comfort in cheaper kilts

[Tobus]

I do have to agree that my acrylic cheapie low-yardage kilt is a tad more comfortable for banging around in. Which is why I use it for hiking and such. But it's no replacement for a traditional wool kilt.

I have a 30+ year old MacDonald which feels like sandpaper

Hmm, it sounds like it needs some maintenance. A new wool kilt feels very soft. Over time, with washing and such, the wool loses its lanolin and becomes bristly and rough as you describe. I'm sure I've read of ways to restore the lanolin to the wool and make it softer. I have an old tweed jacket that probably needs this treatment as well.

It'll probably never feel as soft as when it was newly woven, or be as soft as acrylic, but there can be hope for it.

[Chas]

I do have to agree that my acrylic cheapie low-yardage kilt is a tad more comfortable for banging around in. Which is why I use it for hiking and such. But it's no replacement for a traditional wool kilt.


Hmm, it sounds like it needs some maintenance. A new wool kilt feels very soft. Over time, with washing and such, the wool loses its lanolin and becomes bristly and rough as you describe. I'm sure I've read of ways to restore the lanolin to the wool and make it softer. I have an old tweed jacket that probably needs this treatment as well.

It'll probably never feel as soft as when it was newly woven, or be as soft as acrylic, but there can be hope for it.

That's why I specifically said it was a 30+ year old kilt - it was woven with Scottish wool, with no foreign imported wool added. Today's kilts are made from wool that has a high or total merino wool content, coming from Australia or New Zealand.

Scottish wool is used for carpets today, because it is more hard wearing.

Regards

Chas

[Tobus]

That's why I specifically said it was a 30+ year old kilt - it was woven with Scottish wool, with no foreign imported wool added. Today's kilts are made from wool that has a high or total merino wool content, coming from Australia or New Zealand.

Scottish wool is used for carpets today, because it is more hard wearing.

Regards

Chas

Ah, I see. But for modern tartan material that does include merino content, it's pretty darn soft. In the "acrylic versus wool" comparison, I don't believe it's fair to compare it to wool that's not available today.

[Chas]

Ah, I see. But for modern tartan material that does include merino content, it's pretty darn soft. In the "acrylic versus wool" comparison, I don't believe it's fair to compare it to wool that's not available today.

Point taken, but wool is still not as soft as acrylic and being a natural product it will vary. Acrylic is very popular with those who go regimental for that very reason.

Regards

Chas