11 0z Lightweight - keeping it's shape

[JamesDownUnder]

I've left it a bit late getting my kilt (it's for my sisters wedding, and I don't think she'll move it for me ), and my clan tartan is a special weave, so looks to be a no go. I can get a district tartan, but it's only made in an 11 oz from DC Dalgleish - I've ordered an 8 yard, but I'm a bit concerned reading through all the posts that I may have issues with the kilt holding it's shape - so what can I do to try and help it keep its shape is really what I'm asking.

[Newfoundlander]

Hi Lad,

Too bad about not getting your kilt in time for the wedding. But kilted, whether it's a district tartan or a clan, is better than not-kilted!

I personally don't have a lightweight kilt myself, I only have a heavyweight and a regimental weight kilt, however; my buddy has an 11 oz. and was facing the same problem. The best advice I can give you is don't leave it hanging in the closet for long periods on a hanger with two clips. Sometimes you can find a hanger with 4 clips or 1 very wide bar that will secure the entire top of the kilt and prevent it from drooping and the pleats splaying out. The very best method in my opinion, and the opinion of my old highland regiment, is to roll you kilt and lay it flat in a drawer (with a few cedar chips to ward off the moths).

Myself and others have posted on this very subject in another thread on "how to store your kilt." If you search on that you'll find a gold mine of information.

All the best lad to you and your sister, have fun at the wedding!

[davidg]

I may have issues with the kilt holding it's shape

Do you mean keeping its shape whilst in your wardrobe or keeping its shape while being worn?

If the first then you already have some good advice from Newfoundlander but if you are worried about it "wilting" while being worn I wouldn't give it too much concern

An 11oz cloth is definitely lightweight and will not hold its pleats quite as sharply as a heavyweight. It is more likely to crease when you sit and some say it "wilts" (which really is the same as saying it needs just a little more maintenance). However, you can minimise creasing when wearing it by being a little extra careful. When you sit, sweep your hands down your backside and towards the back of your knees so that the pleats are flat when you sit on them and you should be just fine. Provided you don't plan on sleeping in the kilt then I doubt you'll have much of a problem and if you do get any creases hanging the kilt in a warm room for a couple of hours should see most, if not all, creases drop out as DC Dalgleish cloth is 100% wool and is also a worsted cloth

[mookien]

I have an 8-yd 11 oz. kilt from Dalgliesh. It does wrinkle more easily than any of my kilts made from heavier weight cloth, but I don't think you'll find it's a huge problem as long as you do what some of the others have advised, eg sweep the pleats when sitting.

I keep it hung on an "Order of the Gael" hanger, which can be seen by entering the quoted words into your favorite browser. They are expensive ($19.29), but they work well. Many wrinkles simply disappear, after the kilt has hung overnight. I have never had any problems with the pleats splaying. They simply hang straight down and maintain their shape.

I attach it to the hanger by laying the kilt on a bed with the inside of the kilt up. I fold the inner apron over the inside pleats and pass the belt through the hole (but do not buckle it). Then, I fold the front apron over the inner apron and attach it to the hanger as follows:

Place the hanger at the top of the folded kilt with the hanger arms pointing up. First attach the pleats to the lowest rod adjusting the distance between the clips so that the weight of the pleats is well balanced between them.

I find that those clips are fairly widely spaced, but not all the way out on the hanger. The catenary force of the relatively heavy pleats tends to pull the middle of the pleats down. It helps to attach one clip, then pull on the pleats a bit while attaching the second clip.

Next, attach the inner apron to the middle rod of the hanger. This light weight can be accommodated with the clips more closely together than either of the other two pair.

Finally, attach the front apron to the top rod. Here, I place the clips at their furthest distance from each other out at the edge of the hanger. The front apron weighs so little that the catenary force does not create a problem. The dip of the front apron will be a small fraction of an inch, especially with 11 oz. cloth.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck! Have a great time at the wedding and enjoy your kilt.

[Livingston]

*** on the 11 oz being fine. My Livingston kilt is usually only available in 11 oz unless you request a special run of something heavier. It is my most worn kilt and hasn't seen an iron in I don't know how long. Just hang it up properly and the pleats fall back into place. I've worn it driving an hour+ from Colorado Springs to Denver for kilt nights and not had any crease issues.

[Chas]

I have two thoughts.

Firstly, before any event, make sure that your pleats are as sharp and pressed as they can possibly be. They will not get any sharper by wearing them, so start the day with them at their best.

Secondly, always pleatsweep and sit down properly. If your kilt is not being bunched up and creased, then it won't get creased.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with giving my clothes a quick touch up with an iron before going out. So if there are any creases from the wardrobe, see first thought.

Regards

Chas

[JamesDownUnder]

Thanks for all the great advice, next time I'll remember the time it takes to get from Inverness to Sydney, and order things on time :-)

[ForresterModern]

I have 5 lightweight kilts (11-13oz tartan) in 8 yd builds, two in Dalgleish' lightweight "11 oz" tartan. They make a decent kilt despite their light weights, but I have noticed that Dalgleish's softer hand (compared to HOE, Strathmore, or Batley's comparable lightweight fabrics) tend to hold the pleats a bit less well and also tend to wrinkle up the aprons a bit more than the others, as well as holding wrinkles in the pleats from prolonged sitting. I keep mine on 4 point hangers in the closet, and give at least the aprons a good pressing before putting them away and again before wearing, and may need to give the pleats a pressing or strong steaming if persistent pleat wrinkles stick around even after hanging. The lighter fabrics are definitely more of a problem with wrinkles than any of the many 16 oz kilts from various mills that hang beside the lighter tartan kilts under the same conditions in the same closet---I have never had to iron a 16 oz kilt apron, and only a couple times had to steam them, while I have to steam/iron the lightweights each time I wear them both before and after.






jeff