"wandering" pleats

[auld argonian]

Any advice as to how to straighten this out would be appreciated:

This is a SWK Nightstalker Standard (last years model)...the problem has to do with a couple of pleats in the back that seem to "wander"...that is that they seem to have stretched along the edge of the pleat and thus don't hang straight. Bear in mind that these are probably in the area that gets the most weight when I sit down, particularly when I'm driving, and I do try to sweep the pleats underneath me so as to not squish them but can't tell how well I'm doing in this regard.

Ironing doesn't seem to adequately remedy the problem....I'm ironing from the selvedge up toward to waistband with the iron on the lowest setting and some steam. Would I have better luck washing it and laying it out flat to dry with everything nicely flattened out and even? I know that hanging with weights has been suggested but I don't think that that would work with the acrylic material which seems to stretch a bit.

Best

AA

[Alan H]

I've had the same problem with my Standard Black Watch, so I'll be watching this thread with interest.

[michael steinrok]

i HAD A WANDERING PLEAT BUT I PUT A LEASH ON IT AND IT DOESN'T RUN AWAY. ACTUALY THE NIGHTSTALKER IS MY CURRENT FAVORITE. I HOPE THIS WON'T BE A BIG PROBLEM. IS HAND STITCHING GOING TO BE THE ANSWER HERE?

[auld argonian]

Well, good that this thread should resurface....I thought that it had been buried and I've tried another hare-brained (but apparently effective) technique to flatten out my errant pleats.

Let me say that I'm pretty well convinced that this "wandering" is because I've managed to stretch the material when I'm sittting down...particularly when I'm sitting in the car driving. I think that the combination of the stretching and the weight of my scrawny **** is what caused the problem.

Tried washing and tumble drying at a VERY low temperature and them ironing...no good. In desperation since I knew that I'd need it for the New Year's festivities, I tried the following: washed it again and spun as much water out of it with the spin of the washing machine then put a large beach towel down across the table from our deck set (which is sort of made up of slats so there's some air circulation). VERY CAREFULLY laid it out and straightened everything as best I could...nice and even and flat...and them laid a 4 inch wide piece of board across the bottom edge and stacked some books on the board. Remember that my wife was an Art History major so we've got plenty of very large and heavy books (many of which we will probably never read again).

Checked it out this morning and it looks like a go...I picked everything up and moved it up about a third of the way just to be sure. It's drying very quickly...it's a synthetic fabric, after all...and I should be able to really check it out tomorrow. Not quite as involved as hanging it with weights but so far so good.

Best

AA

[starbkjrus]

i HAD A WANDERING PLEAT BUT I PUT A LEASH ON IT AND IT DOESN'T RUN AWAY. ACTUALY THE NIGHTSTALKER IS MY CURRENT FAVORITE. I HOPE THIS WON'T BE A BIG PROBLEM. IS HAND STITCHING GOING TO BE THE ANSWER HERE?

WAY off topic here... Michael, please please PLEASE stop posting in ALL CAPS. It's a bit disconcerting. I don't like being shouted at all the time.

[Jimmy Carbomb]

This is why I like to steam my kilts. It allows you to put your hand on the under-side while steaming (with the provided mitt, or an oven mitt), and you're able to manipulate the pleats back into the correct position on ANY material. The more I wear the kilts and beat the material to a pulp... the more they need special care. That means attention to the details that only a hanging steam ironing can do.

Straight ironing can actually damage material when it's not done properly. I just chose to use the method of cleaning and maintenance that my teachers have used for years.;)

[pdcorlis]

Jimmy

I've seen two styles of steamers - a smallish one that sits on the floor with a hose - and a smaller (even cheaper) hand held steamer. Will the hand held steamer work or do you need one with more "oomph?"

Thanks!

[mudd]

WAY off topic here... Michael, please please PLEASE stop posting in ALL CAPS. It's a bit disconcerting. I don't like being shouted at all the time.

YEAH man! WHAT'S THE DEAL?

[furrycelt]

I have a dumb question(s). I don't understand steamers. What's the point? What do they do exactly? How do you use them? When do you use them? Why do you use them?

Ironing I totally get. I do all the ironing in my house thanks to having warn a military uniform in the past. I understand that the steam of the iron "softens" things up and the flat face of the iron allows you to press the cloth into your desired shape. So far I have never had to iron any of my kilts; but up until now, I had always assumed that should that time come, I would confidently whip out the iron and erect the ironing board and go to town. (wow, that was way too Freudian )

Anyway... Jimmy Carbomb, mentioned the oven-mit idea. Makes sense. But I guess I am just being air-headed. I don't fully get it. You have the kilt hanging in the air floating free not against any hard surface, you have to manipulate the pleats with your hands (oven-mitted), and hold the steamer head thingy... which leads me to: does that steamer head thingy "point" at the cloth and steam it, or do you "press" it into the cloth? I don't have enough hands I am guessing. All I keep picturing is one of those grizzly yet strangely hilarious crime-scene photos. "Detective? Do you think the cause of death was steam burns, suffocation, or strangulation?" ... "We'll have to let the M.E. decide. Poor bastard. Clearly this was a cry for help."

Pardon my ignorance.
-ian