Pleat Splay

[Riverkilt]

So as we welcome Robert MacDonald of West Coast Kilts in Vancouver B.C. to the board I've been scouring his most excellent website.

Tucked in there is a warning against hanging kilts from hangers, saying it causes dreaded "pleat splay."

And, I think I've seen some from hanging my kilts. Particularly because my massive girth requires kilts wider than any hangers I've been able to find.

So now I'm contemplating following his instructions

http://www.westcoastkilts.com/kilt-c...toringyourkilt

and rolling up my kilts for storage. Sure could use the closet space. Then I wonder where I can store 39 rolled kilts?? Maybe some sort of wine rack arrangement with larger openings....

I know Robert is talking about his hand sewn kilts...but seems even more important for the casual kilts.

Looking for anyone with experience along this line willing to share it.

Thanks.

And if you haven't visited his website yet - ya gotta!

Ron

[Colin]

I wonder if the casual kilts are actually at risk of this Ron, as they don't usually have the weight of a handsewn heavy wool kilt. I know my Pv kilts need a good shake or iron form time to time, but they don't usually pull on the hanger like the wool kilt does. The casual kilts can usually be thrown in the wash and given a good shake or hung dry to regain their shape quickly. Wool kilts take a bit more maintenance.

I have been reading over Rob's site as well. Not only do I think I need a kilt made up by him in the near future, but I am going to use my free time (without wife and kids) tomorrow to build a cedar chest for my kilt gear.

As a side note, I have seen the webmaster's band Blackthorn http://www.blackthornband.com/index.php a number of times. They are the musical act of the Burns cabaret that I attend every year.

[A Hay]

I found a plastic christmas wrapping paper container (one that is flat for slipping under the bed, not one that stands the paper on end) and find that it holds 3 rolled kilts comfortably or 4 squeezed in.

That would be a lot of containers for Riverkilt's 39 kilts!

Careful rolling seems to keep the pleats in good condition. Have not tried rolling them inside out however.

Mr. McDonald's web site has a lot of useful information from someone with a lot of kilt wearing experience.

Tom

[Barb T]

Rolling a kilt only works if you have a kilt that has about the same hip and waist measurement (i.e., very little pleat taper between hip and waist). Otherwise, it doesn't roll very well.

B

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Barb,

That makes complete sense.

Guessing the military folk well qualify - not having "bubble butts" - this sure gives me pause....hmmmm

Ron

[Randy]

.....and rolling up my kilts for storage. Sure could use the closet space. Then I wonder where I can store 39 rolled kilts?? Maybe some sort of wine rack arrangement with larger openings....
Ron

My house has lots of room for kilts in the 38"-40"waist, 24" length. FedEx them over to avoid the dreaded "pleat splay."

Just here to help, that is all.

[pdcorlis]

Rolling a kilt only works if you have a kilt that has about the same hip and waist measurement

Barb

any chance you can put some numbers to that? Are we talking a six inch difference or less - or what?

[RockyR]

Rolling a kilt only works if you have a kilt that has about the same hip and waist measurement (i.e., very little pleat taper between hip and waist). Otherwise, it doesn't roll very well.

B

It *can* be done with a waist measurement larger than hips, but it DOES take some coaxing. Also, when you UNROLL it, it may need a pressing.

To address Colin's point... I don't think PV kilts really need to worry about it TOO much. Also, if you WEAR your kilt once a month or more, it shouldn't be TOO much of a problem. I think this is geared more toward people who hang their kilts up and wear them once a year.

[Barb T]

It *can* be done with a hip measurement larger than waist, but it DOES take some coaxing.

It can be done, but it's hard to have a nice tight package when you do so. If the kilt has identical hip and waist measurements, you can just roll up the apron and continue rolling right through the pleats, with the stiff part of the kilt (the fell, canvas, and lining) serving as a guide so that the pleats just roll with the same diameter "tube". If the hips are bigger than the waist, the top band can be rolled into a tube of much smaller diameter than the pleats. If you roll with a diameter that's good for the top band, then the kilt has to pucker at the hips to make the same diameter tube. If you aim to roll a tube that is big enough to avoid puckering the kilt at the hips, it makes kind of a floppy tube.

That's a terrible description. Best thing to do is just try it. The _critical thing_ is making sure that the pleats do not splay when you roll.

Cheers,

Barb

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I think he's talking about hanging your kilt from one of those skirt hangers with the two clips on either end. I know a lot of men are tempted to use these, and what I see is them folding the kilt shut (as if it were being worn) and then just clipping either end of the hanger to the top of the kilt, causing the heavy pleats to pull down in the middle -- which I believe is what causes the effect he's talking about.

But I don't use those hangers -- I never find that they are strong enough to hold a heavy weight kilt up well anyway. I use the pants hangers that utilize the long, flat clamps.

Begin by closing your kilt as if it were being worn, and then fold it in half again, with the pleats on the outside. Then attach the clamp hanger to the top. The kilt should hang perfectly, and you'll never have to worry about messy pleats.

I've hung even regimental weight kilts this way and never had a problem -- the only times the hanger wouldn't hold them up it was because the hanger was faulty.

I've never had a problem with pleats going awry!

M