Pleats Up or Pleats Down. How do you roll?

**markv** · 10th January 12, 07:22 PM

In a few weeks I'll be traveling with my kilt and will need to place it in a suitcase. I know this topic has been addressed in a few different places however the information I've found on the issue has me confused.

These two pages suggest rolling the kilt with the pleats up and apron down resulting in the pleats on the inside of the roll.
http://www.westcoastkilts.com/kilt-c...toringyourkilt
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-travel-19516/

These two pages suggest rolling the kilt with the pleats down and apron up resulting in the pleats on the outside of the roll.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...ng-kilt-68016/
http://www.usakilts.com/index.php/in...ted-faq-s.html (How should I pack my kilt for travel)

Are there any arguments as to which is better?

Thanks,
Mark

**Standard** · 10th January 12, 07:35 PM

I usually roll with the pleats to the outside, I feel it disturbs them less that way.

**gary meakin** · 10th January 12, 07:51 PM

I can't vouch for the pleats inside.
I've always rolled with the pleats on the outside when I travel and have never had a problem

**azwildcat96** · 10th January 12, 07:54 PM

I've rolled mine with the pleats on the outside too...It was a suggestion from my kilt shop. Place kilt with pleats face down, lay a sheet of tissue paper on the front apron, and begin to roll. The final kilt "burrito" can then be placed in a womens' nylon stocking to keep it rolled up, and the whole thing packed in your suitcase.

A better option is to hang it in a garment bag and take it with you as carry-on luggage. You may want to take out the pin if you are flying...TSA can be a bit odd about sharp metal bits.

**markv** · 10th January 12, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

You may want to take out the pin if you are flying...TSA can be a bit odd about sharp metal bits.

I don't have a kilt pin and honestly I'm not sure if I could ever bring myself to put a hole in my kilt.

**Whidbey78** · 10th January 12, 10:25 PM

I prefer to hang them in a garment bag, but sometimes that's not really an option. I've tried rolling my kilts both ways and found no noticeable difference when I unpacked.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 11th January 12, 04:00 AM

Always roll or fold your kilt with the pleats on the outside.

**Geoff Withnell** · 11th January 12, 05:55 AM

I've done a fair amount of traveling with my kilts. Here is my method. The kilts are in the closet, hanging from 2 clamp type trouser hangers, folded so the pleats are on the outside. Put the empty large suitcase on the bed. Place the kilts being taken in the suitcase - just as they were hanging, hangers and all. Cover them with a layer of soft clothing, underwear, poloshirts, etc. Finish packing. The kilts will stay flat and be just fine when you take them out and hang them up at your destination. If there are minor wrinkles, hang them on the back of the bathroom door while you take a nice hot shower to refresh from your travel. By the time you are done, the kilts have hung out nicely.

**markv** · 11th January 12, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by Geoff Withnell

I've done a fair amount of traveling with my kilts. Here is my method. The kilts are in the closet, hanging from 2 clamp type trouser hangers, folded so the pleats are on the outside. Put the empty large suitcase on the bed. Place the kilts being taken in the suitcase - just as they were hanging, hangers and all. Cover them with a layer of soft clothing, underwear, poloshirts, etc. Finish packing. The kilts will stay flat and be just fine when you take them out and hang them up at your destination. If there are minor wrinkles, hang them on the back of the bathroom door while you take a nice hot shower to refresh from your travel. By the time you are done, the kilts have hung out nicely.

Thanks Geoff! I'll see if I have the room to try that. I have mine hanging the same way in the closet so this might work.

However I'd still like to know why some people swear by pleats on the outside and some swear by pleats on the inside.

**Tobus** · 11th January 12, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by markv

However I'd still like to know why some people swear by pleats on the outside and some swear by pleats on the inside.

On the rare occasion that I roll my kilt, I do it with the pleats on the outside, and the reason is very simple. There is less 'curl' with them on the outside than on the inside. The tighter the radius of the roll (such as in the middle of the roll), the more they will have to curl to the shape of a circle. So in order to reduce the amount of curvature I'm putting on the pleats, I keep them on the outside.

Does it really make a difference? I don't know. But the engineer in me says that this makes the most sense.

*edited to add:

Plus, with the pleats on the outside, I can see what they're doing, and try to straighten them up a bit. If they're hidden on the inside, they could be all crumpled or folded and I wouldn't know it. As I roll it up, I can 'guide' the pleats into the shape I want. If I were to roll it with the pleats on the inside, it would be totally out of my control.