Pilling on apron

[tadyergey]

I am finding that I am getting pilling (little fuz balls) on my apron from where the sporran rests. Does anyone have a trick to keep that from happening and removing them. Will one of those cheap sweater shavers work or is that bad for the fabric?

Thanks!

[artificer]

What is your kilt made of? Wool, PV, Acrylic? Acrylic is more likely to pill than wool is.

Also you might wish to investigate the back of your sporran, as well as it's chain, if you're using a chain instead of a leather strap.
Any object that is sharp or has a square edge can wear into the material of the kilt.

ith:

[tadyergey]

Thanks! It is a traditional wool tank that I purchased in Edinburgh... I cannot complain too much as it is 15 years old and I just noticed it. I will check the back of my sporrans but I believe they are the chain that hooks on to a leather strap on the back of the sporran.

[Richrail]

to remove the pilling, I've used a disposable razor, it won't pull the fabric.

[creagdhubh]

Fabric shavers work great, and take it from a complete OCD/neurotic/clean/neat freak when it comes to many different things, but especially when it comes to my more expensive items, such as Highland attire. I have used them on tweed, merino wool and pure new wool. Just don't "dig" into the surface of the fabric too hard, lightly skim the affected area until desired results are achieved. Mine is from Target (evercare) and I swear by it, especially for my jumpers during the colder months.

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Cheers,

[bluebonnet]

Just a head's up, it may not be your sporran that is the culprit. Look carefully at your outerwear - any velcro may cause pilling. I had a lovely Edinburgh Mill tweed skirt ruined because the velcro on my anorak rubbed against it while I was out walking.

[tundramanq]

I have had pilling caused, unexpectedly, my the coarse nylon fabric of he Nightstalker sporran. I replaced it with the leather version and the problem went away.

[WillowEstate]

I noticed this was happening on my PV kilt, though not my ex-military wool one, which I enquired about in an earlier thread. In my case, it was indeed the sporran causing the problem, perhaps surprisingly, the maker's stamp. Artificer correctly identified the material the back of the sporran was made of, leather "split" lacquered and on close examination, the maker's mark, heat stamped into the back of the sporran, had melted and raised the lacquer into sharp peaks. I'm still working on eliminating those, several weeks on!

Other members here recommended shaving and smoothing the edges of the sporran and the chainguide with a sharp knife and denim polishing cloth. They did warn that it might be a slow process - it is - still work in progress!

In view of the timescale, though, it sounds like yours is much less severe.

My brass cantle military sporran has no external stitching or hard edges and so does not damage the apron.

Of course, you could save your pennies and have Artificer make one of his wonderful sporrans for you!

[JSFMACLJR]

The family collection contains many kilts, some now 70 plus years old. Not one of them has any pilling.

[tundramanq]

Your heirloom and expensive wool kilts don't get the wear time and are treated a lot better than less expensive fabrics.
My USAK PVs each see about 30+ days of wear and 8 to 10 washings per year.
I wonder how wool would last at that use and cleaning rate.
BTW is wool more prone to pill or fuzz. I don't know as my wool gets too much TLC and closet time.