New Kilt Owner Advice

[Tobus]

Yep, definitely let it "air out" after wearing it. Don't put it away if it's moist around the waistband area. I usually just lay mine out on a table or bed for a while. You may also want to lightly brush it before putting it away, to remove any dust, crumbs, hair, etc., that may have gotten on it. Use a soft-bristled brush (preferably one that's made for brushing wool).

Make sure you store it properly. I avoid rolling it up, since that can often lead to curly pleats when it stays like that for a long time. I hang mine from a good skirt hanger, with extra clamps added so that the weight is evenly distributed across the top of the kilt. It gets put inside a cloth garment bag to keep out the moths, and I keep cedar balls in there with it.

If your pleats get wrinkled and the wrinkles don't "fall out" on their own, just hang it in the bathroom while you take a long, hot shower that steams up the bathroom. The steam will help the pleats straighten out.

When attaching a kilt pin, be careful to work the pin through the weave of the cloth instead of just jamming it in there, which might cut the yarns in the tartan. Some folks leave the kilt pin permanently on the kilt. But if you do remove the kilt pin, take the cloth between your fingers and 'massage' it gently back and forth so that you're flexing the weave, and the hole will close up on its own.

The most important thing about maintaining a kilt is to do the right things when wearing it. Sweep your pleats before sitting, for example, to avoid wrinkled and unsightly pleats. Be careful when negotiating tight spaces so you don't catch your kilt pin on something. Avoid wearing sporran chains that can fray the tartan cloth. And of course, don't wear your good kilt when you're planning on mud-wrestling.