Itchy wool advice?

[Derekc5555]

I resently got some wool tartan from houseoftartan.com for a belted plaid. it's a beautiful piece of wool but it's a little itchy. I have a military wool blanket that I soaked in a water and hair conditioner mixture to make less itchy. If I do the same to the tartan will it make the colors bleed or will it come out alright? Thanks!

[Luke MacGillie]

Is this actual "Kiltmaking" tartan? Sounds like you have wool with a raised knap? The Twill woven tartan that I am used to using for belted plaids is finished "Smooth", which is quite different than the broadcloth and Kersey wool that I use for upper body garments that have a raised knap on one or both sides of the cloth.

Edited to add:

The shirts I wear with a belted plaid are pretty long, so long that I normally have to hike them up a bit so that my slip does not show LOL, but that does keep the actual wool to skin contact to a minimum

[Derekc5555]

Luke, the site I got it from said it was kilting fabric.

[ForresterModern]

check the margins of the piece of fabric you bought to see if any of them are cleanly finished without any type of hem. True kilting tartan should have a selvedge, a finished edge where the cut threads are relatively neatly turned back into the fabric leaving a neat straight and clean finished edge (the selvedge), which is what is used to form the lower edge of a modern kilt without needing a turned under and sewn hem. If not, all you have is plaid wool fabric and not likely of the quality of true wool tartan. . True wool tartan with a selvedge has a twill weave, with very flat tightly knit threads with practically no loose itchy wool fibers. I would not advise soaking true wool tartan for long periods expecting it to get any less itchy as it will only get more ugly, and likely wrinkles and possibly puckered if not of a high quality.

Have you ever considered wearing something beneath the kilt to separate the fabric from your skin---definitely a shirt on top, but there are options for below that are as acceptable as going regimental, and less risque.

And if your fabric is really kilting fabric, does it have a particular named clan or other tartan pattern, or is it just a fashion "plaid"?

[Derekc5555]

It has a selvedge at both top and bottom, and it is the Clan Baird tartan. I've been wearing it the past few days, and maybe it's my imagination, but it feels like it's getting softer.

[Liam]

Boxer shorts, kilt liner or a slip....
All should work.
Slainte

[Steve Ashton]

Do you know who the weaver of the fabric was?

[Derekc5555]

I do not, but I know they're stationed out of Comrie, Scotland.

[Benning Boy]

It's only my opinion, although others seem to share it, but original belted plaids were probably more blanket like, worn like match coats, and I bet scratchy. The early belted plaids would have been cottage woven, long before worsted wool came into being, and therefore a bit rough. If you want to wear a belted plaid in a traditional manner, embrace the itch.

[Pleater]

A good linen tunic should solve the problem.
I have a woollen kilt which is smooth after washing, and gradually becomes more prickly after wearing for some time - weeks of wearing.
I do have a washing machine with settings for delicates, hand wash and woollens - I usually use hand wash for kilts as it is so mild. I suspect that many machines could not be trusted with an all wool kilt.

Hand washing in a bath with luke warm water using hair shampoo and then a conditioner should help - do not soak, the effect is not increased by longer exposure. No agitation, lift out the fabric during filling and emptying is essential, and keep the temperature of the water the same to avoid felting.

Anne the Pleater