Pressing PV?

[David Thorpe]

Getting close to time for pressing DIY #1, a 12 oz. PV.
How does PV differ from wool with regard to heat and/or technique for initial pressing?
Is it harder or easier to shape?
Is all the tailor stitching and apron basting really necessary on a light PV kilt?

TIA

[seanachie]

There are likely better resources on the board than myself, however, I will share my own experience.
I use a very damp cloth (not dripping) and press down for a few seconds and lift, not ironing motion. For regular maintenance I use a steamer.

[jhockin]

I've only made one, of lightweight PV, so far, however:
- re: ironing: using the 'higher'-end of the iron setting for "synth", I followed the recommendations of TAoKM;
- re: "tailor stitching and apron basting": since the material is light weight, I sewd through all layers, across the fell, and did not cut the "excess" material. I did add a stabilizer ( used a piece of denim), and followed the rest of TAoKM, as to hair canvas across aprons and fell. Is it 'really necessary'? I don't know.

[ChattanCat]

The basting keeps the kilt together until you are ready to press and keeps the pleats aligned during pressing. Pressing is usually only needed to be done once on a kilt. Pressing PV is just like pressing a wool kilt, they both take and hold the pleat after you press it.

[Pleater]

If you have any spare pieces of the material use them to practice on. You need to get the temperature right so it is just able to deform the fibres, no higher or you could ruin the kilt.

Steam has no effect on man made fibres, so I use a dry cloth, always always always have a cloth between the sole of the iron and the fabric and press/lift/press/lift, do not run the iron along, if you create a wrinkle and go over it with the iron then it is really difficult to remove it - if not impossible.

Never try to get the pressing done in a spare few minutes, do it when you have lots of time.

[seanachie]

If you have any spare pieces of the material use them to practice on. You need to get the temperature right so it is just able to deform the fibres, no higher or you could ruin the kilt.

Steam has no effect on man made fibres, so I use a dry cloth, always always always have a cloth between the sole of the iron and the fabric and press/lift/press/lift, do not run the iron along, if you create a wrinkle and go over it with the iron then it is really difficult to remove it - if not impossible.

Never try to get the pressing done in a spare few minutes, do it when you have lots of time.

Please believe I am not being argumentative, but I am curious about your comment regarding steam. I have a floor model steamer. On occassion I have a few wrinkles below the waist on my front aprons. I have used the steamer to successfully remove these minor wrinkles and the same with the pleats. Can you explain this Anne, because I don't think this is the placebo effect at work.

[Riverkilt]

I have always just steamed my PV kilts. Wrinkles melt right out of them. Have used hand steamers, big floor units (love it - NEVER iron anything anymore - just steam) and you can even hang your kilt in the bathroom when you shower.

If I tried to get the temp just right to iron a PV kilt I'd still probably melt it or something. Once you see how quick and easy steaming is you'll never iron again.

If you do insist on ironing take Ham's advice and only iron on the floor. Don't waste time wrestling with a kilt on an ironing board. Lay it out on the floor to iron....

But why???????? when you can steam and be done it less time than it takes to get the kilt laid out....

[Paul Henry]

I don't agree with Anne either about steam and PV fabric, although I don't use PV very often I would always expect to use some steam and a lower iron temperature in order to press, and to set the pleats. I wold be very cautious about pressing any kilt without some steam, and yes the hand held steamers are great for quick fixes, I've been know to use them as well, but I do like the feel of an iron when making/pressing a kilt.

[sydnie7]

Not to put words in his mouth, but I think Riverkilt is talking about a different need for/use of steam than the OP. It's the difference between taking out "usage wrinkles" and pressing in the original pleats/apron edges etc. A casual steaming will take out usage wrinkles but the full court press, so to speak, is required to set the structure of the kilt to begin with -- as described by paulhenry and others.

[Pleater]

Sorry - I did not explain myself clearly.

If you are pressing a garment of man made fibres all you need to do is warm it up to the correct temperature. The fibres will soften and then reset into the folds.

You can press using a dry cloth and no steam - and I use a much lighter pressure and thicker cloth than when pressing wool and am very careful not to overheat the iron. It is possible to create outlines of the iron on the garment.

If you use steam the formation of the pleats is not altered, as the moisture doesn't alter the fibres. You are just altering the humidity of the area around your iron and making the kilt damp.

When you hang up a garment and blow steam onto it then you are warming it up to make the fibres soften slightly and the wrinkles 'fall out' due to the action of gravity or under tension. That is fine for dewrinkling, but not going to work for a first pressing where both the folds and the temperature have to be very precise.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: