Pressing the pleats

[Droid]

I spent about an hour last night trying to baste my kilt, but, I only passed the needle through the wool twice. The pleats didn't seem to be the same width all the way down. Either I'm being way too critical about this or the kilt wasn't 'perfect' to begin with. I really don't want to mess this kilt up, I like it.

Is there a video out there I could watch? I have read the couple tutorials on this site and am still not confident enough to try anything without watching someone do it first.

[chrisupyonder]

I have been searching myself for such a video.

This is the best so far.

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=47296

Note the large pressing board used after the iron and pressing cloth are removed.

Still searching.

Chris.

[Droid]

Update:

As I have posted in a few other threads, I've been wearing my kilt more often these past few weeks... date night, to a concert, out to the pub, dinner and a movie, to a graduation... and my pleats have taken quite a bit of damage. I posted this pic on another thread, it is evidence of my wrinkled perdicament:


I now am asking for a little advice... on the pleating of my kilt, and on how to 'repair' it.

First question: My kilt does not seem to be pleated to any pattern. Not to the set or to the stripe as far as I can tell. What are your opinions on this? Should I worry about it?


I tried pressing the pleats at home. I've done this twice in the last week trying to keep everything in the right place. I couldn't seem to get the pleats any straighter by basting. My basting was loose and didn't appear to do much, then, when I tried to tighted things up, it seemed to pull the pleats too close together.

I'm also having trouble with the fell. If the pleats are stright vertically and horizontally, then the fell is all bunched up and it make it a little more dificult to measure and such.

Second question... how do you suggest I fix these trouble spots:




Can you see how some of the pleats are not even at the bottom, one side hangs lower than the other? Also, my pleats have gotten wavey, not and equal distance apart all the way down. This probably happened during one of my pressing attemps.

Do you think I'm being to critical? Are those little bits of uneven-ness normal? Can they be 'smoothed' out?

[Droid]

I'd like to add... I've read all the threads about steaming. I've been able to steam out the smaller wrinkles. I do this on the floor with wet cloths and a warm iron, then I leave it to dry. Seems to work. Should I be hanging it up to let it dry?

A lot of people have said their wool kilts do not wrinkle much and easly straighten themselves... I do not understand how this is so. My kilt wrinkles soo easily it seems. Have I worn out the material? Is it time to retire this kilt?

[seanachie]

DROID: Is this a worsted wool kilt? 13 oz? 16 oz? There were no issues when you received the kilt as far as the pleats?

I will second the comment on steamers. When I wear my kilt for a day, I brush it with a good lint brush (the exact one recommended in an thread from awhile back) I hang it and let the wrinkles "fall out" over night It the kilt requires a little remediation I have an old Jiffy steamer (floor model) and I carefully, taking my time steam the kilt. I only have a few "good" wool kilts and I am super careful about keeping them in good shape but this has worked for me.

[Droid]

DROID: Is this a worsted wool kilt? 13 oz? 16 oz? There were no issues when you received the kilt as far as the pleats?

I will second the comment on steamers. When I wear my kilt for a day, I brush it with a good lint brush (the exact one recommended in an thread from awhile back) I hang it and let the wrinkles "fall out" over night It the kilt requires a little remediation I have an old Jiffy steamer (floor model) and I carefully, taking my time steam the kilt. I only have a few "good" wool kilts and I am super careful about keeping them in good shape but this has worked for me.

Lochcarron 13oz. No issues when I recieved the kilt as far as the pleats go, that I remember, I got the kilt in 2003, but didn't start wearing it regularly until about a year ago.