ironing your kilt

**shane the piper** · 16th March 07, 04:46 PM

I need to iron my kilt because my kilt pleats look kinda messy but i dont want to make a stupid mistake so if you can please give me some direction.

**cessna152towser** · 16th March 07, 04:48 PM

Make sure the iron isn't too hot. Probably best to heat the iron first then switch it off while applying it to the kilt.

**Hamish** · 16th March 07, 05:08 PM

I always press my kilts on the carpeted floor and always take time to arrange the pleats very carefully before I start the operation. 'Press' with the iron, that is: lift the iron up and press it down again, having moved it a little - and do this through a dampened tea towel or similar. Do not 'iron' with a sweeping movement, because you will move the pleats under the towel without realising it, and will probably end up with your pleats in a worse state than when you started!

**angel923** · 16th March 07, 05:06 PM

dont drag the iron use a pressing method described in other threds or use a steamer to pull the wrinkles out.

**Nanook** · 18th March 07, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by shane the piper

I need to iron my kilt because my kilt pleats look kinda messy but i dont want to make a stupid mistake so if you can please give me some direction.

In addition to the above advice I'd recommend a Polti or LauraStar ironing system. The systems are based upon a board with intake fan and a iron that is more related to an espresso machine than to common household steam irons.

**Deil the Yin** · 18th March 07, 10:47 AM

"5. The two things to avoid are Dreaded Shine which is caused (I think) by the surface of the wool glazing under the heat or the iron... Both of these can be avoided by:
– dampening the wool before ironing, and
– keeping your iron moving"

Someone instructed me also to always iron my kilt from the inside in order to keep the outside from attaining the "dreaded shine"...

In my experience, having ironed the wrong way several times before being told this, it takes a good bit of ironing a wool kilt to get a serious shine. But I think you'll find that unless you keep your kilt wadded up after it's been in the rain, most wrinkles fall out pretty easy...

**bunchdescendant** · 18th March 07, 12:49 PM

What Steve said!

Ray

**cherokeesix** · 18th March 07, 01:19 PM

Before I get to a point where my kilt will need ironing, let me pose this question... Not having my kilt yet, I would like to know the best way not to damage the pleats while getting in and driving the car. I did see Hamish's video on sweeping the pleats. Is this basically the same idea or are there any other tricks that I should know about?

Thanks
Patrick

**turpin** · 18th March 07, 02:19 PM

Pleat sweep doesn't work well for getting in a car. I've had good luck sort of brushing them forward with the back of my right hand as I sit down, the do a little rearranging of them under me before taking off. Honestly, getting into a car is so far the worst part of kilt wearing. However, once everything is smoothly in order, it's so much more comfy than driving in pants.

**Riverkilt** · 18th March 07, 07:42 PM

I'm still sold on the Black and Decker "Gizmo" steamer (any big box store).

It works well for my wool and polyviscose kilts.

When I've ironed (pre-Gizmo) the only thing that worked for me was Ham's advice to iron on the floor.

Ron