreated yarn feels nicer, and if washed by hand they can be kept in good condition. Mine usually meet their end through being included in a machine wash my accident, or the dreaded moth attack. With all the synthetic clothing around I must have moths stacked in aerial divisions just waiting to raise their young on unguarded bits of my woollen knitting.

Use the same temperature water for the washing and rinsing - it is the shock of sudden temperature change which helps the shrinking/felting process.

Ordinary hair conditioner is good for woolen garments.

To help with the drying I either put them in the spin dryer - I have a separate from the washer one from when I used to do a lot of yarn and cloth dyeing, or roll them in a towel and stamp on the roll. Don't even think about a tumble dryer within three feet of a woollen garment.

There are knitting machines which can make a good imitation of a hand made sock, but even simple ones can make a fairly good sock though it might have to have sewn seams. Then the quality of the sewing is important.

[Graham]

I find the hose I buy that are all wool shrink much more, I'm now buying Gaelic Themes hose with a mixture and wool and synthetic, they last better.

[Rick]

I've been knitting my own long socks for about - Oh my - 40 years.

Use the same temperature water for the washing and rinsing - it is the shock of sudden temperature change which helps the shrinking/felting process.

To help with the drying I either put them in the spin dryer - I have a separate from the washer one from when I used to do a lot of yarn and cloth dyeing, or roll them in a towel and stamp on the roll. Don't even think about a tumble dryer within three feet of a woollen garment.

The shrinking of wool, or "felting" is also known to be exacerbated by agitation. This is why directions for hand washing refer to handling the fabric gently and not wringing it out. The wet wool fibres have scales which interlock and prevent the individual fibres from moving relative to each other. Agitation helps the scales to interlock, resulting in the reduced size.

I wash my kilt hose in Woolite by hand. I dry them by wrapping them in a towel to remove the majority of the water and then I lay them out to dry more fully.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Rick,

That scientific stuff makes sense.

My main question, not meant to insult anyone, is; does hand washing the kilt hose get the "stink" out?

I live in hot weather country. Like to change my kilt hose (or sox when panted before) at mid day. Everyone's feet sweat around here. Guess I could set a rock on the kilt hose and let them soak in the sink.

What I've noticed is that of the 20 some pairs of kilt hose I have, all ordered in the same size, they not only seem to arrive in different sizes, they wash out to different sizes. Some stay long and loose, others tighten up. Have been using the gentle cycle of the washer to wash them...maybe some have been washed on regular cycle...just know its an adventure to buy them and try to keep them serviceable.

So far, the best have been those Blaxnit from South Africa, even with their defects. Just can't find where to buy more, even at regular price.

That's one thing about "kilting" - its never dull with all the details to deal with.

Ron

[auld argonian]

I'd be suprised if you were being plagued by "stinkfoot" (see also: Zappa, Frank Apostrophe Bizarre Records, 1972)...if you were wearing wool socks. I've been led to believe that the wicking action of the wool pretty much deprived the responsible bacteria of their sustenance. One of the reasons that I wear wool socks year round.

Incidentally, one of the most goofy (but effective) tips for minimalist camping and hiking that I've ever heard is the three-sock theory. This states that all you need is three socks when you go out in the field. The first day you wear two - left and right. The next day you transfer the sock from the right foot to the left foot and put the new, unused sock on the right foot...you wash out the used sock which was previously on the left foot and hang it from your backpack frame to dry in the fresh air and sunshine while you trek to your next camp. The next day you repeat the process with the washed and dried sock from your pack frame becoming the fresh sock. This saves you having to carry a whole supply of socks thus making room for the granola, whiskey and camping espresso maker that you'll be lugging along.

Best

AA

[GlassMan]

Personally I use those Dryell home dry-cleaning bags & clothes for my wool socks and kilts and they seem to do a great job of getting them clean and fresh smelling without any damage or shrinkage whatsoever.

And I did manage to get some shrunken kilt socks back to size. Actually the wound up longer than the original! I took one of those hangers with the two clips and hung one sock from each clip. Then while the socks were hanging I steamed them with my steam cleaner. The sheer weight of the wool caused the socks to elongate back to the proper size. While they were cooling I slipped my arm down them to make sure they widened up enough for my calves, and poof I had my shrunken kilt socks back to size.

[Riverkilt]

Wow! Is this a great board or what!?

Thanks for the three sock program, and STEAM?? Never woulda thunk that on my own....gonna try it with my shrunker kilt hose...

Ron