How to tell a professional how to press a kilt

[M. A. C. Newsome]

What can happen with dry cleaners is they lay the kilt out on their pressing table and press the pleats as they lay, which tends to be flared out a little (or a lot). Versus the way the pleats should be pressed which is straight with no flare.

To press the pleats that way without basting them first, you need to press them each individually by hand. Basting them first makes it easier to press the kilt as a whole (but I still use a hand steamer).

One piece of advice I have heard people give is to baste the pleats in before taking it to the cleaners. You really don't need to know how to sew to do this. Just lay the kilt out on a table in front of you, with the pleats laying as they should. I like to then pin the pleats all in place just to make it easier for me.

Take a needle and sturdy thread. I usually use white thread because it is easy to see. And just stitch in a line along the bottom of the pleats. I use big bold stitches, about one per pleat. They don't have to be even or perfect. All they have to do is keep the pleats in place.

When you get the kilt back from the cleaners, remove the thread and your kilt should be fine.

FYI, The Bruce did get in touch with me and I will be repressing the kilt for him. Glad to help.