A Little Bit of Advice Requested

[Jordan]

Here’s a situation for you Ladies and Gents.

My good kilt, the one that I tend to wear for smart/dress do’s. A Lady Chrystel Box Pleat in the RAF Tartan. Has recently been on the receiving end of some not very nice situations all of which have added up to it not looking as great as when I first got it and I’m looking for some advice on how to return it as best as possible to its previous condition.

First up while out for a recent night on the town I ended up in the unfortunate position of being the target for several beverages which had been projected at my person. Wasn’t even my fault but still...

When I got my kilt back from the dry cleaners I took it out of the bag to give it a once over and found that it had been pressed flat! Literally all of my lovely box pleats at the back were pressed Flat!!!

As I’m sure you can imagine I wasn’t best pleased and I was almost immediately back at the afore mentioned dry cleaners asking what on earth had happened (I’ll add in here that I had used them before and all of my kilts had been fine!). And with lots of reassurance from the lady behind the counter I left the kilt with her again and was told it would be fixed when I came back for it, So I went away and came back and this time inspected it in the shop and when I still wasn’t happy she took it back again and when I got it back the third time she’s said that was the best they could do despite the fact that I still wasn’t happy.

It is pleated in a way but the pleats are uneven deep on one side and shallow on the other and it doesn’t look half as good as it did before (In my opinion anyway, everyone else I’ve asked says it’s ok).

So I’m looking for some suggestions on how to fix it up a bit short on asking Lady Chrystel if she could re-pleat/press it for me, I’m not adverse to that if she would (I haven’t asked). I have checked with a couple of other cleaners near me who say they can press it the way it is but won’t fix the pleats and It’s a bit too much for me and my iron to have a go at.

So any suggestions Ladies and Gents?

This is also a bit of a warning that just because who ever cleaned your kilt/s fine last time that they will next time.

Jordan

[cessna152towser]

This is also a bit of a warning that just because who ever cleaned your kilt/s fine last time that they will next time.

Most dry cleaners in Scotland are familiar with knife pleated kilts but I suspect they don't often see box pleated kilts so many will not know how to press the box pleats correctly.
I will follow this thread with interest, hoping for a happy outcome.

[Jordan]

Cheers Alex,
I was careful with them the first few times but beacuse they had cleaned my kilts in the past without any trouble This one included. I figured they would do so again this time.

Jordan

[Chas]

It’s a bit too much for me and my iron to have a go at.

So any suggestions Ladies and Gents?

Jordan

You know, Jordan, it really isn't difficult to press your own kilt. This is a skill you should learn to master.

The easy way -

Buy about 200 to 300 paper-clips. From Staples or the like. The old fashioned bright steel variety, not the plastic covered.

Start with any one pleat, 1" down from the stitched fell.

Line up the pleat, like the fell and put in a paper-clip.

If it isn't right, do it again, and again, and again, till it is right.

Carry on down to the selvedge, every 1".

Move on to the adjacent pleat.

Start at the fell and check each paper-clip again.

Get a pressing cloth and steam iron or stem generator and press - do not iron - press.

Remove cloth - look at job - if OK, remove paper-clips.

Press again to remove any indentations made by clips.

Move on to next pleat.

Do a pair of touching pleats at a time - no more.

To paper-clip and press a pair of pleats should be no more than 30 minutes.

You can do a pair, hang up the kilt to cool and go to the pub and do another pair tomorrow.

There is no rush - you can take a whole week if you need to!

Regards

Chas

[Dixiecat]

Steel paperclips? You know what happens when steel and water mix right? It would be safer not to use them.

I first would relax the wool from whatever pleats were pressed in by using a little steam a section at a time, then line up the pleats properly, pin and baste into place, as noted in the Art of Kiltmaking box pleat supplement, then using a press cloth and a steam iron, press. Not iron, but press.

[Chas]

Steel paperclips? You know what happens when steel and water mix right? It would be safer not to use them

Do you seriously think that steel rusts that quickly? In 30 seconds? No wonder the Titanic sunk. It was probably rusted through before it left the slipway.

I have been using the same paper-clips for almost four years and guess what - no rust.

If Jordan knew how to pin and baste, why do you think that he is messing around with a dry cleaners?

What I find shockingly offensive is that you think that I would deliberately give Jordan bad advice so he would ruin his kilt.

Regards

Chas

[Dixiecat]

Well, yes, we must use terrible steel paperclips here in North America because I've known them to have rusted in the package and when you use them they leave rust stains on the fabric or paper. When they're like that, adding water to the mix can really do a number to the article you're using them on.

[Chas]

I will not argue or debate this with you.

This is a tried and tested method that has been in use by the Royal Air Force since I joined in 1970. I am sure it wasn't invented the day before. Barrack blocks had a pool of equipment - some of those paper-clips were used on a daily basis five to seven days a week for months on end.

In my 12 years service, I met some very thick servicemen, but never one who was stupid enough to put rusty paper-clips on his uniform. I do not think that there are any Xmarks members who would do that either.

Regards

Chas

[xman]

I'd be concerned about the paper clips leaving indents. Basting with thread is the way it's done.

[MacLowlife]

I expect one could substitute wooden clothespins for paper clips- with the caveat that you would have to press around them and slide them into place after having pressed the spot next... All of this sounds laborious, but much less so than basting.

Jordan, you have my sympathies- that feeling that something STILL isn't right, even when others no longer see the flaw- it's a terrible nagging feeling. But I do think you should give it a go with some kind of clips, metal, wood or otherwise. Or maybe try both methods- basting and clipping- on different pleats and see which gives better results and requires less effort.

In the end, the knowledge that you gave it a try is probably as comforting as anything else. Do let us know.