Selvedge fuzz

[billsides]

I have two kilts with an unsightly line of fuzz about 5/8" up from the bottom. One is an expensive 4 year old Hector Russell 16oz made from Marton Mills Isle of Skye fabric and a fuzz line had appeared by its second wearing. The other is a cheap two year old made to measure in Glasgow 13 oz Hunting Sinclair ordered via e-Bay. Its fabric maker is unknown but an identical fuzz line soon appeared. My 13oz RSCDS tartan kilt ordered at the Gathering off Geoffrey (Tailor) has no fuzz line or material obviously woven back into itself. When Marton Mills were challenged they said "Oh fabrics off the new looms do that, just shave it off". I ask how and must it be repeated from time to time? I think it is poor as it need not be like that.

Bill

[Dixiecat]

"Oh fabrics off the new looms do that, just shave it off"

They are entirely correct. That line of fuzz is the ends of the threads that have been woven back into the selvedge, relaxing and 'opening up'. The fuzz only appears after wearing and you need to shave it off. You can do this very carefully with a razor (which I don't recommend) or a special appliance called a sweater shaver:
http://www.target.com/s?keywords=swe...bx_1_1&x=0&y=0

[ForresterModern]

Use a standard safety razor like you would shave your face with, and make sure the fabric is on something firm and flat.

[davidlpope]

a special appliance called a sweater shaver:
http://www.target.com/s?keywords=swe...bx_1_1&x=0&y=0

***. Mine looks like this:

http://s5.thisnext.com/media/230x230...r_03348949.jpg

One of the minor annoyances of tuck-in selvedge. It makes me appreciate Ken Dalgliesh's tartan all the more....

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Cloth from Lochcarron is just as susceptible to "fuzzing" it has to do with the type of loom used to weave the cloth. I have found Marton Mill's cloth fuzzes slightly less because their cloth seems to be fulled a bit compared to Lochcarron cloth which has more distinct threads and weave.

[billsides]

***. Mine looks like this:

http://s5.thisnext.com/media/230x230...r_03348949.jpg

One of the minor annoyances of tuck-in selvedge. It makes me appreciate Ken Dalgliesh's tartan all the more....

The Geoffrey (Tailor) RSCD 13 oz material may be their own manufacture, I suspect they have sole rights. Regardless it definately has no thickened edge and despite much energetic dancing and a dry cleaning remains as new with the loom sprocket holes still visible on close inspection. On the two kilts mentioned, the fuzz lines almost highlight the fact that the thickened edges look a bit different to the rest of the fabric. None of my other kilts, be they old or cheap have fuzz lines or thicker edges. I will locate a fabric shaver and see what happens, a safety razor in my clumsy hands may nick the fabric. I presume the shavers are those for removing pilling but I doubt any would handle the huge pilling balls now all over my old acrylic kilts.
Bill

[ForresterModern]

To my knowledge, and Peter or Matt may have more specific info, Lochcarron and House of Edgar use many of the newer rapier looms for much but not all of their tartan product, with some lines still using older traditional looms and not having the fuzzy tuck in selvedge. Strathmore and Dalgleish I believe are all traditional looms with traditional selvedges, while virtually all the Marton Mills product (at least their Jura range) is from the newer rapier looms with the fuzzy tuck in selvedge.
I have personally found the Dalgleish and Strathmore selvedges to be perfect IMHO (as well as the feel and quality of their cloth) , Lochcarron and HOE nearly so in virtually all instances, and MM most variable with a couple horrible looking selvedge spots in a kilt or two.

[Bugbear]

For some reason I seem to remember reading that Lochcarron Strome is woven with the diagonal twill lines running backward and the tuck in ends up on the outside face of the kilt if made with the diagonals running traditionally.

I might be remembering the wrong thing though...

[RockyR]

MM - ALL wool has tuck selvedge. Twill lines run \\\

HOE - MOST has traditional selvedge (no tuck). SOME (nevis range and hebridean range) have a tuck selvedge. MOST twill lines run \\\ but their 16 oz HW runs ///

Lochcarron - ALL have tuck selvedege. Twill lines run \\\ for 13 and /// for 16

Strathmore - some have traditional selvedge, some have tuck selvedge. Twill lines run \\\

Dalgliesh - Traditional selvedge. Twill lines run \\\

Batleys - Tuck Selvedge. Twill lines run \\\


ANY mill with a tuck selvedge has the potential to have a small amount of fuzz. I have kilts from every one of the mills above and some have MINOR fuzzing. A fabric shaver or a VERY CAREFUL 20 minutes with a pair of scissors will take care of that. In the grand scheme of things, it's a minor issue so long as the kilt is properly made. Same goes for the twill lines. The 'good side' and the 'bad side' are virtually indistinguishable from each other. The 'bad side' means that any knots (where a thread ended and a new one started) or imperfections will be pulled through to that side. On quality wool cloth, there sould be VERY FEW (if any) imperfections. This means that both sides will be virtually identical, so it's nothing to get upset over.

[Riverkilt]

Ha!!! That's the advantage of owning a Bazillion kilts....rotating the wearing....don't have to worry about fuzz developing.

Probably costs a bit more than a sweater shaver though....