Casual Kilt, PV Versus Wool

[gordontaos]

This subject may have been covered in other forums, but I can't find them, sooo...
I will be ordering my third and fourth kilts shortly. I already have my hand sewn Kathy Lare "tank" in 16oz strome, as well as a Lochcarron casual in 16oz. strome. I do not find either kilt to be to warm for where I live.
Assuming the price of a Lochcarron casual 16oz. strome is somewhat equal to a semi traditional PV, is there a reason that I might want the PV?

[Hothir Ethelnor]

machine washability?

[davidlpope]

Allergy to wool?

[Schiehallion]

Stick with wool!

[Geoff Withnell]

Since I see you live in New Mexico, I strongly advise getting at least one of Rocky's USAK Casual or Semi-trads in PV. The good Morton Mills PV he uses cannot be told from wool at any distance, and is MUCH cooler. I speak from personal experience here in the DC area, which was at one time considered by the British Diplomatic Service a sub tropical hardship post.

Geoff Withnell

[xman]

I took my PV Casual camping last weekend and I'm not sure I would with a more expensive wool kilt. When I got home, I shook it out and wiped a spot away with a damp cloth. Although I think I will upgrade this to a semi-trad some day after I've logged at least one wool kilt in my wardrobe.

[gordontaos]

So far I have:
PV is machine washable. Are PV kilts really "throw in the washer"?
PV is cooler, but that is not really a factor here in the land of no humidity and temperatures that do not rise above 90F.
PV is easier to spot clean. Although I have read with interest that some tartan material is teflon coated? Can/should wool be teflon coated?
Wool allergies. Thankfully I am not yet allergic to wool.
And finally, "Stick with wool"!
If I could throw a PV in the washer without having it ruin the pleats, that would be a real plus.Also a real plus would be virtual imperviousness to stains. Because I cook a lot of breakfasts the concept of having my kilt be spattered with bacon grease is close to horrifying. I am also considering the possibilty of ordering a WW1 reenactors kilt apron for just such tasks.

Any other thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

[Zardoz]

If I could throw a PV in the washer without having it ruin the pleats, that would be a real plus.

Yes, PV kilts really are throw in the washer! I wash my USAK PV kilts one at a time on Cold water, Delicate/Handwash cycle, with a minimum amount of plain unscented laundry soap. After the wash, rinse and spin, I will run it through an extra spin dry just to get a little extra water out. I used to then take it out and hang it up to dry, but I figured out that laying the kilts out to dry was the way to go. I put a sheet over our spare bed, (If you don't have a spare bed, a big table or even the floor will do) and carefully spread the kilt out flat. Take some time to lay it out so it is as flat as possible and straighten and smooth out the pleats and aprons by hand. Spend 10 minutes doing that, and once it dries you should only need minimal pressing.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

First off you can throw PV right into the washer.

Second, I don't know that PV is easier to spot clean, but House of Edgar and Marton Mills both put a teflon coating on their 16oz wool which is supposed to make it easier to clean.

I would say that the kilt apron is a very good idea.

[Riverkilt]

If you put weighted clips on the PV pleats while it drys you won't have to steam or iron.

Like wool, creases steam right out of PV.

For me, its sort of like having a variety of fabrics and weights in other gaments. PV gives you another option when kilting.

I've purchased 10 hand sewn wool kilts and 26 machine sewn PV kilts...

If I were headed for Taos in the summer I'd for sure take PV rather than wool...And in the Winter I'd take wool.

Getcha one just to see that it is worth it and one heck of a value.

Only downside of PV is that the tartan selection is limited. So if you do go for PV pick a tartan that you like that's made in PV and get the wool kilts in the tartans that aren't available in PV.