Sit!

[Angus MacSpey]

I own a Chevy Avalanche, and even with my height, I climb up into it. I find it somewhat challenging to climb up (while holding the steering wheel for balance), sweep the pleats, and gracefully sit into the front captain's chair seats! Anybody else have this problem?

Not really. I have both a big truck that I have to climb up into, and a little car I duck down into. (Eh... don't hassle me about dangling participles...)

Grab the door with the left hand, sweep with right as you hit the seat. Given that my vehicles have vinyl and leather seats respectively, sweeping the kilt is more a matter of survival than of keeping pleats smooth - especially on really hot or really cold days.



And regarding other posts - I've never had anyone comment on it, but it becomes second nature very quickly. I think people would be more put off if you let your junk touch a chair that other people sit on.

[Iolaus]

Nice rig Iolaus! With that, I would agree. Have you ever had somebody give you a hassle or roll their eyes (implying you must be gay), then seen you climb into your vehicle and changed their opinion?

Not that I've noticed, but then, I don't get hassled often, and I don't really watch for people's reactions anymore. Besides, I have a couple of gay friends at school who've told me I'm too "butch" to be mistaken as gay - skirt or not. I think they were complimenting me.

Oh, and thinking about it, If they were small-minded enough to think that of me simply because of how I was dressed, and then saw me getting into the truck, they would probably just think I was overcompensating for some inner insecurity or something.

Doesn't matter; who cares what anyone thinks.

Back to pleats. One of the problems I have at school is doing the sweep while getting into those tiny desks in the rows; the opening is too narrow to sit down straight and turn forward, so I'm holding onto the desk for balance as I slide in sideways; the only hand I have to sweep with is the outside hand. I invariably have part of the pleats stretched flat under my butt (hopefully).

...and about getting into your trucks, be careful with using the wheel or the door to pull yourself up; the bushing in the door hinge will wear more quickly - leading to mis-allignment of the door, and an adjustable steering wheel won't hold up very long either. The best way is to grasp the front pillar to swing yourself in. (a handle attached to it isn't necessarily strong enough)

[Jewddha]

...
Back to pleats. One of the problems I have at school is doing the sweep while getting into those tiny desks in the rows; the opening is too narrow to sit down straight and turn forward, so I'm holding onto the desk for balance as I slide in sideways; the only hand I have to sweep with is the outside hand. I invariably have part of the pleats stretched flat under my butt (hopefully)...

I second and third that! And in some of my classes, it's arranged with the desks split in half, both halves facing each other... It's just plain unnerving to slide and twist in (not to mention books/bag) when you're sitting in the front seat... You are always wondering if you were 'tactful' enough, or if it's that one brilliant slip-up day.

[Kilted KT]

aye- sweep the pleats w' yur hand/arm arr they'l get runklie....


does yur wife sit like a man when she sits in jeans? probably....

what he said.....( tip me glass o' malt to ya, P1M)

[JayFilomena]

what's the best way to sit down? Do you sweep the pleats or just sit?

I like to do a little twirl, and to get a good spin, I just stand on one foot. get some good g forces going, and the last thing anyone is focusing on is actually sitting down.

[ckelly327]

I'm still learning but definitely sweep with my right hand when sitting. My biggest problems are still adjusting to the in and out of the car sweeps and adjustments and then handling the proper sweep getting into a booth at a restaurant. Depending on the size of the booth you have to kind of scoot accross after you've done the sweep to get in. I'm just never really sure what that is doing to my pleats.

[Bob C]

I do the "sweep and chop," sweeping the pleats with my right hand and pushing the center of the apron down with the left for modesty.

In the car, I do the thing where you brace your back agaist the seat and use your hands to straighten the pleats before sitting down on them.

When I get out of the car, I have my wife check the pleats. I always feel a little silly doing that.

[Pleater]

When wearing a traditional kilt it is easier to slide behind the wheel of a car in the UK because the pleats lie the 'right' way.

I didn't realise just what a difference it makes until I went to get into the passenger seat on one of the rare occasions I was driven somewhere. The opening of the pleats folded them back on themselves and I had to get out and rethink how to get into the car properly.

[Mattg]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

[timber]

What a great forum! The only question I had left about sitting in a kilt has been answered without my asking. I have a Ford Ranger, and even though it is smaller than the trucks already mentioned, it is still a truck, and I have to climb up instead of sitting down. Now I have a good idea how to do that without messing up the pleats once my kilt arrives. Thanks guys!