What would you do?

[Domehead]

Would the Rabble attempt to re-pleat this kilt?
Robertson Red
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Locharron Strome
M.A.C. Newsome
2005
Worn Regularly w/ travel
Dry-cleaned once by reputable cleaner (has experience w/ kilts: 2012)
Infrequently steam-ironed (low-heat, covered with pillow case, no direct contact, normally just the fell)
Fit is virtually perfect
Third pleat from the right is the "hidden seam" pleat.

My opinion is the frequent wearing combined with general movement, sweeping to sit, jostling in the chair, rising, walking, driving over the past seven years has massaged some of the pleats/threads out of position. However, if this is normal to kilt wearing, I won't obsess.
Re: the Dry-Cleaner...My other Newsome (Dalgliesh 15oz) was cleaned the same afternoon and all the pleats are as crisp and sharp as the day it arrived. That kilt is a 2010 but, to this point, has been worn far less.

I've read the threads, especially Pleater's offerings, on re-pleating. However, before I pursued anything, I want to know what our more experienced members would do - if anything.

Thanks

[Tobus]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're not talking about re-pleating per se, just re-pressing the pleats. Correct?

I guess the answer really depends on whether it bothers you. It apparently does, so go for it. I've done it on a box-pleated kilt too, and it's really not that big of a deal. A box-pleated kilt is probably the easiest to re-press.

[Domehead]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're not talking about re-pleating per se, just re-pressing the pleats. Correct?

I guess the answer really depends on whether it bothers you. It apparently does, so go for it. I've done it on a box-pleated kilt too, and it's really not that big of a deal. A box-pleated kilt is probably the easiest to re-press.

Tobus, brilliant! yours is one of the opinions that I hold in esteem.

Yes, you are correct. I mean re-pressing.

I'm not sure if it bother's me. When the kilt is worn and drapes below the fell, it actually looks (IMHO) as nice as the morning it arrived from Mr. Newsome.
It's when I remove the kilt and tri-fold it to air-out or hang-to-store that I notice the "imperfections". However, I've read before (specifically CDNSushi) talk about the natural character of a kilt over time. The pleats themselves, as all of M.A.C. Newsome's kilts, are stitched virtually perfectly.

This is why I'm looking to find out what another more experienced wearer, such as yourself, would do. Would this bother you? If no, personally, I would respond to that.

[Tobus]

Tobus, brilliant! yours is one of the opinions that I hold in esteem.

Yes, you are correct. I mean re-pressing.

I'm not sure if it bother's me. When the kilt is worn and drapes below the fell, it actually looks (IMHO) as nice as the morning it arrived from Mr. Newsome.
It's when I remove the kilt and tri-fold it to air-out or hang-to-store that I notice the "imperfections". However, I've read before (specifically CDNSushi) talk about the natural character of a kilt over time. The pleats themselves, as all of M.A.C. Newsome's kilts, are stitched virtually perfectly.

Yep, it does look like the kilt is well-made, as Matt's work always is. And I understand what you're saying about how it hangs on a rack as compared to how it hangs on your body. The tapering in the fell will always make it hang funny on a rack or hanger. As long as it hangs correctly when you're wearing it, that's all that matters.

This is why I'm looking to find out what another more experienced wearer, such as yourself, would do. Would this bother you? If no, personally, I would respond to that.

Well, yes, to be honest, it would bother me. Specifically, what would bother me is that the creases of the pleats have managed to work their way off-center in some areas. But then, I'm a bit obsessive sometimes when it comes to silly things like that. I didn't notice it until a cute female stranger at a festival called me "perfect pleat man" in passing. Everybody else was running around with their pleats all in a state of dishabille, and apparently I was the only one being careful with my pleats.

At any rate, box pleats do tend to require more attention in my experience, because they don't have the deep overlapping action that other pleat styles have which help keep them organised. Each individual box pleat is kind of out there by itself, and thus prone to issues over time. Fortunately, the fact that each pleat stands alone (with no deep overlap) makes it easier to press without affecting all the others. Of course, you need to make sure they all lay correctly together, and that re-pressing one pleat doesn't pull another one out of whack. But since box pleats like yours are so wide and easily aligned, it's fairly simple to do. When I re-pressed my box pleat, it was for less reason than you have on yours. So yeah, I would do it. After you do it once, you'll be past the mental hurdle, which will prepare you for doing it again at some point (which I think box-pleated kilts need on a fairly regular basis to keep their distinct look).

[Domehead]

Tobus,
Thanks very much for your insights. Particullarly re: box-pleats relative to the overlap. I'd never considered that as a consequence. I'm off to the "Care & Maintenance" threads to find Barb T. / Pleater's information on this stuff and begin hurdling the mental...so-to-speak.

Thanks again

[sailortats]

to my way of thinking you are worrying about nothing. The pleats look fine to me. I notice on all my kilts that they look similar to yours when hanging on the hanger, when wearing them they are fine.
Also note the top of your kilt on the hanger, the top is not absolutely perfectly horizontal. There is a slight dip in the center. Even this slight dip is going to cause the pleats to react differently. I say stop worrying and enjoy a beautiful kilt.

[Pleater]

This is advice from someone who uses a micrometer to measure the pleats when sewing a kilt - but I think that some of the pleats could do with the stripes centring.

You'll need to assess which side of the panel requires adjusting - or perhaps both might need to be done to get things right.

I correct edges by first pressing the crease out, starting at the lower edge and smoothing the fabric just a little further than it looks to be out of line, then measuring and pinning back from the edge so the pins don't get pressed, then I place the edge on a board - just a strip of the stuff from inside a bolt of fabric covered in cotton. That means that the edge is pressed in isolation.

I would not be concerned about the pleat with the seam as long as it lies right when worn - the seam will be more rigid than the unsewn fabric and so could easily make the pleat look awry when on a hanger.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: