How to shrink kilt hose

[Shay]

I'm assuming they're pure untreated wool? To felt/shrink wool, you put it in hot water with a little soap, and mush it in your hands. However, knitting tends to shrink more in one direction than the other- your socks may go down a half inch in diameter, but an inch or more in total length- a rather thorny problem.

If you do shrink them, you'll lose some of the detail in the cables and such, and they won't be as stetchy. It's a little like compressing images- details get fuzzy and lines get blurry- eventually you can't figure out what the picture is of, especially if it's complicated. Basically, when you felt wool (the technical term for shrinking) the fibers of the wool interlock with each other more and more until you're kinda turning the knit fabric into, well, felt. It also shrinks down because the yarn threads can't move individually- they get locked up tight.

My ultimate advice? Buy new socks, and give the ones that don't fit to charity- there's many a big person this time of year who would love to have warm toes.

Oddly enough, wool socks can be embiggened (what? It's a perfectly cromulent word!) a lot easier- but it has to be done every time they're washed. Get the sock soaking wet, the stretch it over something immobile but the right size- maybe a stuffed boot leg or rolled-up Sunday newspaper. However, the spaces in between the yarn threads will be made bigger, so they won't be as warm. And as you wear them, they may shrink back down a bit, especially if they get damp at all- including sweat.

See, knitted wool produced a hardy, stable garment- really the best way to resize it permanently is to rip out the yarn and start over! And I love you guys, but I've got waaaaaay too much on my crafts plate to offer.