repressing a kilt that has been pressed incorrectly

[veda_sticks]

Im very new to kilts and have read alot of stuff on kilts how to baste them and how to repress the pleats.

I have attempted to do a quick repress of my kilt once (although without basting) and this worked very well, it greatly improved the look and how the kilt sat, but its still not quite right.

The problem i am having is even before having to press, once i have all the pleats lined up and at what im sure is equal distances, it apeares that at the fell it looks like everything is shifted to the right. from the first half of the kilt, the pleats look pretty much straight from bottom to the first stitch but the further left you go, it looks as if the pleats are going at an angle, the stitching at the top of the pleat is out of line with the rest of the pelat going down.

This is a PV kilt that was bought from herritidge of scottland for £50. Its a very nice kilt and looks great apart from the pleats not sitting completetly flat ( a few waves and on the left side the pleats were not holding a straight line and coming out) the first attempt at pressing fixed this, but i noticed the original pressing on the pleats, the pleats were not the same size all the way along.

Since thee original pressed pleats are probably wrong, im having a hard time resetting the pleats are it just does not look right at the top (were the first stitch is) as it looks like its pulling to the right at the top.

im going to continue repressing tomorro, now that im messuring each pleat, as its looking much better.

once im more sure of how to completly redo pleats ill baste it first. its just the look up at the stitch just does not look right as the pleats going to the right past half way is throwing me off.

Is there anyone that would be able to do it for me so i atleast have a guide for when i have to redoo it. Because it looks like it was never done right in the first place it makes it harder to do myself. I know plenty of good kilt places but they only deal with hand made wool kilts.

[chrisupyonder]

I have a 5yd 80% polyester 20% wool and had the same problem. I did 1 pleat at a time and used a couple of pins at the bottom to hold it in place while you re-press it. I use an ordinary iron and a pressing cloth doubled up and soaked then wrung out so still fairly wet. I did it on a clean old wooden table top, not an ironing board. Press down as far as you can to the pins then take off the cloth and press down again with a piece of smooth cold wood. Then take out the pins and press the bottom 3 or 4 inches again. As long os the outside pleats look ok then don't worry too much about the inside.

Hope this helps.

Chris.

[veda_sticks]

right use a cold peice of wood aswell, ive not been doing that. ill give it a go. So far its looking alot better, its just the pleats not linning up with the stitching that is confusing me, though the stitching of each pleat does go in an arc as does the fabric

[Chas]

I can't be the only one having trouble visualising this. Any chance of a couple of pics to show us exactly what you mean?

Regards

Chas

[Damocles]

the best way to know if you have an edge on fabric strait is to fallow a single thread all the way down the edge. then you will know you are on grain. if it still looks cooked then the kilt has been sewn incorrectly. in that case the only thing to do is fudge it. if so then it can't really be brout on to grain if its off in the fist place thees factory made kilts are some times off. this is why thy don't cost as much as the hand sewn ones they turn them out pretty fast. if it is off you could alter it but its a lot of work and taking one apart after its been cut and stabilized is a highly skilled bit of alteration
Paul

[Damocles]

PS i forgot some times when people sit down they twist this can move any fabric off grain in an almost permint way the wearer could be doing that so its shifted the threads in the fabric out of grain but usouly if the fabric is that loosely woven you can pull it back in to grain be grabbing it on the diagonal and stretching gently in the opisit direction of the slat this will help to reorient the threads back to 90 degrees

[veda_sticks]

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/veda_sticks1/?action=view&amp;current=HPIM1439.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/veda_sticks1/HPIM1439.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

just finished pressing, and finished of with using a cold peice of very flat wood (small peice of very thick flooring, like lamininate floor boards except made of good wood and very thick)

the next to photos are close up and show how the stitching and the pleats are not lining up. the first 5 or so pleats seem to be realaly straight in line with the stitching but the further i go round, the more off it becomes.

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/veda_sticks1/?action=view&amp;current=HPIM1440.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/veda_sticks1/HPIM1440.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/veda_sticks1/?action=view&amp;current=HPIM1440.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa471/veda_sticks1/HPIM1440.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[CDNSushi]

I refuse to repress my kilts. Any form of repression is reprehensible to me. Only when the masses rise up and lift their voices in unison to free their repressed kilts will we see change. DO NOT repress your kilt! Allow it the freedom it desires, to float and flap in the breeze. Put an end to repressing kilts!

Vive la révolution!

[Dale-of-Cedars]

I am reading all these articles on pressing, as I'm considering repressing the inside of the pleat at the left edge of the outer apron of my B&S casual to stop it sticking out.

CDNSushi got here before me...

[Chas]

Allow me to help:







Regards

Chas