Cotton twill rigid pleats

**cavscout** · 28th April 05, 01:53 PM

I've noticed that my survival kilt material is quite rigid and when I squat and stand back up I ususally have to adjust a couple of the pleats back to a straight hang.

This doesn't present an exposure issue nor is it enough to make me dislike the kilt. I was just wondering if all the cotton twill kilts (PK, FK, AK,...) perform this way. If anything it really makes me want a bear or stillwater that will drape more freely to change things up no and then.

**Geoduck** · 28th April 05, 02:13 PM

I've noticed that trend as well, espeically with my workman's kilt. I figure that it is because I don't tumble dry any of my UK's. I'm hoping the carhartt material will soften up eventually. I'm looking forward to any advice on this too.

**Rigged** · 28th April 05, 02:20 PM

Soft carhartt? My caramel workmans is almost as stiff now as it was 2 years ago. I'm glad it is because I use if for light construction work and I don't want nails and screws penetrating the material.

**Geoduck** · 28th April 05, 02:22 PM

Just a romour I've heard from folks who've worn Carhartt for years. We'll see.

**Jimmy Carbomb** · 28th April 05, 02:23 PM

Rigged has the same kilt as me (albeit much larger) and we're having the same problem. No matter how much Downey you put into it, they just won't... well... lighten-up!

Jeff at PittsburghKilts uses a number of soft materials that give you the look of the solid kilts, but don't give you the pleat-marks on your backside after you've been sitting.

**Dreadbelly** · 28th April 05, 02:31 PM

Damnit, I have to get a PK someday soon.

I wonder if he can do a rich chocolately brown kilt to match my Birkenstocks.

**Yaish** · 28th April 05, 05:58 PM

The tumble dry (no heat!!) trick really works. My caramel workmans wasnt getting any softer as time went on, until I tried that. Now its not as soft as the twills or a pair of broken in jeans but its getting there. My black and brown workmans have softened even more since I wear and wash them more. Even softer I dont think there is much chance of a penetration from just a casual screw or nail poke.

I havent noticed that problem at all with my survival though, its my softest kilt by far.

Do you have the old or new fabric? Hot water wash or cold?

**Miah** · 28th April 05, 11:02 PM

Bah, sorry double post.

**Miah** · 28th April 05, 11:05 PM

If you want to break the fabric in a little try this.

It worked on my Cammies in the Marine Corps. A couple Jar Heads can probably tell you the same. If you starch the hell out of your Kilt, not cheesy spray starch but I mean Sta-Flo

liquid starch to the kilt Soak it in the starch. You need to work it in real well, I used to use the bath tub but for a kilt maybe the sink. Once the kilt is soaked in Sta-Flo. Drip dry it over the sink (careful not to waste any of the liquid). Once it will not drip to much take it outside and hang dry it. Once the kilt is dry it should be stiff enough to stand on it's on. Now
Simulate a day’s wear crumple it up and wrinkle it all up over and over. You can toss it in the dryer on medium heat for a while too, get it all wrinkled up. Now wash the starch out.

The more you repeat this, the softer the cloth will get. The starch breaks down the material and helps soften it up. For a pair of old woodland cammies it takes a month of normal wear and starch to loosen them up. For a kilt it may take a little longer but you will be simulating the wear so it may go faster. Good luck, (I have tried this with a couple of pairs of Dickies pants that I wore for work a while back and worked like a champ.)

If you can get your hands on some rice starch, that stuff is amazing! the Lady that worked in my Barracks in Okinawa used it on my cammies and they were stiff as plywood but it lowered the life of them from maybe 2 years to 10 months.[/img]

**cavscout** · 29th April 05, 06:24 AM

I've only washed it once using cold water. I let it hang air dry for a bit then ran a warm iron over it. I probably will see it "loosen up" as I wear it more.

mmmmmmm, ironing cammies! My wife thinks I'm crazy because I actually enjoy ironing. While in the corps, when I couldn't sleep I'd iron cammies. After about two sets ... out like a lite. It's better than counting sheep. They could create a therapy class around ironing. I guess consentrating on getting pockets flat gets rid of any distractions. Good days!