Gave it it's First Wash.

[Famous Willie]

I decided to give my Utility Kilt it's first wash yesterday. I put it in the Washer and when it was done, hung it up to air dry on the Shower Curtain Rod. The tag on the kilt said I could put it in the dryer or have it dry cleaned. When I hung it up to dry it was really wrinkled and the Pleats didn't look all that great. But as it hung and dried the shape of the kilt started to take it's natural shape. This morning when I got up the Kilt had it's shape back but definitely needed a pressing. Placing the kilt on the living room floor on clean towels, after I gave it a vacuum (I won't see my cat Alexander anymore today - He hates the Vacuum Cleaner) The kilt was still a wee bit damp when I went to iron it...

It is hung up for tomorrow for when I wear it as I take my take my Seniors to their Day Programmes they attend and deliver the Meals on Wheels to the Volunteers at the Depot. I can hear my Seniors calling me the "Highland Man in Black" as with the exception of the White Hose, the Ghillie Shirt n' Flashes and the kilt are all in Black. One thing I did notice, some of the Pleats want to naturally curl at the edges, even when they have been pressed. Any thoughts that what I can do to make the pleat edges sharp?

[Tarheel]

Bill, try a small shot of spray starch on the inner apron and press the kilt hem between two pieces of fabric (not sweeping the iron over the material). The hottest setting on my iron also includes steam which has worked just fine with my wool kilt and should do fine with the fabric of your kilt. If this works you will be able to flatten the hem of the pleats. If it does not work, the inner apron will not show the error. You will not have to apply the heat too long. My rule is a count to five before I remove the iron from the surface.

If you can't force yourself to buy a can of aerosol starch, I have used a mixture of powdered starch and water. I find that this mix will wash out with each laundering as the propellants and chemicals in the aerosol cause a binding to the fabric.

[Tobus]

The curling of the pleats where they are stitched at the edges is something I've just learned to live with on my Utilikilt. It doesn't bother me. I don't even bother ironing the silly thing. When I wash it, I just spread it out to dry on a flat surface, with everything arranged so it lays flat and the pleats are tidy. Any minor wrinkling that occurs, or pleat curling, will work itself out once it's dry. Since it dries pretty stiff (mine is a duck-cloth canvas "workman" model), I shake it out several times forcefully and rub my hands over the aprons and pleats to work out the wrinkles and smooth it all down.

[Steve Ashton]

The Utilikilt is actually designed to curl. It is part of the Seattle Grunge look they were going for.

[Famous Willie]

Bill, try a small shot of spray starch on the inner apron and press the kilt hem between two pieces of fabric (not sweeping the iron over the material). The hottest setting on my iron also includes steam which has worked just fine with my wool kilt and should do fine with the fabric of your kilt. If this works you will be able to flatten the hem of the pleats. If it does not work, the inner apron will not show the error. You will not have to apply the heat too long. My rule is a count to five before I remove the iron from the surface.

If you can't force yourself to buy a can of aerosol starch, I have used a mixture of powdered starch and water. I find that this mix will wash out with each laundering as the propellants and chemicals in the aerosol cause a binding to the fabric.

Thank you Tarheel, Actually since I've hung the Kilt the weight of it on the Kilt Hanger after the Pressing has removed most of the Curl, the kilt is completely dry too.. But I will remember to try the starch next time I iron. I think what some of the issue was, the kilt was still a bit damp from the washing.
Thanks again.

[Famous Willie]

The curling of the pleats where they are stitched at the edges is something I've just learned to live with on my Utilikilt. It doesn't bother me. I don't even bother ironing the silly thing. When I wash it, I just spread it out to dry on a flat surface, with everything arranged so it lays flat and the pleats are tidy. Any minor wrinkling that occurs, or pleat curling, will work itself out once it's dry. Since it dries pretty stiff (mine is a duck-cloth canvas "workman" model), I shake it out several times forcefully and rub my hands over the aprons and pleats to work out the wrinkles and smooth it all down.

Hi Tobus, It kind of worked out the curling problem once it was hung and completely dry after the Ironing. I just got to learn to sit in it properly, I find this is when the Kilt loses it nice Pleat Edge.

[Famous Willie]

The Utilikilt is actually designed to curl. It is part of the Seattle Grunge look they were going for.

Thanks for the Heads up Steve, I'm just new to the Whole Kilt Wearing, I know when I get my full Tartan Kilt in about 6-8 weeks, I'll really have to be careful how I sit. Though from what I understand, you can help me on this, the Pleats on a Traditional Kilt actually right themselves better when getting up from sitting, than Utility Kilt Pleats do.

[Dollander]

Thanks for the Heads up Steve, I'm just new to the Whole Kilt Wearing, I know when I get my full Tartan Kilt in about 6-8 weeks, I'll really have to be careful how I sit. Though from what I understand, you can help me on this, the Pleats on a Traditional Kilt actually right themselves better when getting up from sitting, than Utility Kilt Pleats do.

From my experience, it's not the style of pleating so much as the material. My wool and PV kilts have wide, shallow pleats, and while they may acquire some minor wrinkles from sitting for extended periods (e.g. a long car ride), those will all but vanish rather quickly once I'm up and moving around. There've even been times that I've left a PV kilt crumpled on the sofa and forgotten about it 'til the next morning, but all I have to do is hang it up or even put it on and the wrinkles will soon correct themselves. Whereas sometimes it seems my denim kilt wrinkles if you stare at it too hard. The only time I wear it anymore is when I'm cleaning out the film processor at work or some other job where I'm likely to get filthy, and even then, I'll iron it, keep it on its hanger, change into it at work and never sit down the whole time I'm wearing it...and when I take it off the pleats are still a bit wonky.

[Famous Willie]

From my experience, it's not the style of pleating so much as the material. My wool and PV kilts have wide, shallow pleats, and while they may acquire some minor wrinkles from sitting for extended periods (e.g. a long car ride), those will all but vanish rather quickly once I'm up and moving around. There've even been times that I've left a PV kilt crumpled on the sofa and forgotten about it 'til the next morning, but all I have to do is hang it up or even put it on and the wrinkles will soon correct themselves. Whereas sometimes it seems my denim kilt wrinkles if you stare at it too hard. The only time I wear it anymore is when I'm cleaning out the film processor at work or some other job where I'm likely to get filthy, and even then, I'll iron it, keep it on its hanger, change into it at work and never sit down the whole time I'm wearing it...and when I take it off the pleats are still a bit wonky.

I believe my Utility Kilt is 70% Polyester and 30% Cotton, if I read the label correctly when I was looking for washing instructions yesterday. . I had a look at the kilt a few minutes ago, and it looks find now. The Curl has disappeared, must have just need a bit of a press and to be hung.