Pressing the pleats

[triumph]

Ok, let's see if I have this right. I have basted the pleats of my kilt, two rows bottom and midway up. ( this is the first basting I have done, other than a chicken on the BQ ) I looked at Barb T's photos, my basting is not as neat, but I hope I am close. Next I take a pressing cloth slightly damp. Does this mean get it wet and wring it out? Than use a steam iron and press hard down for 10 -15 sec lift and move all around the kilt. Let it cool, check pleats, and hang. If I screw this up how hard is it for someone to make it right? The kilts have been stored for years and need help. I am new at all this!!!!

[xman]

This sounds about right. A few thoughts;
1.Make sure the pleats are perfectly even from top to bottom.
2. You could probably stand to add a couple of rows of basting. One between the ones you have and another again half way up to the fell from the top row unless you feel very confident in your ability to keep the pleats straight.
3. For extra crispness in the pleats, steam with the iron for a few seconds then press them with a block letting them cool as they set.

[triumph]

thank you for the reply xman What do you mean by pressing with a block?

[xman]

A block of wood. You could use a heavy book (with no spine crease!) like the telephone book. The point is to press it while the steam cools.

[img]

After you have basted, you can take your kilt to a professional cleaners and they will press it for you.

Ina

[triumph]

I just finished pressing the pleats on my kilts, it work out great. I was afraid that being a newbie I would screw up some very nice old kilts, but the pleats are nice and sharp. Thanks for all the help from members and I also did a search on the forum which helped.

[xman]

Good to hear!

[Barb T]

...press hard down for 10 -15 sec l...

This sounds really long to me. I never press this long in one place. It's not necessary, and it would take forever to press a whole kilt. And I would worry about scorching. A few seconds on a spot is all it takes. But, as you say, it's a "press", not an ironing motion.

[theborderer]

In the army we ironed our trouser creases using a sheet of thin brown packing paper,wetting it with a shaving brush.

[triumph]

Barb, I did not press as long as this. (" Than use a steam iron and press hard down for 10-15 sec lift and move all around the kilt") I got that information off the net and when I started I decided it was longer than I want to stay in one area. I just wet down the ironing cloth, pressed, let it steam and moved on, I made sure to over lap. The pressing came out fine