Pilling in semi traditional kilt

[Geoff Withnell]

Pilling is very unusual in the semi-trad kilt. I would check carefully for something that may be snagging the fabric.

[FossilHunter]

Pilling is very unusual in the semi-trad kilt. I would check carefully for something that may be snagging the fabric.

It is only a tiny amount. I only noticed it because I had taken off my sporran and felt some roughness on the front apron in that spot. You can hardly see anything even if you know where to look.

I’m not overly concerned. I was just surprised as the strap is pretty soft leather. Maybe there’s a rough spot somewhere in the back of the sporran I haven’t noticed? I will have to check.

[FossilHunter]

This is what I noticed on my kilt apron. Not very big.





Here is where the sporran rests on it when worn.



It seems to correlate pretty closely with the pilling spots.



Here is the back of the strap. Maybe it's too rough? But the leather is pretty supple.

[MacGumerait]

Sometimes these nubs / piling in the area of the sporran can be caused by items we wear on our hands and wrists .... rings , wristwatches , bracelets .

While putting on the sporran or adjusting the sporran during wear or using the sporran .... these items can accidentally snag or rub the fabric in that general area without one realizing it .

Cheers , Mike

[RockyR]

Hello Fossilhunter. Sorry I'm a bit late to this thread. If I might ask a couple questions:

How old is the kilt?

Have you used detergent with Fabric Softener in it?

If the answers are "under a year" and "no", then it's a bit of a mystery to me. Though the mill uses a Teflon coating which also has "anti pill fibre technology" properties which decreases the likelihood of pills on the cloth, over time and through dozens of washings, the coating eventually comes off of the cloth and the pills do start to happen as it IS synthetic material. Pilling happens to EVERY type of garment made from Poly, Rayon, Acrylic, etc... some sooner, some later.

I personally have a couple PV kilts that we made 10+ years ago and they do have some pilling, but it didn't show up for several years of somewhat regular wear. The PV we use is the best we can find in the world, but it still is synthetic and will eventually start to pill.

All that being said, the sporran chain might prove a better idea for your kilt than the strap. The strap, being cut square, can rub over time. The sporran chain, having a flat link with welded joins (with no burrs), might be a bit easier on the kilt.

Just my $.02

[FossilHunter]

Hello Fossilhunter. Sorry I'm a bit late to this thread. If I might ask a couple questions:

How old is the kilt?

Have you used detergent with Fabric Softener in it?

If the answers are "under a year" and "no", then it's a bit of a mystery to me. Though the mill uses a Teflon coating which also has "anti pill fibre technology" properties which decreases the likelihood of pills on the cloth, over time and through dozens of washings, the coating eventually comes off of the cloth and the pills do start to happen as it IS synthetic material. Pilling happens to EVERY type of garment made from Poly, Rayon, Acrylic, etc... some sooner, some later.

I personally have a couple PV kilts that we made 10+ years ago and they do have some pilling, but it didn't show up for several years of somewhat regular wear. The PV we use is the best we can find in the world, but it still is synthetic and will eventually start to pill.

All that being said, the sporran chain might prove a better idea for your kilt than the strap. The strap, being cut square, can rub over time. The sporran chain, having a flat link with welded joins (with no burrs), might be a bit easier on the kilt.

Just my $.02

Thank you for the reply. I’ve had the kilt since April 2017 and it has never been washed. I wear it between once and twice a week.

I can try the chain and see if that helps.