Non-wool lovat blue hose?

**MichiganKyle** · 30th January 20, 06:06 AM

So, after seeing this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...lt-hose-71512/

That AKScott linked to here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...91#post1382491

I'm wondering: is there anywhere you can buy cable-knit (or at least strongly-patterned) hose in lovat blue which are not made with wool? Or is there a good recipe for dying acrylic or cotton hose to the right color?

**Tobus** · 30th January 20, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by MichiganKyle

So, after seeing this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...lt-hose-71512/

That AKScott linked to here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...91#post1382491

I'm wondering: is there anywhere you can buy cable-knit (or at least strongly-patterned) hose in lovat blue which are not made with wool? Or is there a good recipe for dying acrylic or cotton hose to the right color?

Surely there are sources for non-wool hose in Lovat blue. I don't know where that would be, but still...

I had decent luck years ago in dyeing a pair of cheap synthetic off-white hose to what would be considered a Lovat green colour. To get to that lighter green colour, I had to use a dark green dye. Synthetic hose are basically made from petroleum-based products (aka plastics), and they don't absorb dye like a natural fiber. But the dye will stain the surface enough that some of it won't wash off. The key here is that most of the colour will wash off, and what remains is a lighter hue. If your goal is a medium blue, I'd start with a dark blue Rit dye, letting it soak for plenty of time and with enough agitation to work it into the weave. Then wash with cold water, heat dry it, and repeat the wash/dry cycle a few times. It will continue to bleed colour for a bit until it stabilises. And even after that, you may end up with some slight colour bleeding onto your feet when you wear them for a full day.

As an example, these are my light green synthetic hose that I used a dark green dye on.

**MichiganKyle** · 8th March 20, 08:31 AM

So, I've decided to try dyeing a pair of these (my favorite fit in kilt hose):

https://sportkilt.com/product/deluxe...nit-kilt-hose/

Using RIT's liquid DyeMore dyes for synthetics. Going to try for as close to a Lovat Green as I can get. Matching on-screen to try to find a decent formula, this one looks pretty close and is the mix I plan to try:

https://www.ritdye.com/color-formula...on=0&pantone=0

Have never (intentionally

) dyed anything before, so it'll be a bit of an adventure, but I'll report back with progress whichever way it goes.

**Crazy Dave** · 8th March 20, 09:51 AM

I have those Sport Kilt hoes and they are nice. If you can take a percentage of wool, USA Kilts has your color in a few different styles. I love my bottle green Colored Kilt Hoes. The color is awesome.

Dave

**MichiganKyle** · 8th March 20, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Crazy Dave

If you can take a percentage of wool, USA Kilts has your color in a few different styles.

I'd love to, but I've got enough weird allergies already (goofball ones like carrots and parsley), that as soon as I started developing a mild wool sensitivity, I figured I'd better ditch it ASAP before it became something much worse. I get sensitized to things way too easily.

I do have a few pairs of USA Kilts's cotton hose, though:

https://www.usakilts.com/cotton-kilt-hose.html

I like them, but they are a little tight. Green color's quite nice.

**Crazy Dave** · 8th March 20, 05:24 PM

I have gluten sensitivity, so I get what you are saying. Good to know about the cotton socks. I was thinking of giving them a try. I have been very happy with everything that I have ordered through USA Kilts. I an wearing an Ireland's National Casual Kilt as I write this (and drinking a double dram of Bushmills 10 year old single malt). Looks great on me! I like the economy flashes too.

Dave