The wool, it prickles... :-(

[staticsan]

I've got a bit of a problem. It's my fourth kilt which happens to be my first wool kilt. It wears differently to the others and is much more comfortable about my waist. However, the feel of the wool on my legs is not comfortable. As the title says, it "prickles". This is rather off-putting.

Is there anything I can do to the wool to reduce that? Or is it just that it's a new kilt, and it will "wear down" with time?

The kilt is a StillWater heavyweight. Might the prickle-factor be a a side-effect of the wool they use? Do more expensive kilts have softer wool?

Wade.

[slohairt]

It could be. I don't own any Stillwaters so I can't say for certain. However, different mills produce tartans which has varying degrees of 'scratchiness' (?) Marton Mills is a bit coarser than say Lochcarron or House of Edgar, while Fraser & Kirkbright's is softer because they use Merino wool.

[Panache]

Wade,

Is this the first wool garment you have owned?

Some people are allergic to wool (my lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess for example).

There is nothing that you can do to wool that will make it softer or less prickly.

It is conceivable to put in a full lining into a kilt to keep the wool from touching your skin (but then it would seem that you would be wearing a slip under you kilt).

Another option would be a tall sized dress shirt that hangs lower under your kilt and would provide more protection to your legs.

Sorry if this isn't the most helpful advice but it is all I can think of at the moment.

On the bright side, there are more options available now for tartan in poly-viscose, acrylic, and other blends than ever before. So you (and my lovely wife) still have a wide choice available for tartan kilts.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[slohairt]

If you're not abject to wearing undies, you could wear something like bicycle shorts underneath the kilt.

[Standard]

In my experience with backpacking, etc. wool sweaters and the like have aquired a softer hand after much wearing. However this take a lot of wearing. As Panache said is this the first bit of wool that you have worn? I know that I tolerate wool much better than some others in my family. Perhapse it is just that you are not used to the feel of the wool. I hope the effect settles down for you since the feel and movement of a wool kilt is second to none IMHO.

[McMurdo]

Sorry to hear that, I would say there is little to be done, besides what has been suggested. I do know that Steve at Freedom Kilts makes a dress shirt with long tails just for kilt wearers, here are a few reviews
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/k...648/index.html

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...409/index.html

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/h...772/index.html

[Rawlinson]

If you aren't allergic to wool, just try to wear more of it. Wool used to bother me, so I started wearing a wool shirt (with no undershirt) for about a week or two. Now I find wool to have a pleasant texture. Hope this helps.

[NorCalPiper]

Go to your local Indian clothing store (Every town has one!), and ask for a cotton men's "Kurta". This shirt comes down to just above the knee and should act as a PERFECT under lining. Kurtas look INCREDIBLE with a kilt also!! Here's a link- They are about 20$ cheaper at the stores-

http://www.shalinkurtas.com/Mens-Cas...B000XSMSJ0.htm

[JolyStNicholas]

It would be a shame to find out at this point that your allergic to wool itself.
But as posted above you have other avenues to follow. luck to you.

[sathor]

if you are allergic, be happy you found out with a $130 SWK and not a $550+ tank.