PV versus Wool

[sharpdressedscot]

SDS... PV stands for Poly Viscose (65% / 35% respectively).

Moosedog... One way to keep MM PV "nicer" is to make sure you DON'T wash it in Fabric Softener. That will change the "hand" of the fabric pretty quickly. Not saying you did anything wrong... just a tip. ;)

Similar to Polyester (however you spell it)?

[Moosedog]

Don't worry, Rocky, I don't even have any of the dreaded fabric softener in the house.

Actually I prefer the hand of a slightly softer, broken-in PV. It swishes better! Just wanted to point that out in case someone feels a swatch and thinks it is a bit stiff.

Moosedog

[The Wizard of BC]

SharpDressedScot,

P/V is not just Polyester! It is a blend of Polyester and Rayon (or viscous in Europe).

As said at least three times in this thread alone.

Marton Mills P/V is 65% Polyester and 35% Rayon.

[sharpdressedscot]

SharpDressedScot,

P/V is not just Polyester! It is a blend of Polyester and Rayon (or viscous in Europe).

As said at least three times in this thread alone.

Marton Mills P/V is 65% Polyester and 35% Rayon.

OK, just clearin' things up for me.

[MacHummel]

I have dealt with the Canadian company the makes the P/V in the Maple Leaf tartan and many of the provincial tartans it is in an 8oz weave as Rocky stated earlier I don't like to use the stuff mainly because it is very light , and I find that my machines just eat it up, as it is a bit of a loose weave I only use it if the customers who insists on a particular tartan and usally I do it with more fabric to make up for the weight. Now when we decided found out about MM and got a few samples then made a couple kilts it was a huge difference, a nice hard finish and the pleats stay nicely in place .
This is why we went to MM for the Maple leaf tartan to be woven in PV fabric I cannot say enough about it and those who own a CCK or a USAK, know what I'm taking about.
My only thing that bugged me this year, at one of the festivals we did, someone I know bought a kilt that he was told was a "16oz P/V and made in Scotland" . I looked at it and made mention of few of my observations then I showed him the difference. Unfortunately this was one of those buyer beware situations, if all else fails the flame test is the best test but if you ask here on this forum many folks would be happy to help and inform . I have sent sampl;es out to people just so they can see and feel what I'm talking about.

[The Wizard of BC]

Anyone advertising P/V in weights of 13 or 16 oz are lying. There is no one weaving P/V in those weights. Yet.
Gordon Kirkbright did a single run of 13 oz P/V in Black Watch and I still have 4 yards of it. But right now there is no such an animal as heavy weight P/V.

[fluter]

Ooooooooooooooo who pushed Steve's button.

Actually, Ozone did. Pushed mine, too. Ozone, if the Wiz did not clarify things perfectly, PM me----or better yet, just re-read that other thread, then re-read everything Rocky and MacHummel have posted in this one.

They are the guys who actually use the high-quality polyester-viscose. Then just see if you can find a customer of theirs who's not a repeat customer I just took delivery of my 3rd and 4th USAKs, and another is on order.

[Joel]

PV feels like a "thick cotton". If you want a swatch of PV, send me a SASE with a request for a certain tartan and I can send you a swatch.

Rocky, thanks for answering my question. I'll be doing that. I often figured it'd be like the thick cotton cloth on my West Point USMA greatcoat. So, it'll probably keep me from going insane from the "itch" my wool uniforms always give me.

Just for me - guess there are many responses to your question Joel - PV feels like what it is. Polyesther and Viscose (the English name for Rayon). And Rayon is synthetic cotton. So for me it feels sort of like the material used for polyesther/cotton fabrics...only its in kilt form so there's more of it, all the pleats, the aprons....there's heft.

I can guarantee you its not a "bad" or "weird" feeling. Looking at the material it looks very much like cotton, but it hangs much better, doesn't get that "rumpled" look.

Send Rocky the SASE and check it out for yourself...but checking it out in kilt form is a much better way.

Ron

Ron, thank you for the additional information! I know that you know what you're talking about because I've seen the photos of your kilts - and they all look great; the wool and PV.


I love how one can learn so much new information on this site. Cheers.

[CactusJack]

Okay , I have read every one of these and it got me thinking, The last kilt my wife bought me was was P/V so I go home last night and look at the lable inside said kilt and it reads " 65% Polyviscose 35% Acetate, So now I'm wondering if this is a good thing or a bad thing..

On a side not here, I have a couple of the pleats on this kilt that really need to be pressed as they some how got screwed up or were screwed up when the wife bought it and I was wondering if anybody can give me any suggestions on how to do this.
Thanks in advance, you folks are the best source I know of.

[ozone]

Geeze, some people are touchy about fabric. Sorry if i pushed any buttons, but i have to say the reactions did give me a chuckle. Also, sorry about mixing acrylic with PV. That being said, it is interesting that many of the complaints on the "worst.kilt.ever." thread are about synthetic materials.



To Rocky and the Wiz of BC i say: "perhaps this is a GREAT time to have a blurb on your respective websites about differences in material for us and the rest of the buying public. It would be informative and would help people avoid the mistake of buying acrylic and/or cheap PV kilts and end up disappointed and not wearing their $80+ garment. "

Other than kilts, I have never bought a stitch of clothing that cost me $80 except a business suit for interviews. So, to me at least, even an el-cheapo kilt for $80 still seems like a high price to pay for something that one might not wear if they end up disappointed with the material.

-just my two cents